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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).
List of suggestions for improving car body construction and rigidity, including the use of steel and spot welding.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 84\1\  scan0374
Date  15th May 1935
  
- sheet 2 - E.1/HP.15.5.35.

Ward is making at our suggestions are as follows:-

(1) A light gauge steel pan instead of aluminium for the sunshine roof strongly attached along the sides for diagonally bracing the roof structure, and swaged for rigidity.
(2) Two diagonal braces in the rear quarters, extending from the upper rails of the boot to points above the rear window.
(3) Secure attachment of the top panel of the boot to the upper side rails to complete the diagonal bracing of the rear portion of the body.
(4) Light gauge swaged steel floor to the boot securely attached round the edges.
(5) General use of electrical spot welding for assembling frame members, securing bracing and panelling etc. As Park Ward's have no electrical spot welding plant as yet we have advised them how to obtain more or less the same result by drilling holes and torch welding.
(6) Improvement of the attachment between the door pillars and sills, and between door pillars and chassis frame.

With the general use of spot welding it will be possible to save a certain amount of weight at present lost in folding one flange over another, which feature would be rendered unnecessary in making the frame members.

We have advised Mr Ward to try this body first on a perfectly normal mounting and then to follow this up by bolting the body and dashboard firmly together. We anticipate that with this steel body on a standard chassis there will be trouble with front end movement. We are, therefore, pushing forward our schemes for the stiffer Bentley frame.

We have prepared a specification for this modified frame in conjunction with other new features, and
  
  


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