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).
Accident report detailing a car crash involving F. Royce, with damage assessments for the bodywork and chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 1\4\ B001_X 100a-page156 | |
| Date | 17th December 1932 | |
| Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 84057 To us. From G.W.H. hotel de France, Chateauroux, FRANCE. 17.12.32. E.PER.II. W.Brazier and F.Royce returned at noon yesterday and reported having had an accident. Apparently F.Royce was driving the car and attempted to pass a slow carrier's cart. A car coming in the opposite direction made him change his mind. Apparently he was too close to the cart in front at the speed he was travelling for the brakes to pull him up, he therefore took to the grass verge on the nearside of the cart. in doing this the car struck a gulley which is cut to carry the water away. This slewed the car sideways and into a tree amidships. After a brief examination we sent you the following telegram - CAR HIT TREE U.S. OF BODYWORK DAMAGED STOP CHASSIS NOT DAMAGED STOP DRIVERS NOT HURT. HANCOCK. The damage to the car as far as we can ascertain is - drivers door, panel stoved in; rear door panel damaged; door handle knocked back into and through door panel; main vertical strut holding drivers door shattered at bottom; hinges bent; running board completely smashed up; centre step iron folded over and distorted frame by the bolts holding same; strut carrying U.S. of roof splintered and aluminium covering buckled; moulding and drain pipe buckled; neither of the wings were touched. The glass in the drivers door badly cracked. EXAMINATION OF THE CHASSIS. The rear portion of the frame has received a shock and although we cannot see actually where it has gone, it has made the axle approx. half an inch out of track. The propeller shaft is not central in the slot of the crossmember. Taking the distance from centre to centre of the road wheels the N.S. is half an inch shorter than the O.S. This also corresponds with lining up, and the track of the road wheels. There is a slight bulge in the centre crossmember, the plate over the swanneck has distorted and the U.S. damper bracket was bent downwards. We have stripped the inside as far as possible, had the whole of the chassis frame cleaned, axle etc, but cannot find anything serious. There is nothing to prevent the car carrying on. | ||