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).
Typed document discussing and comparing British and American car body and bonnet designs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 146\1\ scan0087 | |
| Date | 9th February 1937 guessed | |
| 4. work, and they also have a Bentley of clean cut lines that are both original and pleasing. The Barker and Mulliner bodies are the essence of comfort. Park Ward have a very original body that is rather startling at first sight: however, our notions of the esthetic are largely a matter of habit and it is perhaps a point in this body's favour that it seemed more attractive on subsequent visits. The Americans are past-masters at turning out mass-production coachwork, their success being due partly to an enormous output and partly to the excellence of their sheet-metal and paints. Comfortable bodies they are, albeit a trifle old-fashioned to look at. In America, they have brought out a number of new bonnet designs, some happier than others, with a general tendency to overdo the chromium plating: gilding the lily is sometimes detrimental to the lily! Last year, Chrysler brought out the "Bison" bonnet, with the front line of the radiator curved forward at the top: this arrangement, although rather startling at first sight, nevertheless conveyed an impression of power and speed. Chrysler have since given this up, but another firm now copies it. It always takes some little time to get the pyblic used to a change, even a change for the better. | ||