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).
Timing and process for supplying dummy chassis to coachbuilders for the Olympia model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\1\ scan0048 | |
| Date | 8th August 1935 | |
| SECRET To LA.{L. A. Archer} Copy to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} X 300 E/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}3/MN.8.8.35. RE DUMMY CHASSIS FOR OLYMPIA. We have tried the body of 33-EX which was built on one of the wooden jigs, on a chassis and have discovered no faults. This is encouraging as it gives us reason to believe that the jigs supplied to Coachbuilders may be expected to be accurate. The question of the advisability of sending the dummy chassis to the Coachbuilders at an early date we suggest needs consideration. These dummy chassis are incomplete in many respects, and a body built on them would not necessarily fit the chassis in its final state after Olympia. It appears to us, therefore, that it is essential that the Coachbuilders build their bodies to the wooden jigs; to ensure this we suggest that the dummy chassis should not be supplied to the Coachbuilders until the body is framed and panelled. We feel sure that if he receives the dummy chassis whilst the body is in the course of construction he will of necessity complete the body on the dummy chassis rather than on the jig, believing that the dummy chassis is the final thing. If he does this we shall find ourselves having to make very considerable structural alterations in the bottom of the body after the Show. We wish to make sure that his body is constructed on the wooden jig and panelled before he attempts to mount it on this dummy chassis, and suggest that to ensure that this happens, the dummy chassis should be delivered not too early in the history of the body. We would welcome the opportunity of discussing this with you on Friday with a view to arranging with Sales as to the delivery date for these dummy chassis, one of which we understand may be ready in a few days. EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||