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).
Confirming a conversation about the coachwork and testing of experimental cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179b\1\ img140 | |
| Date | 2nd November 1932 | |
| TO HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} FROM EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Or 150. EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}7/2.11.32. COPY TO [REDACTED] COACHWORK & EXPERIMENTAL CARS. This is to confirm our conversation on the subject of coachwork in connection with the Expl. Cars during my visit to you. It was agreed that if you are to take a greater interest in coachwork and the completed car than you have done hitherto it will be essential that the cars you test shall be like those finally sold. The bodies must be mounted and the wings and steps fitted, finished and mounted by the maker or to his instructions. We think that this can be best accomplished by the maker sending on or two men to do the work in Derby when we are not able to supply the chassis. Messrs Sanderson & Holmes now do practically no body building and their efforts on Pare I & 2. have lead to these conclusions. We think that in the Expl. Dept there is room for one man who has worked in the trade as a coachbuilder. He would be able to combine the work of the maker and ourselves and carry out the work we from time to time shall ask for. Yet another useful work would be for him to attend to the coachwork of all cars in use in Derby so that minor faults and adjustments might be remedied. Although these cars do a phenomenal mileage at high speeds in a short period they do not get the attention they would get in the customer's hands. I propose to continue the work I have been doing for the past 15yrs. in connection with the layout of new chassis and the design and building of bodies for new chassis. I also intend to endeavour to visit Derby at more frequent intervals. ( In the past this has not averaged once a year). On the other hand I consider that it is essential that all the while the layout of new chassis is done in this department I shall remain here to look after the interests of the coachbuilder and Sales. This I believe can be done if we can be given sanction for points (1) & (2). I hope to be able to discuss this with SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} when next I am in London, and at the same time take up with him the other matter concerning the inspection and testing of finished cars in London. LID{A. J. Lidsey} See me HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||