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).
Visit to coachbuilder Jarvis & Sons Ltd. concerning the potential construction of lightweight sports bodies.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 71\1\ scan0327 | |
| Date | 25th September 1925 | |
| to [redacted] from EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} copy to HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} [redacted] SECRET E.A.C. ORIGINAL X-8830 EVI / 25.9.25. K8830 K.393 RE SPORTS BODIES. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Yesterday, I visited the works of Messrs Jarvis & Sons Ltd. of South Wimbledon, who specialise in coachwork for sporting and racing cars. They do the majority of the coachwork for competitors at Brooklands and have many noted clients including Malcolm Campbell and Viscount Curzon. Their factory is quite small, employing approximately forty hands, whilst their work is that of the skilled craftsman, each job being a special order. They had no doubt about making our body come out at 7 cwt. and stated that they could reach the low figure of 5 cwt without difficulty. The body would be framed very lightly in ash and ironed with spring steel before being panelled in aluminium in the usual way. Spring steel forgings have been found to be the only form of ironing which will withstand the chassis distortion at high speeds. They have patented a detachable hood which, complete with sticks, only weighs about 14 lbs. for a four seater body, and which can be stowed away in a very small space. They use this universally. Their designer was very pleased with our designs and made no comments. It is interesting to note that the wings which we evolved at Barker's for 10 EX are practically identical with those which they recommend as being the most satisfactory type of sports wing. Most of their work is on Bentley, Sunbeam and Vauxhall in the large car class, whilst in the small car world they handle Bugatti, Alvis, Aston-Martin and Austin. I was informed that they have had in for repairs the Barker Straight Eight Isotta, and that the body has not held up at all well. I would like to be able to build our experimental body at this works, because I believe they would require very little inspection on our part to ensure that we would get what we want. Also, because they are used to building for faddists and enthusiasts, they will not resent any help we try to give them. The one danger would appear to be that they are closely associated with Brooklands and the racing fraternity, with the result that the news would rapidly spread that we were having a body built for speed. We cannot see that this would matter much, as, should we be asked to do so, we are quite willing to sell a similar body on a standard chassis. As far as they know we propose to fit our own order to a standard chassis to the instructions of a client who insists on light weight and rapid acceleration. We could produce the same result at ParkWard's Works only by spending much time with them and teaching them all that we have learned. They only differ from Barker's in that they are willing to be told and are interested in the reduction in weight of coachwork. As we are anxious to go ahead with a view to getting this car on the road, we would be glad if you could let us have your remarks by return. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} says the chassis will be ready very shortly. | ||