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).
Feedback from Cadillac tests in France and specifics on the coachwork for two 'Spectre' chassis bodies.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 92\1\ scan0057 | |
| Date | 23th January 1935 | |
| -> S/W...Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} Hn.{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders} ----Tr.{Capt. F. W. Turner - Finance} C1/C23.1.35 TESTS IN FRANCE ON CADILLAC. ------------ HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}8/MJ21.1.35 ------------ We agree that we should do everything possible to get the maximum benefit from this run you have made on the Cadillac car in France. We want to give the Coachbuilders every possible opportunity of learning all they can so that they can embody in their future construction any ideas worth while. With regard to your remarks concerning coachwork for "SpectreCodename for Phantom III" it would perhaps be as well to make the position clear. Body on No.1. ------------ We do not look upon this as a standard body. It was built for a Phantom II chassis and was altered after construction, under the direct supervision of "W" to suit the "SpectreCodename for Phantom III" chassis, thus becoming a hybrid. It was then fitted, not by the people who built the body, or the people who made the alterations, but by someone whom you obtained locally - presumably Sanderson & Holmes - which the Coachbuilders would regard as being detrimental to their work. Body No.2. ------------ This is a body built specially for the "SpectreCodename for Phantom III" chassis, under the direct supervision of Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}, so that presumably you will be able to look upon this as a real example of what the body should be, but we would here suggest that you should allow this body and wings, etc. to be fitted at "W" by Park Wards men. Naturally we cannot send the chassis to their Works, so that this seems to be the best alternative, and would please them. It is also suggested that when the car has done 700 to 1,000 miles, and the body has settled down on the chassis, Park Wards men should again be called in to tighten down the various parts which loosen in use, adjust the doors, etc., as is done with customers' cars. We feel you never have had this sort of thing done, but we believe it is the only way you will get the best results from the coachwork. With regard to the question of responsibility, it must be very clear that when R-R specify the details and instruct the Coachbuilder what to do and how to do it, undoubtedly the responsibility for that body remains with R-R.{Sir Henry Royce} The Coachbuilder is merely carrying out our instructions. | ||