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).
Removal of rear shutters from a standard car model not intended for tropical climates.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 24\5\ Scan140 | |
| Date | 30th June 1927 | |
| To BJ. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to R.{Sir Henry Royce} Y766 HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}6/LG30.6.27. X1885 With reference to BJ16/E27.6.27. We think there should be no objection to deleting the rear shutters on the present standard car not intended for tropical climates. Special tests for over-heating were carried out by PN.{Mr Northey} and CWB. last year in the Alps. 12-EX car was driven with all the bonnet shutters closed during the tests and although all of the Passes were climbed during August, there were no signs of over-heating. (See report CWB8/GWB.9.26). We have been experimenting with the fan position and find that if the blades are brought near the rear of the matrix, we can detect slight gain in efficiency. This gain apprimately off-sets the loss due to the removal of the rear shutters. There would appear no reason why we cannot alter the fan position at the same time as we delete the rear shutters and if this is done there will be no alteration in the cooling efficiency. The bonnet shutters effect the temperature of the front seats. The difference however by removing the rear shutters will only be very slight. We consider in any case that if adequate ventilation is arranged on the coachwork, there should be no complaints. We consider it would be an unnecessary expense to carry out tests in the Alps to prove whether the rear shutters can be dispensed with. We have a tremendous amount of data obtained experimentally which enables us to predict the behaviour of the average car. If the tests are carried out, we should not be convinced by the results obtained on a single car with a non-technical driver, because slight variations in atmospheric temperature, direction of wind, or condition of driving will make a greater difference than we know would occur with the rear shutters open or closed. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||