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).
The suitability of different chassis for armoured car tests, weighing the pros and cons of alternatives.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 180\M5\ img037 | |
| Date | 1st August 1921 | |
| contd. -3- R5/G27. 8. 21 standard chassis they would not consider for a moment these tests, and I am not sure whether it is really going to pay us to make a few special chassis anywhere near the standard price, specially designed and constructed to meet these particular tests. As far as I can understand the present situation there is no chassis in existance that is built for an ordinary motor car that would do the tests required for these armoured cars. During the war and since the war, the armoured car section of the Ministry has found that our chassis is the one which performs best and the only alternative is for them to use a bus or commercial vehicle (lorry) chassis which is built to be 5 tons total load; this would be a chassis for a three ton load. This, however, would probably not do the speed or have the engine power which is necessary, but supposing they do not require the speed and power, then a chassis with a smaller engine and a very low geared back axle might serve their purpose better because it would not heat so much water, and therefore require such a large radiator. It is quite unusual in motor car use for the whole of the engine power to be wanted continuously so that if the water does over-heat it is only for very short intervals, and does not do any harm, and is for more satisfactory than having too large a radiator with its disadvantages mentioned above. If anything more is wanted, to be done in the way of tests, we certainly ought to send HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}, probably together with contd:- | ||