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).
Report comparing Cadillac and French car bodies with Rolls-Royce bodies, noting defects and areas for improvement in coachbuilding.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 125\1\ scan0148 | |
| Date | 28th January 1935 | |
| - 3 - I consider, however, that the demonstration was a valuable one and provided each coachbuilder with plenty to think about. It was, I feel sure, appreciated that there is much room for improvement in the construction of their bodies and further feel the coachbuilders returned determined to do their best to affect improvements in future. It was noticed by the coachbuilders that there are a number of minor rattles and squeaks in the Cadillac - although not to be compared with the noises in the RR. body. There is play in the door hinges, a crack in the steel panelling at the nearside lower corner of the luggage locker door opening, play in the door and window winder handles, cracks in the cellulose where the bumper bracket covers are welded to the front apron &c. All the coachbuilders expressed a desire to know the weight of the Cadillac body. This will be obtained when the car comes to London. We discussed the use of steel for wings. The coach-builders thought stone shields essential which means steel wings must weigh about twice as much as aluminium. The Cadillac wings appear to have no stone guards and do not seem to need them. This will be investigated further when the car comes to London, as we are not satisfied steel wings need weigh much more than aluminium, and they should have a much longer life. There seemed a lot of movement of the headlamps and spare wheels on the RR. car 21-G-IV. I understand Hoopers are to shortly have the opportunity of examining the body of the RR. car and that they will have permission to dismantle parts if necessary so as to see how the wood framework has suffered. This should be useful and help them to improve future production. I suggest we should have a representative present during the examination and dismantling, so lessons learned may be passed to other coachbuilders. It is often claimed that French bodies on our chassis stand up better on Continental roads than English. I understand that we are to have French bodies on RR. and perhaps Bentley chassis for demonstration work in Paris, and that C. will later on arrange for one at least of these cars to come to London so our coachbuilders may see how the body has stood up, and how it differs from their own productions. This should be useful. | ||