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).
Production specification for the Phantom III chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0084 | |
| Date | 15th October 1935 | |
| Private Er Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Copy to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} X300 Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}9/T15.10.35. Phantom III. I met E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} and Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} this morning to have a discussion about the specification for a Production P.III. You will remember we decided, and instructed on September 11th to go ahead with 200 sets of chassis material. Up to the moment of writing only 5% of material has been ordered, although approximately 70% has just now been released. Considerable detail work has been done to get as far as this stage and BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} is anxious to get 100% released. It was realised by all present this morning that there was considerable modification and experimental work necessary before the car can go into the hands of the customer. In some quarters it is thought it is too early to order material and it will be better to wait; for instance, there is no hope with our present programme, of getting the two carburetter scheme on the first batch of cars, and it is also certain that a considerable number of parts will need modification. However, it was finally unanimously agreed that owing to the fact that we are showing at Olympia and Sales' urgent demand for chassis, that the following procedure should be adopted. As far as possible 200 sets of material should be ordered, that is to say, raw material and parts that we consider immune from alteration. Those units or parts that Design and Experimental consider likely to be altered, no more than 50 sets should be ordered; all this so as to minimise scrap. It is definitely understood that if the Production side are to have any chance to produce chassis within the next 6/7 months, that such a decision should be made, because there is all the tool-making and the getting in of material and the making of chassis to be done in that time. It was decided to take as a specification the latest P.III which is in France at the present time with Hancock, it is considered a better car than any of our trials cars and is our latest car with modifications. contd; | ||