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).
Progress report discussing design and experimental points for the Spectre model, focusing on the suspension.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 4\1\ 01-page278 | |
| Date | 11th March 1935 | |
| +30D To W.R. From RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} C. to L. C. to H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} C. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} C. to Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} C. to MHS. C. to L/id. PROGRESS OF THE SPECTRECodename for Phantom III. The following are points which concern Design as well as the Experimental. The fact that they are mentioned does not mean that they are not having Design attention, but that it may be worth discussing them. (1) SUSPENSION. At the moment we are favouring the independent wheel suspension linkage as fitted to SpectreCodename for Phantom III 4; that is, we like the wishbone geometry as fitted to this car, and we want to have facilities for having variable rating front springs on THE PROJECT SpectreCodename for Phantom IIIs, which parts are also fitted to this car. The steering and controllability are so good with the American Marles type box and this arrangement that we do not want it to be altered too much in order to straighten the frame unless a great deal of cost is going to be saved thereby. If a big alteration is made it may mean new problems and further delay on what has so far been our major problem on the car. We should like designs to be made for front springs having a rating of between 5" and 7". We do not think we shall go stiffer than 5" or softer than 7". We have developed a semi-automatic shock absorber operation which improves the ride-up over hump-backed bridges. This is still in an experimental stage but we should like design to consider how it can be incorporated in the final scheme. As previously mentioned, any increase of ground clearance which can be obtained without difficulty is desirable, but we do not want to stress this point unduly, as the car is built mainly for english conditions. Also, increased wheel movement on the rebound is desirable but not imperative. Briefly, we are making progress on the suspension of the SpectreCodename for Phantom III, and can see daylight through what a few weeks ago appeared to be a most difficult problem. We do not want too many further alterations to the front end layout. | ||