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).
The history and delays in the body construction for a Long Wheelbase Phantom III, chassis 38-EX.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\1\ scan0444 | |
| Date | 26th November 1936 | |
| To-E.H. Copy to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} E/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}13./MN.26.11.36. ------------------- Re Long Wheelbase Phantom III - 38-EX. ------------------- Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} has sent me a letter stating that the body for 38-EX will not be ready until December 14th., Hancock having called on Park Ward's on November 20th. We give below the history of the body:- Feb.18,1936. Body ordered and specification sent to Park Ward & Co. Mar.16th,1936. Full sized drawing approved by Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} May 9th.,1936. Instructions for Flotex mounting sent to Park Ward & Co., the body then had its framework made but not assembled. The side filler arrangement was sent at this time. June 3rd. We saw the body partly framed up. July 17th. Instructed wider dashboard and the addition of a sunshine roof. The body was then fully framed and this change caused very considerable delay. Oct.9th. The body was partly panelled and we told Park Ward & Co. to go ahead more quickly and gave them a date for delivery. Oct.20th. They replied by saying that they had not any trimming instructions and these were issued on this date. Nov.9th. We again worried them about delivery. Nov.13th. They received the chassis from the Expl. Dept. Nov.24th. They phoned us to say that they had lost 2 1/2 days on mounting the body due to the centres for the Flotex mounting on the body brackets not agreeing with the centres in their body. Nov.26th. They inform us that the chassis has not been fitted with the correct petrol tank. It should have had a special tank to L&C.4981, which we instructed on March 7th, 1936, because it is | ||