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).
Official instructions for rear number plate placement on the Phantom and other models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\4\ scan0231 | |
| Date | 29th June 1932 | |
| E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} FROM DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} X4152 DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}3/M29.6.32. C. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C. 19-EX. With reference to HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}3/KT21632., and E4/HP23632., the official instruction for the Phantom carrying 2 spare wheels at the rear is for the number plate to be placed on the rear hinged gate of the wheel carrier, the top of the plate being level with the top of the cross bar, and that a small tubular type of tail lamp - T.201 - should be used. In this position the bottom edge of the number plate is not below the ground clearance provided by the petrol tank, and the exhaust swan neck and the lamp are considerably above the bottom of the number plate. As a matter of fact the bottom edge of the number plate is a good inch above the bottom edge of the spare wheel, and therefore while the latter might be dragged along the road the number plate would be safe. We agree that there has always been difficulty with the number plate on these cars, and we are pleased to say that we are not likely to have very many P. 2s. with wheels at the rear. This year at the Show we are shewing P. 2s. Continental touring saloons, with wheels carried at the side, because the public demand is so strong for a cleaned up back end of the car. In this case the tail lamp, stop lamp, number plate, and direction indicator, will all be let into the rear panel of the body, and there will be nothing below the rear cross member of the chassis. The same remarks apply to the 25HP. special touring saloon. DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||