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).
Correspondence regarding the performance and potential sale of a Phantom II Demonstrator in India.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 52\1\ Scan169 | |
| Date | 22th July 1932 | |
| HS {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} ✓ RECEIVED 4 AUG 1932 Copy to Whr. {Mr Wheeler} London. Copy to Hd. {Mr Hayward / Mr Huddy} Derby. x 4476. Bombay, NRC {N. R. Chandler} 14/S22.7.32. re Rolls-Royce Car, Chassis No.76-WJ, Phantom II Demonstrator. Dear Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} ,---------------- Many thanks for your extremely interesting memo Ref. Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 3/AD.6.7.32 which deals with the whole of my queries in a very direct way. It will certainly be interesting to try a radiator with the new matrix having dented tubes on.chassis 76-WJ, but even if Sg. {Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} agrees, please do not send a radiator without first cabling, so that I can let you know whether or not we still have this car in our possession. The point is that as it is a demonstrator now more than two years old, we are doing our very utmost to sell it as quickly as possible at a specially reduced price, and we have already written to quite a number of prospects, and we hope that in spite of the terrible financial depression in India, we would be successful in selling it in the very near future. Actually, as stated in my last memo, one can drive long distances at high speeds in spite of the excessive temperatures without any material loss of water. At the same time, I feel convinced that the car could not be driven from Rawalpindi to Murree without serious boiling, as this includes 20 miles of continuous uphill, and when I was there last month the temperature was anything up to 114° F. {Mr Friese} and frequently as high as 108° F. {Mr Friese} at 11 a.m. I may mention that I have had very considerable experience of this particular hill as it is used for the A.H.Q. Trials which I have been recently attending in connection with propaganda work for the Humber Snipe, Hillman Wizard and Commer Raider. Rawalpindi is approximately 1650 ft. and Murree is 7250 ft. The Humber Snipe goes up very comfortably without any suggestion of boiling. Both the Humber Snipe and the Commer Raider fully laden go up without any suggestion of boiling; on the other hand, the Hillman Wizard does boil at the worst part, and I am going there again next week with a larger radiator which Rootes Limited have just sent out for a retrial. Actually, I should say that a car which easily climbs this hill without boiling would be considered to be over-cooled | ||