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).
Defects and design issues with experimental car bodies, focusing on cracked aluminium wings and general body design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 20\11\ Scan364 | |
| Date | 19th September 1929 | |
| EXPERIMENTAL CAR BODIES. In reply to C2/C3.8.29, we give the following remarks on some of the more recent bodies supplied by Hoopers for experimental chassis. 14-G.LV. Cabriolet with Hooper patent extension for front seats. WINGS. The front wings cracked up very badly. The first cracks appeared where shown by the dotted line. They also cracked where attached to the running board. Eventually new complete front wings had to be fitted. (In connection with sheet aluminium wings our experience generally is that they are far less satisfactory than sheet steel wings. They are considerably weaker and crack up quicker. Aluminium wings are very quickly damaged by small stones flung up by the wheels, the wings are dented locally and the paint on the top side of the wing is 'starred' badly. To overcome this it is necessary to use a separate stone guard under the wing, this brings the weight of the complete job very near the weight of a steel wing.) The rear wings failed where they are screwed on to the body, the screws pulled right through the wings. GENERAL BODY DESIGN. The front seats on this car are very narrow and cramped, there is insufficient leg room, seat too | ||