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).
Secret memo detailing the development, testing, and production programme for the First Edition of the Sports Model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 65a\1\ scan0102 | |
| Date | 16th September 1927 | |
| [Handwritten]: HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} #8770 X7779 X8771 SECRET. To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from BJ. Copy to R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Copy to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Copy to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Copy to C. Copy to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to CWB. First Edition of the Sports Model. At a conference at Gerrards Cross on Friday the 16th, present: Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}, R.{Sir Henry Royce}, Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}, CWB., BJ., owing to the great urgency from the point of view of the Company's finances of placing this model on the market at the beginning of next year, it was agreed that there seems no reason at present why we should not adhere to the following programme, subject to R's approval:- 1. 10,000 miles test to start 15th October and finish 15th Nov. 2. The car should be advertised for sale as early as possible in January, this date being dependent on how soon the Works can supply a chassis for demonstration purposes and how soon a suitable body can be supplied and finished. 3. Production chassis should be on test at the end of December and be delivered to Sales at the end of January. 4. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} should order material for and start manufacturing 25 chassis forthwith so far as they are our present Phantom standard, and that he should order the other parts, which go to make the chassis a sports model, so soon as Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} has obtained R's concurrence that these parts are not likely to be altered. There are very few such parts and it is hoped that these can be put in hand immediately after the 10,000 miles test, namely, the 15th November. 5. Three of these chassis should be given preference for demonstration purposes and if necessary special parts should be manufactured during the 10,000 miles test. 6. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} should, subject to R's approval, confer as soon as possible with Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} in regard to the body construction, and a special body should be put in hand by Jarvis of Wimbledon who has special knowledge of such sports model bodies. It is thought this is better than the body being made at Derby if it can be arranged, also that Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} will be able to watch it continually at Wimbledon. 7. Also that our usual coachbuilders, such as Barkers, Hoopers, Windovers and possibly others shall be asked to design and construct sample bodies as quickly as possible weighing 7 cwt. and within certain limits of wind resistance and other dimensions. | ||