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).
Design and construction of bodies for the new E.A.C.10 chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 12\3\ X704-0099 | |
| Date | 9th March 1928 | |
| to from Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} copy to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} RE FIRST BODY FOR E.A.C.10. ORIGINAL Y7830 EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}1/9.3.28. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} We thank you for your Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}16/M.8.3.28. We understand that Mr Royce wishes us to count on building three E.A.C.10. chassis to begin with and that two of these should be fitted with large heavy bodies which we are given to understand our customers still demand, and one should have a light Sports Saloon. We do not think it would be advisable to use the body now on 14EX. for the first of the new chassis for two reasons. We feel sure we shall wish to have 14EX on the road for some while and also, the body subframe would need rather considerable modification to enable it to be fitted to E.A.C.10. This would mean pulling the base off the body. Mr Royce says that we have to use our own system of body suspension on all these cars. The large bodies will, therefore, be built on our standard subframe whilst the sports saloon will be constructed on the girder plan. We hope to make this body to weigh no more than 6.cwt. complete. We have some further design to do on the chassis before it can be completed, but we will send Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} a design for the subframe as soon as possible. Until Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} has received this and has produced a subframe, there would appear to be no point in ordering a body as no construction can be commenced until the coachbuilder has the body subframe. Are we right in assuming that you will choose the designs of the two large bodies, which are to represent our normal production? We think that you should do so, for, although Mr Royce has agreed to have such bodies on experimental cars, it has been somewhat under pressure. We feel sure that he will be dissatisfied with them when they arrive at West WitteringHenry Royce's home town, and we do not want to be held responsible for their design. If we do the design of these bodies they will be on the lines of the one which he has at Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence. That has a 49ins. head room, sixlights and is leather above the waist line. The body is lightly built and specially ironed. We should wish to cut the weight down as much as possible. If we must have these bodies which will always displease Mr Royce, we think that you should build them and be responsible for them and his remarks when he sees them. The Sports Saloon we shall deal with as soon as we have completed the more urgent matters. We hope that we have made the situation clear, as we see it. EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||