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).
Future design possibilities for the 20/25HP model, including engine enlargement and weight reduction.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\V\October1930-February1931\ Scan170 | |
| Date | 24th December 1930 | |
| sc. FROM E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} C. to R.{Sir Henry Royce} C. to WSH. C. to Mr. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} RECEIVED 1A DEC 1930 ORIGINAL FUTURE DESIGN - 20/25HP. E1/A24.12.30. X5770 We have read HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/AD181230. with deep interest, and while agreeing with the main contention raised in this memo. we do not altogether concur with the author's views, especially where it is thought that the engine can be enlarged to cope satisfactorily with the 35HP. type of body without any comprehensive alteration to the chassis and transmission. We think it will be found that the whole chassis must grow in proportion. The larger engine will take up more space and certainly weigh more. More braking capacity will be required. A higher road speed will be expected. Stronger axles will be necessary, and so on. Our view is that the avenues of improvement arranged in order of desirability are as follows:- (a) Keep the engine size unaltered and reduce the overall weight of the car considerably, say 5 cwt. (b) Compromise with some increase in engine capacity and some reduction on overall weight. (c) Let the car grow up into the 30/35HP. class of vehicle. It will be agreed that (a) is impracticable since most of the weight saved would have to come off the body. We fully realise the great difficulties surrounding the body weight question in connection with our business compared with a mass production article, but by concentrating on the most popular model as exemplified in 18-G-4, something might be done. We are told for example by EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} that two occasional seats complete with fittings weigh about 1 cwt. apart from any extra length in the body itself. This might be considerably reduced by using tubular instead of solid construction. The following list of bodies shews some body weights taken at random from motor press statistics, and compared with 18-G-4:- (1) | ||