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).
Car requirements for the American market, comparing performance and considering a new smaller model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\4\ Scan372 | |
| Date | 31th March 1932 | |
| -9- HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/MA.31.3.32. cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} way traffic each side. From General Motors Proving Ground records there are at least three standard cars (Auburn, Lincoln, Cadillac 16.) being sold to the public with a mean speed in still air of 89 M.P.H. or over fitted with a seven passenger sedan body. The R.R. left hand Phantoms with the carburetter air silencers, having no cut out, do about 78 M.P.H. under the same conditions. This produces a certain amount of sales resistance. R.R.A.I. Car Requirements. The American company are convinced that if they could get a small Rolls Royce car that they could retail at between 7,000 and 10,000 dollars they could sell 1,000 a year. Undoubtedly there seems to be a complete lack in America of a car about the size of the 25hp with superlative control, refinement, and performance that would really appeal to the owner driver. On the other hand it would appear doubtful whether it is possible to build a single model to suit both the English and American markets because the conditions of motoring in the two countries are so different. To get superlative performance a relatively big engine displacement is desirable if silence and smoothness are to be maintained and a 12 cyl power unit will undoubtedly give the best results. The English methods of taxation would probably make the cost of running such a car in England prohibitively high and so strangle home sales whilst competitors in America would suffer from no such disadvantage. However it is possible that J.III would make a very strong appeal to the American public, now that they are entering upon a period where running costs may be expected to count, and the American Company certainly require a less expensive product to back up the P.II if they are to continue to exist. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||