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 letter from Rolls-Royce of America to the Derby works inquiring about the progress of a new car program and chassis development.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\3\ Scan005 | |
| Date | 11th January 1929 | |
| X7772 ROLLS-ROYCE OF AMERICA, INC. WORKS: SPRINGFIELD, MASS. LONDON & DERBY January Eleventh, 1929. SPRINGFIELD TELEPHONE 5-3700 Mr. E.W. Hives, Rolls Royce, Ltd., Derby, England. (Secret) Dear Mr. Hives:- When Mr. Johnson was here in March last we discussed the program laid down in your letter of March 8th, 1928, Reference Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/LG8.3.28, addressed to B.J. For ready reference I quote from that letter the following:- "Our own view is that we ought to have the first SS.{S. Smith} chassis completed in July 1928. There will be the usual modifications and alterations, and we estimate it will be Dec. 1928 before we shall have a complete car ready to commence the first 10,000 miles test. In introducing an entirely new car like this one, we consider the 10,000 miles test would be entirely inadequate. It is possible to complete the 10,000 miles in 3 weeks. We maintain it is necessary to have 6 cars running for 6 months before we take the risk of not ordering any more material for the present Phantom. This means that in June 1929 we may be in a position to order material for the new car. We estimate then it would take at least 6 months to produce them so that deliveries to customers would commence early in 1930." Mr. Fuller mentioned on his return that the first S.S. chassis was about completed and would be turned over to Mr. Royce to take with him on his holidays in France. In considering our plans here I would like to inquire whether the above program has been adhered to in | ||