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).
Viability and user experience of right-hand drive cars in left-hand drive markets.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\3\ Scan228 | |
| Date | 19th March 1930 | |
| Copy. To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c to Srn. Oyl/DM{D. Munro}19.3.30. Chassis R.H. Drive Cars for contries with R.H.Road Rule. Conversation with M.r A.Y. Gowan giving the owners' viewpoint on the use of R.H. drive cars inU.S. or the Continent, emphasises the following - Whereas L.H. drive is vastly preferable (especially in U.S. because of the heavy traffic) the acceptability of the R.H. drive can be increased by moving the side levers clear of the right front door. He first asked whether the gear-lever could be placed central and then whether at least we could arrange for reasonably easy exit on the right-hand side. This applies particularly to the 20/25 h.p. which in U.S. would be a strictly "personal" car, owner driven, and more often than not driven by a lady. It appeared perfectly certain to him that no car could be sold in which the alternative was, either to climb out over the levers, or to eject one's passenger and oneself into the path of passing traffic. In American cities one is only allowed to stop the car on the r.h. sideof the street. We think this matter is very important because apart from the above feature, lack of chrome plating and lack of automatic shutter. Mr. Gowan, who has had 9 R.R. cars in the last 12 years, considered the latest 20/25 car from this morning's demonstration, "the finest car he had ever driven". He believes we are missing an enormous opportunity in not pressing its sale in the U.S. where it would represent the "perfect" personal car. Perhaps you would care to circulate this to the persons interested. (Sgd) OY. P.T.O. | ||