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).
Meeting notes discussing production planning, design challenges, and sales strategy for the Spectre model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 30\1\ Scan219 | |
| Date | 12th September 1938 | |
| - 4 - SPECTRECodename for Phantom III - GENERAL (contd) car to go to France. Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} said that he would arrange to give us deliveries commencing the middle of May, and S. are to receive them at the rate of 3 per week. These, it is hoped, will be able to have the two-carburetter scheme, and therefore this scheme is now to be pushed on with all possible speed. Considerable discussion took place on the design of the crankcase and cylinders, on reports of difficulties in producing this. It was made clear that for the first batch of chassis we must inevitably use the present design, although it was considered that we should ultimately need to alter this, which would be merely a manufacturing alteration and not one that affects in any way the performance of the car. SG{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} requested that Design should co-operate with the foundry in considering ways and means of simplifying the job in its present form, and it seemed clear that there would be many ways in which the difficulties at present being encountered could be partly overcome. 200 sets of material were to be ordered forthwith of all parts which would definitely not need to be altered for these 200 chassis. Jacks - the type of jack is yet to be settled. The present ones would be the D.W.S. screw type as on P.III. The hydraulic scheme on which W. is working is operated by the engine and raises all four wheels at the same time. This was considered to be less complicated than the valve scheme which raises only the wheel required. Instructions for Salesmen Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} asked if the Works could suggest a scheme whereby the London salesmen could be instructed in Phantom III prior to its announcement to the Public. It was finally agreed that Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} would arrange to spend some time in London with a car - possibly an afternoon and the following morning - so that the salesmen in two relays could be given the necessary instruction and experience. Hor referred to one named Hamilton, who, having the necessary experience, might finally be useful to S. as Evershed and Clark have already been. It was agreed that Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} should make two more cars, especially as S. were to have Nos. 4,5 and 6. It was agreed to make provision for the bigger bore in SpectreCodename for Phantom III when dealing with any modifications to existing design. | ||