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).
Development and production strategy for the 'Bensport' car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179b\2\ img066 | |
| Date | 8th November 1932 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Dm.{D. Munro} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Hdy.{William Hardy} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/WJ.8.11.32. X4553. 'BENSPORT'. We are now commencing to put together the Bensport chassis. We do not think this should take us very long providing we can get all the instructions because a large percentage of the chassis is made from Peregrine parts and the remainder from J.1 parts. The unit which is likely to hold up the car is the gearbox. We hope the final designs for this will not be held up for the completion of the scheme for automatic dampers. The Bensport we should say is the last in our range of cars which require this refinement. Firstly, because we do not expect to give the same luxury in this car. Secondly, because of the low centre of gravity and the fixed body weights the springing will not be so difficult. We have at least ten complaints of springing on the Phantom for every one on the 25 HP. and we think as the car gets smaller the springing problem becomes easier. If we are going to be in a position to sell Bensport next summer it is essential that we should get the first experimental car completed by the end of this year. The Bensport will have to be tested under strenuous conditions and proved out to make sure that it will prove reliable and safe. The chassis, being a Peregrine, is very much lighter than the present 25 HP. and yet the car will be faster than anything we have made previously. Another reason why we consider it is essential to complete the Bensport as soon as possible is that the car has been hanging about so long, the bodies have been completed at the coachbuilders for several months, and there is no doubt that a number of the features unless we quickly take advantage of them will be incorporated in our competitors cars. At the moment there is no car being sold which compares with the Bensport but if it is long delayed it is inevitable that somebody else will step in with a car approaching its performance. | ||