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).
Paint damage on bonnet panels and requesting a new design for bonnet stops.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 130\1\ scan0021 | |
| Date | 31th March 1933 | |
| re- Bonnet Panel Stops. Having eliminated these studs in accordance with Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}'s request and on your assurance that the paintwork would not suffer by letting the top panels of the bonnet rest one upon the other, we regret to find that damage is rapidly occurring to the paintwork of bonnets which have not these studs - notably 20-MY our new Trials Car. The paint is already badly marked in a very short time, and it it clear that we shall not be able to continue this method. We know of the drawbacks of the studs, and we are therefore wondering if you cannot adopt some other means of keeping the two halves of the bonnet apart when one side of the bonnet is open. Could not some definite stop be introduced into the hinge along the top of the bonnet, which would prevent the hinges from going too far, or would er the overhang of the Bonnet panels against those hinged tops be too severe ? Could not the bonnet be arranged so that instead of letting the top panel go right over and rest on the panel on the opposite side it could have some clip or bracket into which the vertical side of the bonnet could rest, which would avoid the necessity of opening the bonnet as at present? This would prevent the two top panels from touching each other at all, and would be easier in operation. However, we do feel we shall have to ask you to devise some other method to prevent the bonnet becoming damaged either the paintwork or by indentation. We also notice that on 20-MY the bonnet - which we are content to believe originally was flush with the scuttle - now stands proud of it, which might indicate a certain amount of straightening out of the top curved panel of the bonnet due to the weight when thrown open. Could you please give this matter attention at the same time. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} | ||