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).
Proposed new features and testing for an experimental Phantom II enclosed limousine.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\T\March1929-December1929\ Scan301 | |
| Date | 7th December 1929 | |
| SECRET TO HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} FROM EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} COPY TO SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} ORIGINAL EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}1/7.12.29. x180. x7830. RE EXPERIMENTAL ENCLOSED LIMOUSINE. PHANTOM 2. We send herewith N.Sch.2999. shewing a small scale preliminary sketch of the Enclosed Limousine shewn on N.Sch.2993. which is being sent to you under a separate memo. We want this new car in order test the following new features. (1) The revised subframe which has the following advantages. (a) Rear floor dropped one inch on all cars. (b) There will be only one type of subframe instead of two. This will simplify distribution and reduce Works Cost. It makes possible maximum length cars one inch lower than at present with the same headroom. (2) The new bonnet, radiator and dash. Fitting this to Sir Henry Seagrave's car only enables us to judge its appearance. We want to fit one up and test it ourselves because of the new method of constructing the radiator we propose using to make chromium plating easier and cheaper. We also propose to increase the pot on the dash on this car. (3) Sales are not sure that they wish to have the 60ins. rear track tested on this car. We are still suggesting it for the following reasons. (a) It enables us to make a 50ins. cushion without building a wider body than we do at present. It will not increase the weight of the body. (b) It will not increase the overall width of the car. With the front track as at present the front wing width is the point of maximum width owing to the wings having to be made to cater for the wheels on lock. The hubcaps are never outside the wings now we have the short hubs. (c) It avoids the necessity of cutting away the subframe in order to get sufficient clearance for the rear brake & drums. (4) The 20ins. rims with Dunlop Silent Re-inforced Tyres of 7.000ins. section. We appear to soon be likely to be forced to adopting the 7.000ins. section tyre by the makers and public. If we fit it to the present 21ins. rim the wheel size and the running diameter is increased. Some customers are doing this already. With the proposed tyre the O.D. is about the same as the present standard tyre. (5) The revised "C" Type steering is the natural result of progress in coachwork design. Although the wheel has been dropped 1.500. the same leg-room is preserved by moving it back only .750ins. The present "C" Column is considered by many as being too high. (6) The wheel carrier to N.Sch.2962. D.A.& E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} are considering what features they have which this car could be made to test. We suggest that we dispose of one of our present expl. Phan?. while it is good stock and buy this. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} will discuss this with you on his next visit to Derby. [Signature] | ||