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).
History and viability of all-aluminium coachwork construction, referencing past projects and proposing future investigation.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 117\1\ scan0035 | |
| Date | 24th September 1935 | |
| #25 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} X1021 To - E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to Nor.Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C.Cr.{Mr Cra???ster / Mr Chichester} JLE.{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager}Hlr. Aluminium Coachwork Construction. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}7/E.24.9.35 Referring to E.5/EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}17.8.35 the question of all-aluminium body construction, whilst interesting, is not of course new. I remember quite well - and possibly you also remember - an all-aluminium body being built by the Regent Carriage Company somewhere about 1910 for one of Edge's Napier cars. It was very successful so far as it went from a reduction of weight point of view but because of its cost and the fact that it was more of an engineering proposition than a coachbuilding job all idea of producing bodies on these lines was dropped. Mr.Hopper, the foreman of the Regent Carriage Company in those days was more the engineer type of coachbuilder like Mr.Ward. We have, as you see, two forms of construction, one the composite construction with steel and aluminium panelling and the all-steel experimental body. I think it would be quite interesting for your bodywork engineer (presumably Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}) to go over to Switzerland when the SpectreCodename for Phantom III pressure has eased, in order to investigate further the all-aluminium form of construction but I should not agree unless he were able to take with him some one like Mr.Ward, i.e. a representative of the coachbuilding industry. Otherwise I should not think that Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} would achieve very much; that is to say, it is not much use his becoming enthusiastic unless a coachbuilder does likewise. I am returning you under separate cover the envelope of literature which you sent. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||