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).
Results and plans for testing a Cadillac in France, comparing its coachwork to their own and detailing responsibilities for 'Spectre' bodies.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 125\1\ scan0137 | |
| Date | 21th January 1935 | |
| To Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to Sor. c. to U. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Mn. ringa TESTS IN FRANCE ON CADILLAC. It has been a very expensive experiment to run the Cadillac car in France and therefore we want to make sure we get the maximum value out of it. I have a feeling that we shall not do so. As far as we are concerned the Cadillac does not represent any marked advance in U.S.A. coachwork. For years we have known and pointed out that the deterioration on U.S.A. coachwork was nothing like so rapid as on our own. The Essex, Graham-Paige, and Buick would all give similar results in France in spite of them having different types of suspension and different kinds of frames. The short experience we have had with the No.1 SpectreCodename for Phantom III which is fitted with a Standard Phantom body leads us to expect that the results with our coachwork on the SpectreCodename for Phantom III will still not compare with the results of U.S.A. cars. What I am not clear about on SpectreCodename for Phantom III bodies is who is taking the responsibility. We do not want it to happen that when the SpectreCodename for Phantom III bodies fall to pieces in France, for the coachbuilders to turn round and say that the reason they have collapsed is because they were made to our design. We think that the coachbuilders should take the entire responsibility for some of the SpectreCodename for Phantom III bodies. We are going to take them over to France to show them the results on the Cadillac. We are going to allow them to pull the Cadillac to pieces and see the construction and therefore it should follow that they should be given an opportunity of producing a body incorporating any features they choose. I am very doubtful whether they will be able to give us the results but as we have no control over coachwork it is difficult for us to take the responsibility. In view of this we consider that at least Mn. should go to France with the coachbuilders when they make their tests. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||