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).
Outlining the development programme and timeline for the Continental B.V. model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 97\3\ scan0024 | |
| Date | 4th January 1939 | |
| 400C HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Rml/R.4.1.39. CONTINENTAL B.V. In order to give you a clear picture of what it is hoped to achieve with regard to the Continental B.V., we outline herewith the programme which has been decided upon:- In the first place, it has been decided that in order to compete with the performance which Lagondas are putting up, we must have a special B.V. chassis, which will be lightened in every way possible, for a reasonable expenditure, and on which will be fitted a special streamline body designed by Mr. Paulin. We showed you a sketch of the proposed body on Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}'s drawing board the other day. As Mr. Paulin lives in France, and Park Wards are too busy to undertake the development of a completely new type of body at the moment, it is proposed that Van Vooren's construct the first Continental body. The dates, which will have to be kept to, are dictated by the fact that policy requires that a replica of both body and chassis should be available at the Motor Show. For this to be achieved, we consider that the 15,000 miles' test in France should be completed by August 1st. Our records show that from the start of a test to the examination of a car can hardly be accomplished in less than two months. Therefore, the Continental car will have to be completed ready for test on May 30th. Van Vooren's say that they cannot get very far with the body unless they have the chassis on which to build it. A dummy chassis is no good because the wings, cowling, etc. become almost an integral part of the frame. We have, therefore, said that we will let them have the car in as complete a condition as soon as possible in order to let them get on with the body. Obviously there will be a number of special features which we shall not be able to finish in time, and it is proposed to bring the car back from France when the body is mounted to be brought up to date before it commences the test. The D.O. has promised that all drawings will be in your hands by January 14th for this chassis. This includes certain modifications to the body shape which were not included in the original specification. It is necessary to make a very big effort to get the chassis over to France early in February. We shall then hope to get it back before the end of April, and have a month to prepare it for test. | ||