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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).
Letter to Mr. Beaver regarding the pricing, importation and sale of a 20/25 HP chassis in America.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 19\4\  Scan214
Date  13th October 1930
  
COPY
X7777

ROLLS ROYCE LTD.
14-15 Conduit Street
LONDON-W-I

Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}4/E13.10.30
13th October 1930

Dear Mr. Beaver,

re Gowan 25 HP Chassis - GLR-61.

I am in receipt of your letter of the 19th ult.

I thoroughly agree with all you say in regard to the price of this car and the impossibility of expecting to sell 20/25 HP Roll-Royce cars on such a basis in any substantial quantities in America.

I hardly see, however, why the question arises because this is quite an isolated case where you have purchased one chassis at the normal price, purchased an English body and paid heavy duty on it, etc. etc.

You will recollect that we fully discussed, when I was in America, the question of the importation of 20/25 chassis, and you at that time prepared and circulated some notes of our meetings and discussions on the subject, showing that it should be possible for you on the basis of the special price I quoted for chassis to sell complete cars of this type at $10,953, which is not so very much above the $10,000 figure which seems to be regarded psychologically as the maximum figure.

This price also included $2190, i.e. about £440 for profit.

I have written you very fully as per my letter of the 11th ult, Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}7/E11.9.30, on this subject so that I do not feel that I can usefully say more in this direction at the present juncture.

I am pleased to note that your Solicitors are making a thorough study and analysis of the Customs precedents and procedure with a view to seeing whether it would be possible in any way to reduce the amount of duty which would have to be paid.

With kind regards,

Yours very truly,

(Signed) A.{Mr Adams} F.{Mr Friese} Sidgreaves
  
  


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