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).
Secret memo regarding two 40/50 HP cars with EAC engines, a mock-up chassis for a coachbuilder, and concerns about maintaining secrecy.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 71\1\ scan0073 | |
| Date | 1st October 1924 | |
| Y8830 To Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} S E C R E T. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}4/LG1.10.24. E.A.C.11. - Ref. CJ4/E30.9.24. Y8770 Y8830 We have at present two standard 40/50 HP. cars which are fitted with EAC. engines. One of these cars is at WW. and R.{Sir Henry Royce} has signed the necessary documents for the key. The other car is in the Expl: Dept: and I am responsible for the key. As far as the Expl: Dept: at Derby is concerned, the utmost secrecy is being maintained. We have instructions to send a mock-up EAC.11. chassis to Messrs. Barkers at Shepards Bush. There will be no engine fitted to it, but it will have EAC.11 steering, bonnet and radiator. Some time ago, I was at Messrs. Barkers and saw the first mock-up EAC. chassis. This work was being carried out in the middle of Barkers Body Shop, in the full view of every body. As the dummy EAC.11 bonnet is 3" shorter than the std. 40/50 HP. bonnet, on which this mock-up was being rigged, it was obvious to any intelligent person that there would have to be extensive alterations made under the bonnet before this 3" could be saved. We realise fully the difficulties of carrying out work on EAC.11. and at the same time maintain the secrecy, but we want it to be realised that as the rumours are increasing, there are other sources of leakage beyond the Expl:Dept: at Derby. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||