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).
Possibility of removing bonnet shutters from Phantom models to reduce costs and proposing practical tests.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 66\3\ scan0174 | |
| Date | 27th June 1927 | |
| X1075 X8260 To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from BJ. 40/50 HP Bonnet Shutters. BJ16/E27/6/27 Copy to R.{Sir Henry Royce} We are all most anxious to try to do away with shutters on Phantom bonnets, in accordance with Standardisation Sheet 8260. if it'is possible to do so without causing complaints from customers. It will save us over £6,000 a year - a considerable sum to add to our profits. The information we have on the subject contained in Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}7/LG28/11/24, indicates that at 40 miles an hour and full torque the atmospheric temperature at which boiling will occur is as follows:- 1. Shutters closed..........25.5.C. = 74.F. 2. Rear Shutters open......30.5.C. = 87.F. 3. Front shutters open.....32.C. = 89.5.F. 4. All shutters open.......34.C. = 93.F. It has been suggested, and we should be glad of your opinion as to whether there is any reason we should not make the first step by retaining the front shutters for cars produced during the present season. This will enable us to ascertain whether cars with only front shutters cause complaints when they are taken to hot countries or on long climbs like the Alps. If we receive serious complaints, we could later insert rear shutters. If we take these steps, we could in the meantime during the coming summer make practical tests in the Alps and under different conditions of temperature in the South of France etc., to ascertain what is the result of using only front shutters, and, if these are found to be entirely satisfactory, we could also try what is the result of closing all shutters, and be guided by these practical tests on the road under varying conditions of load, wind etc. as to what action we should adopt in future. We should prefer these practical tests to take place in August on a standard car, probably a new chassis selected at random, as there is no necessity for long mileage, and the car should be driven by an amateur or person who is not technical and who would drive as an ordinary chauffeur or amateur would drive. In the meantime we would continue to supply louvres to all cars that we are sure are going to India or other hot countries for permanent use there, but here again we would like to consider the desirability of entirely doing away with louvres and | ||