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).
Shortening the wheelbase of the Phoenix model, comparing it to Packard, Oldsmobile, and Vauxhall designs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 111\2\ scan0240 | |
| Date | 28th September 1937 | |
| 800 SECRET. 1044 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}4/R.28.9.37. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Ey. P H O E N I X. When we come to Phoenix there will be no question of having the spare wheels at the side unless we want them there. We have, however, been told by the Design Dept. that we cannot shorten the front end of the car appreciably over the existing Wraith owing to the length of the engine. Judging from the other cars running about here we cannot understand this. The Packard, whose suspension we have copied, has an engine 4" longer than ours, and yet the distance from the dashboard to the front wheels is only 36" against our 35" The Oldsmobile, with an engine the same length as ours, has a distance from the dashboard to the front wheels of only 28", the Vauxhall 26". We think it is vitally important to establish this point, because the Phoenix was originally projected for a spare wheel at the back, and if we are to adhere to this specification, then we ought to be able to shorten the wheelbase by 5 or 6" if we are to follow the Oldsmobile practice. We should like somebody to make an analysis of what prevents your coming back with the front wheels relative to the engine when you have independent front suspension. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||