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).
Specifications, styling, and production of the B.50 car body, including costs and manufacturing methods.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0248 | |
| Date | 13th December 1937 | |
| -3- Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}3/R.13.12.37. Presumably a complete specification of materials to be used will have to be got out for the B.50 body whether it is produced at Mulliners or Park Wards, and someone has got to take the responsibility for the coachwork being to specification. Someone has got to "style" the car. The Americans regard this as of vital importance. On Bentley 50 we cannot rely on the R.R. radiator. We think that designs and models of frontal appearance should be going ahead forthwith. We hope that from this quantity produced body we shall get a more satisfactory automobile, but this will only be possible by means of the closest co-operation between our Experimental Test and the Body Manufacturer. We are inclined to think that F.{Mr Friese} Dodd should work with Hn.{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders}, or whoever is dealing with the coachwork from Sales' side. Floor Space. From Green's report, something about the size of the 190 Shop is required. This seems a lot of room, but we shall be surprised if the re-organisation does not produce empty floor space. In any case, trimming is almost invariably done on a first floor. Equipment. From Green's figures, ignoring the body dies, equipment is not costly, and £26,000 might cover it all. TYPE OF BODY. No useful purpose could be served by anticipating the reaction of the public towards standardising body types of B.50 car. However, we do not believe it is correct to say that the Motor Industry generally is moving away from large pressings. Almost everybody with whom you talk on the subject is agreed that a body made with large pressings is a better job than one built up of a number of small sections. The question of the amount of money to be spent on tools is almost always the deciding factor. It is interesting to note on page 456 of the November issue of the "Automobile Engineer" the statement | ||