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).
'Very Secret' letter discussing the development and production strategy for a new chassis, camouflaged as the 'Super Sports Model', for the American market.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 72\2\ scan0282 | |
| Date | 17th January 1928 | |
| VERY SECRET. fresh drawings every time we altered the design of an experimental parts during the tests and if you try to alter your designs accordingly, one can readily imagine the immense amount of drawings, explanations and correspondence which would result from such a complicated arrangement between us. After we have made the modifications mentioned in paragraph 3, we know that Mr.Royce is preparing to introduce still larger modifications which may be standardised in 18 months' time. Generally speaking, all these modifications will constitute an entirely new chassis, probably even more different from our present standard than the Phantom differed from the Ghost. So far as Rolls-Royce Ltd. are concerned, we realise we have to face this, chiefly because the progress in the design of cars has altered rapidly during the last few years in many respects and we must be up-to-date to keep at the top. It is an immense expense to start jigging and tooling an entirely new chassis, and there is great difficulty in keeping it secret. Absolute secrecy is of the very greatest importance and that is why I have marked this letter "Very Secret" as, if this secret gets out in America, it is bound to come back to us here. If it once got about that we are likely to produce a new chassis, it would kill our business dead here and, therefore, I know I can depend on your discretion to prevent any least whisper of these changes being imparted to any one in America, beyond perhaps Mr.Beaver and Mr.Olley. Of course Mr.Nadin knows of it here and realises the absolute necessity for secrecy. To camouflage this chassis even in our correspondence with Mr.Royce and the Works we allude to it as the "Super Sports Model" in case any of the correspondence were seen. It seems to us that under the above circumstances you will probably consider the only method of dealing with this problem is for chassis, which are to be sold in America, to be manufactured entirely at Derby instead of only some parts or units being made at Derby. This arrangement would undoubtedly enable the cars for America to be produced at Derby almost at the same time as the cars for England, as we should be able to go ahead more quickly in England with the design and production of the left-hand parts and to have them in readiness for production, and thus avoid the necessary delay in communicating all the drawings and information to Springfield. Designing and testing separately in America must always be a lengthy job and cause delays and troubles before the production is really O.K. for sale to the public. | ||