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 memorandum comparing the 'SS' chassis with the Phantom and competitor vehicles, focusing on wheelbase, springs, and accessories.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\T\2July1928-December1928\ Scan284 | |
| Date | 26th December 1928 | |
| Copy to BJ, WOR{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}, SG{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}, C, BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} ) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} ) (At Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence.) [DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} is struck through] E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} ) [E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} is struck through] [Stamped in center] ORIGINAL SECRET. 'SS{S. Smith}' CHASSIS. [Handwritten: Y7770] [Handwritten: XJ410, crossed out] R1/M26.12.28. REC'D AT WW. 28.12.28. Sales are alarmed at the length. Naturally we should compare our chassis with others of equal power and body space, such as: Daimler. Panhard. Isotta Fraschini. Mercedes. Hispano. Then we ought not to consider accessories, which can be made anything or nothing; for instance - (1) There is no need to compare the wheels at the back with wheels at the side. (2) Luggage carrier, etc. I have been running EAC. 7. for a year and have not noticed any inconvenience as this is fitted. It has carried one spare wheel or luggage at the back and been through France 5 times without Dodd having noticed any inconvenience. We must not compare it with short Phantoms, but with cars which have equal body space. SS.{S. Smith} wheelbase is I believe somewhat shorter than Phantom,(long chassis 95% of our production) therefore it has slight advantages in manoeuvre-ing for the extra length taken by the springs. The front springs are longer than Phantom so that these could be more flexible, or less liable to break. They extend a few inches further than present Phantom, but this extra length is central and narrow and does not affect shunting. Also if either cars are fitted with front bumpers there is no difference as the bumpers are usually 6" in front of the wheels. They (the bumpers) make matters worse - on any chassis - because they are wide. The SS.{S. Smith} with long body and one wheel at the back is not different to Phantom with the same. The SS.{S. Smith} can much better be made with short wheelbase. I suggest if there is any trouble anticipated that we should have two lengths of frame. Our measure of EAC.7. is 17'2 1/2", and in this length we can get one wheel at the back, and probably - with little or no increase - front bumpers. In this we give 3" for extra length of front springs. In SG{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}'s memo. of 21/12/28. present Phantom with one wheel at back is 17'2". Two wheels at the back undoubtedly make the overall length great, but we must not blame (1) | ||