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).
Letter from Cadillac discussing customer demographics, styling, and engine design choices for their Sixty Special and 16 cylinder models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 125\3\ scan0163 | |
| Date | 6th September 1938 | |
| CADILLAC MOTOR CAR DIVISION GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION DETROIT, MICHIGAN CADILLAC AND LA{L. A. Archer} SALLE MOTOR CARS OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER 1052. September 6, 1938 W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham, Esq., Rolls-Royce, Limited, Derby, England. Dear Robotham: To my knowledge there have been no criticisms whatever due to having four lights on our Sixty Special. Strange as it may seem, a large percentage of purchasers are people of middle age or over - although when we brought it out we anticipated that it would appeal more to the younger and "smarter" element. It seems that if a "thoroughbred atmosphere" can be brought about thru the styling of a car, it is bound to appeal whether it has four lights or six, provided - of course - it has other attributes such as ample width, height, leg room, seat comfort, etc. It is impossible to use a flexible flywheel without a dampening plate in our engine. We tried it but it introduced disturbances which were more objectionable than the ones we were trying to cure. We feel that our 16 cylinder Cadillac is a very good job in a different way, to be sure, from the "60". It is only used in large 7 passenger models; has exceptional performance, smoothness and all that goes with the multiplicity of cylinders. There is, of course, a very limited market for it. Hardly enough to warrant its development but it rounds out the lines manufactured by the Corporation and adds a bit of "ultra something or other" that seems necessary. | ||