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).
Length of the 'SS' chassis, comparing it to competitors and suggesting design improvements.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 16\7\ Scan130 | |
| Date | 26th December 1928 | |
| Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} C. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} X7410 R1/M26.12.28. 'SS{S. Smith}' CHASSIS. X.7770 (crossed out) X. 7830 X. 7410 X 7600 Sales are alarmed at the length. Naturally we should compare our chassis with others of equal power and body space, such as : Daimler. Panhard. Isotta Fraschini. Mercedes. Hispano. Then we ought not to consider accessories, which can be made anything or nothing; for instance : (1) There is no need to compare the wheels at the back with wheels at the side. (2) Luggage carrier etc. I have been running EAC.7. for a year and have not noticed any inconvenience as this is fitted. It was carried one spare wheel or luggage at the back, and been through France 5 times without Dodd having noticed any inconvenience. We must not compare it with short Phantoms, but with cars which have equal body space. SS.{S. Smith} wheelbase is I believe somewhat shorter than Phantom, (long chassis 95% of our production) therefore it has slight advantages in manoeuvring for the extra length taken by the springs. The front springs are longer than Phantom so that these could be more flexibel, or less liable to break. They extend a few inches further than present Phantom, but this extra length is central and narrow and does not affect shunting. Also if either cars are fitted with front bumpers there is no difference as the bumpers are usually 6" in front of the wheels. They (the bumpers) make matters worse - on any chassis - because they are wide. The SS.{S. Smith} with long body and one wheel at the back is not different to Phantom with the same. The SS.{S. Smith} can much better be made with short wheelbase. I suggest if there is any trouble anticipated that we should have two lengths of frame. Our measure of EAC.7. is 17' 2 1/2", and in this contd :- | ||