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).
Car crash involving the 'Corniche' model and subsequent repair plans.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 98\5\ scan0068 | |
| Date | 9th August 1939 | |
| 4009. SECRET. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. Ey. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/R.9.8.39. 14-B-V.{VIENNA} We have received the following wire from Waller:- "ROBOTHAM CORNICHE BADLY SMASHED THIS MORNING PLEASE PHONE 21 AFTER SEVEN THIRTY TONIGHT WALLER." We have since heard that the driver was not badly injured but the car is almost a complete wreck. We do not expect that we can possibly get it on the road again in less than 8 weeks. The outstanding problems on this car were ventilation and directional stability. The ventilation problem was purely one for the coachbuilder, and had not been entirely solved up to the time the car was smashed. Paulin is making further modifications to the body he is building. We do know for certain that one way of overcoming the directional stability of the car is to fit 7" tyres. The body has been modified to make it possible to fit these tyres. Briefly, the situation appears to be that the 'Corniche' as it went to France was quite a desirable car, and the programme should not suffer much by this mishap. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||