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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 raise the radiator and bonnet height by one inch, with feedback from coachbuilders.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 66\3\  scan0039
Date  27th March 1920
  
X.3885

Copy to R.{Sir Henry Royce}) from Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington}
Copy to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}) " Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington}

Original passed to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}
Copy to EFC.

ToBn: Derby.
From: Sp.{Mr Spinney}

Sp{Mr Spinney} 2/HW27.3.20.

27th March, 1920,

X.3726. Re 1" HIGHER DASHBOARD RADIATOR & X.3885. bonnet.

Lord Herbert Scott and Mr. Cowen have examined the new radiator and bonnet on 4.EX as requested in your minute Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/LG17.3.20.

Unfortunately, the body fitted to this car, namely, the Pullman Limousine Ex Armour, is rather a large body and not a good example of modern lines. The result on this particular chassis is that the body to some extent dwarfs the bonnet.

One cannot, in fact, see any appreciable difference due to the extra inch in height.

Lord Herbert Scott wishes me to say, however, that after fully discussing the matter with Coachbuilders, the extra one inch which you have been able to obtain on this car will be greatly appreciated by them. It will help to prevent the making of touring bodies which are to low at the sides and which give inadequate protection to the passengers. It is considered, however, that the one inch provided is insufficient to meet all requirements. You may note that the bonnet on 4.EX is still lower than the old Continental bonnet, which, the by/way never looked excessively large. We consider that the ideal bonnet from the Coachbuilders' point of view would be two inches higher than the present standard, - not one inch as on 4.EX.

The further improvement asked for by the Coach-builders would be to increase the width of the dash to be at least the same as the old Continental dashboard.

Although the above two inches minimum extra in height is the ideal which we all hope will be reached, we are in the meantime grateful for the one inch, and consider it should be standard ised until such time as you will be able to give us still another inch.

Briefly, the advantage of the higher radiator are:-

(1) Extra clearance for driver's

Contd.
  
  


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