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).
Extract from a private letter regarding the decision not to offer Buick's new automatic transmission to overseas buyers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 125\3\ scan0021 | |
| Date | 7th October 1937 guessed | |
| COPY EXTRACT FROM PRIVATE LETTER ---- "This feature is an automatic transmission which Buick will offer on cars for use in the United States on the '40' series ONLY. It will be offered as an option on this series only at a probable list price of from $80 to $100 over the standard equipment. This automatic transmission will not be available on any other model except the '40' series Model, and only on these for use in the United States. We think it would be unwise to offer this option abroad at this time as the transmission is rather complicated. The unit occupies a space about twice as large as the ordinary transmission and weighs approximately 3 1/2 times as much. Due to the multiplicity of moving parts which require constant oiling and the fact that the automatic shifting is based on a hydraulic method, using transmission oil as a medium, this transmission has a separate oil pump of its own and the unit might cause trouble unless the proper kind of oil is available and is used at all times. Because of the difficult service problem that might arise, as Buick is unwilling to permit the domestic dealers to service these transmissions and plan to take care of any troubles that arise by complete unit replacement, we have decided we will not permit any of these automatic transmissions to be shipped abroad until such time as the unit is beyond the experimental stage. I have gone into some detail on our policy in respect to this transmission as you will undoubtedly hear of its being offered domestically and would wonder why we made no mention of it, and I wished to fully explain why it would be impossible to offer this option to overseas buyers at this time." | ||