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).
Objections to carrying two spare wheels at the rear of cars, focusing on increased length and manoeuvrability.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 17\7\ Scan045 | |
| Date | 29th November 1929 | |
| X. 7810. To Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rml/AD29.11.29. WEIGHT AT BACK OF CARS. x7810. x7840 With reference to your Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}4/M26.11.29. The one serious objection which we had in mind when we refrained from being enthusiastic about the two spare wheels carried behind the rear cross member was the increased overall length of the car. We presume this type of car is largely an owner driver proposition, and therefore it is essential that the car should be as manoeuvrable as possible. From our own experience the 1S-EX type of Phantom is about the maximum length that can be handled in comfort. Any further increase in length makes the car quite a nuisance for parking or garaging with the additional feature that it is most difficult to bear in mind how much the spare wheels project at the back when reversing. Again, when the cars are parked at right angles to the pavement as they are outside the Dolphin at Chichester, two spare wheels occupy half the pavement which is rather undesirable. We mention these points because we think they are important under British conditions. Under Continental conditions, we feel that these objections would not be of importance, and the comfort added by the overhung weight at the back for driving fast over Continental roads would outweigh the slight disadvantages that might accrue in other directions. The Prince of Wales car should give us an indication of how the arrangement turns out for steering. We will however, take the opportunity of carrying out some tests on the next 10,000 mile car. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||