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 the issuance of prints for SS cars to coachbuilders, detailing chassis and steering specifications.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 14\8\ Scan135 | |
| Date | 13th May 1929 | |
| FROM DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} SECRET. X7380 EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/1/13.5.29. C. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} SS.{S. Smith} PRINTS FOR COACHBUILDERS. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} It has previously been pointed out that we propose getting the first SS.{S. Smith} cars completed on lines which will assure a certain measure secrecy. We have already put in hand the book on the Body Subframe. We are sending you herewith the complete instructions for the first prints which we propose issuing to the coachbuilders. These are very urgent in that we are already being pressed for information to enable the coachbuilders to start work on bodies for the Paris Show and Olympia. We must be in a position to supply the prints not later than the end of the month - Sales request. N.SCHEME 2868. SUBFRAME PRINT. (standard type.) D.STEERING. LONG CHASSIS. At the moment we do not think you need bother about the short chassis as these prints will only be used for perhaps 9 months. We shall have to revise them immediately the need for secrecy has been removed. For any short chassis that are ordered we suggest you modify a blueprint. In order to reduce the number of prints, we wish 'C', 'D', and 'E' type steering be shewn on the same subframe print by merely using letters for the dimensions and supplying a table below, as we have done for the Chassis Print N.Sch.2869. Will Derby please make out the table. SUBFRAME PRINT (Sports type.) LONG CHASSIS. On F.79570 the length of the rear heelboard is given as 43.400. This is in error we believe as the dimension between wheelarches at this point is only 43.000. The heelboard should be 42.850. We wish Derby to get this out on the lines of N.Scheme 2868. Most of the work will consist of tracing. Again we think that this should be made to apply to all three steerings by means of lettered dimensions and a table. N.SCHEME 2869. CHASSIS PRINT (Long Chassis.) This is a small 1/16th.scale drawing shewing the vital proportions of the SS.{S. Smith} chassis as far as the coachbuilder is concerned, but the rear springing is shewn as cantilever. This drawing is to enable the coachbuilder to make his small picture of the complete car for shewing to the customer, and for our approval. | ||