From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Plan for fitting a limousine body from Hoopers using a supplementary frame on a modified chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67\1\ scan0110 | |
| Date | 21th December 1924 | |
| C O P Y. CJ. from C. Re Supplementary Frames. The first supplementary frame has been delivered to Hoopers for a limousine body to be fitted. I had hoped that we would be able to deliver a chassis to Hoopers to finish this off, partly to enable them to do the job decently, but mainly so that they may realise that whatever projected alterations we may have in hand they are only alterations to the existing chassis. This, however, presents certain difficulties to the Experimental Department; they are so full up now that Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} is anxious not to have to build the special chassis for the purpose. I discussed this with Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} last evening, and he also is very anxious to let Hoopers fit the frame to a chassis for the same reasons, and the suggestion I made, in order to save over-loading Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} is as follows:- We have a 40/50 h.p. front wheel brake chassis (9-PK) which Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} has been using for experimental purposes, now in the Repair Shop. If we could have 1" higher radiator, 2" wider dash and new bonnet fitted to this it would be to all intents and purposes a standard chassis, as these particular modifications are very often carried out to customers' special requirements (we have 3 or 4 on order at the present moment). This would then only leave the joggle, the levers and the carrying brackets. The joggle can quite easily be overcome in the fitting of the body because the body is carried on the supplementary frame. The levers we would suggest taking off to enable the body to go on, telling Hoopers we are making modifications to the gearbox, which are not yet ready. The brackets could be bolted on to this frame. The car would then be practically standard, it could go along by train to Derby and Derby could transfer the body and supplementary frame to the "W" series chassis. This same chassis could then be sent to Barkers so that they could fit up their limousine body which we have on order in the same way. Will you please let me know if you agree with this method, which will help us very considerably in camouflaging the coachbuilders. If we leave them to finish off the job with this supplementary frame only, it means such a lot of work being left undone and they/ P.T.O. | ||