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).
Proposal and justification for using a 6-cylinder engine in the new 'Swallow'/'Peregrine' model.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\H\January1922\ Scan28 | |
| Date | 28th January 1922 | |
| [Handwritten notes at top] R goes to town sells out (mainly for Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}'s benefit) Sells his philosophy & general policy of the new Swallow (Peregrine) [List of initials with notes] CJ. } 3rd loan PJ. } MJS.} A nicely reasoned chassis FN. } Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}} O.{Mr Oldham} } from R.{Sir Henry Royce} EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} } LP.{Mr Lappin} } HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} ✓ Sa. } HW. } MY. } Arthur Gibbs [Stamp] ORIGINAL RECEIVED [Handwritten] R.{Sir Henry Royce} ENTHUSIASTIC [Typed Heading] X4405 "SWALLOW". ("PEREGRINE".) [Typed Body] Some comments have been made about this third model which require some explanation from me. We are proposing a 6 cyl. engine because like all RR. productions we are aiming at such perfection that there shall be nothing else of the same size which is better from RR. point of view of sweetness of running, silence, and restfulness with a good performance, but not a tear-about racer (a la{L. A. Archer} 1.5 or 2 litre) or a rough knock-about (Ford), but nothing must beat us from a RR. point of view. Now, although I think a 4 cyl. will do in this size quite fairly well, we should be in the position (if we were to adopt 4 cyl.) of being easily beaten for silence and absence of vibration by anyone (A.C., Albert, Morris-Oxford) coming along with a good 6 cyl. Moreover we have to maintain our reputation for quality, and our position of specialists in 6 cyl. engines, and we can do so, and we can demand some extra money for this size of chassis, but to avoid living on a reputation, we must give a superior article. The second reason for a 6 cyl. engine is that we can low gear the chassis, and so give a good road performance, without annoying the occupants by a buzzing, fussy engine, because a good 6 cyl. engine of 1.5 litre will run 3,000 revs. without [handwritten insertion: perceptible] vibration. (1) | ||