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).
Proposed reduction in ground clearance for the 'Silver Ghost' and 'New Phantom' models, citing overheating and sales concerns.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 24\5\ Scan070 | |
| Date | 28th May 1925 | |
| X766 To H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} From BJ. Copy to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} GROUND CLEARANCE. With reference to R2/M5.5.25 (headed Overheating), towards the end you mention a suggestion of dropping the ground clearance to 10" normal instead of loaded. We are not quite clear what the result of this will be, but we understand that the present ground clearance of the "Silver Ghost" chassis, with full complement of passengers, is 9 1/2 ins. under the most vulnerable point, namely, the undershield below the flywheel. We believe the clearances of the "New PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I" are the same. Will you kindly let us know whether it is now suggested that the clearance at this point should be 8 1/2 ins? We should like to have an opportunity of considering this before it is adopted, owing to the risk of this clearance being too low, especially in Oversea countries. Perhaps you will find it unnecessary to reduce these clearances to [strikethrough]avoid[/strikethrough] overheating, and possibly all other possible remedies might be considered before this is adopted? We look on the possibility of reduced clearance as a very serious matter so far as sales are concerned. B.J. [Stamp] REC'D 29 MAY 1925 H&A | ||