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).
Proposals and alternatives for the production of a new sports model chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 65a\1\ scan0143 | |
| Date | 10th October 1927 | |
| SECRET. X779 27 Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}10/T.10-10-27 Sports model. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer}, Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and myself have considered R's memo R1/M5-10-27 and your memo BJ11/E6-10-27 very carefully, and we recommend, as you will see from the attached memo that we proceed to make three chassis experimentally with all the parts that R.{Sir Henry Royce} considers vital and absolutely necessary, which after 10,000 miles trial can be incorporated without delay and expense to our ordinary chassis, thus avoiding the making of two models, which we consider is undesirable both from a Sales point of view, and a Works point of view of continuity of output. This also being adopted would in no sense delay the production of all the parts mentioned in the whole four categories of R's memo R2/M6-10-27. We suggest we go ahead as fast as we can to produce a chassis with all the four categories incorporated, but in order to have 50 sports chassis ready for early next year to catch the Riviera trade, we should have ready for 10,000 miles test a chassis fitted with the sports body in six or seven weeks, and such chassis must not depart in external feature from the standard chassis. We must order material immediately for the 40/50 chassis to maintain continuity of output. Roy.{Sir Henry Royce} is asking for permission to order 300 sets of standard material; we suggest for the time being we only order 100 sets, so that we may definitely find out where we stand later on with the new chassis. There is another alternative, that we should make experimentally and have a 10,000 miles trial chassis, embodying all the four categories as mentioned in R's memo. This will, of course, mean delay and cannot be finished as far as we see it this year, and would miss the market for 50 sports cars, as the new proposal would make serious and obvious departures from the standard chassis. This alternative would have the advantage of:- 1. Maintaining output. 2. Avoiding trouble with our customers through information leaking out that improvements have been fitted. 3. The avoidance of making two bites at the job. This seems very important, because it would allow us time both for experimental purposes and the making of the necessary jigs and tools. | ||