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).
Declining sales of the 20 HP Chassis and suggesting potential improvements or its discontinuation.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\5\ 05-page207 | |
| Date | 17th October 1929 | |
| CONFIDENTIAL & SECRET! X5771 SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} )From C.C. to Nor. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Ds. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} R.5/AH.10.29. Despatched 17.10.29. X.5770 X.5830 X.5771 20 HP. CHASSIS. The following is humbly suggested from my views of the above. Sales, Works, and W.R. are not in complete agreement concerning the 20 HP. Chassis, as regards urgency of doing more than just increasing the bore(already done). The rate of sales is decreasing, therefore either there is not a market for this model, or our programme is not sufficiently attractive. Concluding that there is a market then why are our sales decreasing? The broad reason is that value for money is low i.e. the complete car costs the buyer more than its merits warrant. Sales can continue their efforts so that the buyer is put to the least unnecessary expense, but we cannot expect to compete with popular prices. We can, without much extra cost to ourselves (except perhaps a small percentage of loss of orders at the moment, then in a little time our sales will increase) improve:- (1) The appearance. ) Can only be improved by avoiding big (2) The riding qualities } bodies(high, wide, and to a less extent, long. (3) Performance. ) Can only be improved by avoiding heavy bodies and adopting the improvements to the engine, which are in sight. (4) But an increase in the size of both engine and chassis is necessary for big bodies, to get (1), (2), and (3). Shall we do either, any, or all of these, or shall we let the 20HP. fade away?. I want to make it clear that unless I can do something my responsibility must stop. I will do my best, but if you do not follow my advice, I must not be blamed. I very definitely do not recommend (4) because it will make our second model compete with Phantom. Therefore we must once and for ever cease to fit the large ponderous bodies. | ||