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).
Modification and testing of a split rear bumper fairing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 26\1\ Scan223 | |
| Date | 15th February 1956 | |
| To: Hdy{William Hardy}/HPJ. c: AFM.{Anthony F. Martindale} c: JPB. APM/Kt. 12/MR. 15.2.56. 1604. Split Rear Bumper Fairing As you know the rear bumper fairing on B.116.AN has been split as requested by P.S.C. The gap in the centre is 3/8" wide and the two halves are flanged downwards for 3/16" on each side of the gap. The car has now run quite a few miles on wintry roads and if there were any tendency for stone blasting to take place it should be noticeable by now. I can find no evidence of damage to the boot lid{A. J. Lidsey} in the neighbourhood of the split. After one long run there was the slightest trace of dust near the handle but this could not be described as a serious complaint. I understand that the P.S.C. are not now so anxious to cut the fairing in order to make it match the body better, or alternatively avoid some lead loading. This is probably just as well as the split cannot be said to enhance the appearance. However should they change their minds at a later date we can see no engineering reason why the fairing should not be split, provided certain points are observed; first the ends of the fairing must be flanged downwards 3/16" to reduce the chance of stones flung up by the wheels passing through the gap, and secondly there must be no gap in the rubber stone guard between the fairing and the bumper. A continuous rubber strip can be applied to the two halves once they are fitted to the body or alternatively two pieces of rubber can be fitted on the bench and spliced together on assembly to the body. p.p AFM{Anthony F. Martindale}/Kt. RS{Sir Henry Royce's Secretary} | ||