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).
Design proposals for the front appearance of the Spectre model, including radiator and grille options.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 92\1\ scan0024 | |
| Date | 17th September 1934 | |
| X9075 304 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} To EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wer. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Front Appearance of SpectreCodename for Phantom III. Your memo EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}1/15.9.34 confirms our arrangement to produce two scale models, one making the best of the conventional form of radiator and the other shewing a modified form of radiator with hollow front. I think also we ought to arrange for one of these models to be convertible, probably the first named, so that a sloping radiator could be fitted which is otherwise of the conventional type. I know your objection to this proposal is that the slope would have to match various other slopes on the body such as the angle of the windscreen etc. but I have seen a number of cars in which these slopes do not all agree without perceptible offence to the eye, and it seems to me this is a scheme we should not entirely neglect, particularly as it adds length to the bonnet, and tends to correct that appearance of the radiator falling forward when the car is unladen. With regard to your remark concerning the architecture of the hollow fronted radiator, I quite agree that it may be necessary to use a straight line bottom edge instead of the shield form. This is how we originally intended to make the Derby version of this scheme. I think your suggestion with regard to a new form of grille is quite a good one, but it will certainly reduce the flow of air. With regard to the present grille, it is doubt-ful whether we shall be able to judge it properly until we have got other conditions right, but we have another pattern in which the horizontal bars are replaced by a chevron type of bar, the angles being opposed towards the centre line of the grille, and dividing the area into two by virtue of the two patterns thereby | ||