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).
And commenting on car seating positions for car Rm3 and a comparison with a Hupmobile Limousine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 95\3\ scan0164 | |
| Date | 5th November 1935 | |
| To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Car Seating Positions. With reference to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Les.14/KW.1.11.35, we would like to append our comments. In the design of car Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}3, the moved forward position of the rear seat by 21 ins. results entirely from the use of the Phantom II wheelbase on the 25 H.P. chassis, and the fitting of an eight-cylinder 'V' engine. The only virtue obtained from the horizontal steering wheel is the ability to lengthen the scuttle by moving the screen nearer the driver's face, so giving the appearance of a long bonnet. From the drawing it is apparent that the access to the front seats would become impossible whilst the close proximity of the scuttle rail would make the steering of the car in a tight corner at speed positively equally impossible. No form of instrument board which the driver could see could be used. Concerning the Hupmobile Seven-seater Enclosed Limousine mentioned in the second paragraph of the letter, the body space is not two inches more than the 25 H.P., but exactly the same. The wheelbase is 14½ ins. greater and the back seat is 17 ins. further forward than the 20/25 H.P. because the steering wheel is 2½ ins. nearer the front wheels. This 2½ ins. plus the 14½ ins. gives the 17 ins. mentioned as the amount by which the rear seat is forward of that of the Enclosed Limousine 20/25 H.P. Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||