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).
Chassis specification memo discussing the production timeline for the 'H' engine and 'SS' chassis, including testing and considerations for a USA version.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 72\2\ scan0275 | |
| Date | 8th March 1928 | |
| To B.J. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X8993 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/LG8.3.28. CHASSIS SPECIFICATION. HST-T X7770 Replying to BJ12/E5.3.28. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} is increasing the capacity of the Pattern Shop so that the patterns for the 'H' engine and the SS.{S. Smith} chassis can be pushed forward at full speed in parallel. Our own view is that we ought to have the first SS.{S. Smith} chassis completed in July 1928. There will be the usual modifications and alterations, and we estimate it will be Dec. 1928 before we shall have a complete car ready to commence the first 10,000 miles test. In introducing an entirely new car like this one, we consider the 10,000 miles test would be entirely inadequate. It is possible to complete the 10,000 miles in 3 weeks. We maintain it is necessary to have 6 cars running about for 6 months before we take the risk of not ordering any more material for the present Phantom. This means that in June 1929 we may be in a position to order material for the new car. We estimate then it would take at least 6 months to produce them so that deliveries to customers would commence early in 1930. X3719 This does not take into account making a car of this type suitable for USA. i.e., with left-hand steering and central change. It is certain that the American version of this chassis will be behind the standard one, and unless considerable pressure is brought to bear on it it is likely to be a long way behind. If Springfield are going to produce this chassis we should strongly recommend that experimental tests should be carried out in U.S.A. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||