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).
Proposal to supply the 8-cylinder engine unit for marine purposes due to low sales for private cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 133\3\ scan0073 | |
| Date | 23th May 1939 | |
| Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} ? 1128. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}3/R.23.5.39. 8-Cylinder Unit. Now that an endurance run has proved the reliability of the 8-cylinder unit, we feel that we should like to re-open the suggestion made in Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}5/R.1.12.38. re Vospers. We cannot expect to sell a great many of this size of engine in private cars because of the horse-power tax, and we, therefore, feel that to increase the turnover by supplying the unit for marine purposes would be a considerable asset. If you agree, we will re-open the subject with Du Cane, although probably it is now too late as he will have fitted some other power unit. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||