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).
Comparing English and French coachbuilding quality, construction, and pricing following a 10,000-mile test of a Barker body.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5\2\ 02-page089 | |
| Date | 1st April 1927 | |
| TO M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} FROM DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} ORIGINAL X5830 DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}1/1.4.27. C. to MJ. POR. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} re. COACHWORK. X5830 ST.{Capt. P. R. Strong} MCY. SY. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} HBZ/LGSG.3.27. The BCHP. Barker cabriolet de ville which HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} has recently brought down to you has already done one 10,000 mile test in France, and returned without any coachwork complaints being received by us. The fact that this body was considered fit for a second 10,000 mile test without any adjustments being made is a tribute to the subframe suspension. Bodies of this type with standard mounting have usually gone to pieces on the first 10,000 mile test. It would have been more fair had Barkers been allowed to have had this body for a few days before entering it on another test in France. It is only reasonable to expect that doors and windows would need adjustment after 10,000 miles in France. It is about a year ago since I visited our French coachbuilders. Speaking of Kellner Freres & Labourdette, I saw no features in the construction of their bodies to lead me to believe that they would hold up better than ours on French roads. Their construction is heavier, and their hand forged body irons are inferior to our average examples, both from the point of view of design and weight. The continental ash is distinctly inferior to that used in England. In comparing the price of a Kellner body with, say, a similar Barker body, one has to remember, firstly, the cheap labour available in France, and secondly, that Barkers and Hoopers can demand the extra price because of their superior exterior and interior finish they can give, and the name which they have for this. The proof is the fact that, in spite of the heavy import duties against them, they are able to sell cars in France. We admit that English coachwork is far from perfect, and would welcome any suggestions from France which would assist us in improving it. At the same time we feel that they have nothing to compare with the Barkerlite body, which is even lighter than the Weyman, and which is already proving itself to be a commercial success. DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||