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).
Comparison of English and American car manufacturing specifications and weight-saving measures.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90\2\ scan0089 | |
| Date | 14th June 1938 | |
| -2- Their quantities are so great that it pays them to spend a large sum of money to save a small amount of material. As an example, in a busy year the saving of one cent's worth of copper on the Chevrolet radiator means about 10,000 dollars to the General Motors Corporation. It is possible for the English Manufacturers to counteract the American resources for weight saving research by using rather more expensive material such as aluminium. The final result is that if English and American cars were made to the same specification they would be very nearly the same weight. However, the American specifications differ from our own, owing to their different requirements, in the following manner:- (a) Exhaust Systems and Batteries regarded as items which are replaceable in 12 months; consequently, made very light. (b) American roads do not necessitate the braking equipment essential on a fast car in England. Much weight saved here. (c) Small brake drums as a result of (b) permit 16" wheels. Further economy in weight. (d) Four-ply tyres fitted in U.S.A. because good road-holding does not depend on good cornering. Such tyres too sensitive to inflation press for average English conditions. (e) Americans use 3-speed boxes against four speeds universally required in this country. (f) For some reason the American public have accepted fuel tanks which carry an absurdly small quantity of petrol. The additional supply demanded by our customers necessitates an additional weight of 50 lbs when combined with the tank necessary to carry it. (g) We fit one shot lubrication which is not standard on the American cars. | ||