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).
Vehicle weight reduction, chassis weight increases, and comparisons of coachwork and dippers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 71\2\ scan0179 | |
| Date | 1st February 1927 | |
| To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} from BJ. 'type of car in the direction of cutting down weight, and have recently 'delivered us a car which weighs approximately 3 cwts. less than their 'competitors. 'With regard to the flexible type of coachwork, Weymann and semi- 'Weymann bodies such as by Mulliners, Chiswick, are being fitted to 'a number of their clients' Rolls-Royce cars with satisfactory results. 'We have not ourselves, so far, advocated this type of body owing to 'general appearance. Every step has been taken by the C.S.C. in 'conjunction with the Coachbuilders in regard to the question of 'weight. 'The importance of weight of the complete car is fully appreciated, 'and it is therefore pleasing to note that attention has been given 'to weight reduction of chassis. The C.S.C. feel that in justice to 'the Coachbuilders they must point out that whereas the tendency is 'for the coachwork to come down in weight, the weight of the chassis 'has steadily increased, e.g. the 40/50 chassis has risen since 1923 'from an average of 31cwts. 3 qrs. 4 lbs. to 35 cwts. 3 qrs. 26 lbs. - 'and the 20 HP since 1922 has risen from 20 cwts. 2 qrs. 10 lbs. to '22 cwts. 1 qr. 10 lbs. 'An unfavourable comparison is made between the weight of Barkers' 'Dippers and RR Dippers. The C.S.C. hardly know what the latter are - 'we saw a sample pair many months ago and were forced to rather 'severely criticise them. Since then, so far as the C.S.C. are aware, 'they appear to have dropped into the background.' BJ. | ||