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).
Car development projects, updates on the 18 HP and Phantom II models, and a personnel assignment to the USA.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 170\2\ img080 | |
| Date | 3rd January 1933 | |
| -2- Ha.5/WJ.3.1.33. Cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} be reasonably free from noise. It has been agreed now that we scrap the a/c. idea and we are fitting to the car a 3½ Litre engine. We think it is going to be a remarkably good motorcar. In fact, we think it will be so good that it will be a shame to sell it. We are also busy with a small edition 18 H.P. car 2.6 Litres. This car has no special feature but should enable us to deal to a larger market. Although we have not done much on the bigger P.II we have decided any future big car will have 12 Cyls. In the meantime, of course, it is surprising what results we are able to obtain with the big six as regards smoothness with very flexible engine mountings. On riding we cannot claim to have made much progress except that we have now got running successfully a scheme of shock dampers which are controlled by governor driven off the propeller shaft. Although we started off with only luke warm enthusiasm for this scheme, it has panned out very well. We think we may have to have some sort of over-riding hand control but it will be a definite step forward over the usual hand control. You also may be interested in Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}'s report on the Dubonnet Car (attached herewith copy). We have got the Cadillac steering fitted to the Phantom but we are not highly enthusiastic about it. We do not like the low gear but at the moment we have too much friction in our axle. We intend trying it with an axle in which the friction is reduced. We have also got another car running about with a Marles-Weller steering which we like on our car rather better than the Cadillac. I expect shortly you will have a visit from one of my chief assistance, Mr. Lovesey. The real object of his going to U.S.A. is to keep an eye on Sir Malcolm Campbell who expects to have another go at the record early in February at Daytona. Mr. Lovesey is my principal assistant on Aero engines. He looked after the Schneider Trophy jobs both in 1929 and 1931. He had practically nothing to do with the boat "Miss England" therefore as we were not very successful in that direction we thought it better to spare Lovesey to go to Daytona. | ||