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).
Design, cost, and market positioning of the 'Bensport' car model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 3\4\ 04-page027 | |
| Date | 8th April 1932 | |
| R.{Sir Henry Royce} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} E.1/HP.8.4.32. re Bensport. With further reference to the above, my memo E.5/HP.31.3.32 re 8 cyl. Bensport was based on what I thought would make a better car without regard to restrictions of price, policy, or running expenses. It would appear, however, from a Sales analysis that this larger car would command a very much more restricted market, and would also enter into competition with the R.R. 20/25. This aspect of the case is dealt with separately by Sales, but we understand their conclusion is that having regard to all the conditions affecting the potential selling power of the car they would not recommend a larger engine than 18 HP. RAC. rating or a higher chassis price than £750 so that the complete car would never cost more than £1000. If we accept this as a basis then it follows that we retain the Peregrine size of engine, and fit the supercharger as standard, since the performance naturally aspirated would be no better than M.G. and others. With regard to the question of cost of production, always bearing in mind that we must achieve our object, the present scheme is to make a chassis based on Peregrine, but with the addition of overhead camshafts, and supercharger. There is also the problem of driving these overhead camshafts which you mention in your letter. If we go back to the history of G.l.engine this problem of the overhead drive decided you at that time to go to the push rod engine as the best all round scheme for R.R. purposes. CONTINUED - | ||