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).
Specifications for a new 'B.2. Car', including body, luggage, and supercharger options.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 3\4\ 04-page007 | |
| Date | 28th January 1931 | |
| Sq. From HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} cy. to WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to BY 84 553. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/JT.28.1.31. B. 2. CAR. We think with this car we ought to get out a specification of what we are hoping to achieve. At the moment there appears to be very mixed views on this point. We have an Alfa-Romeo which is considered to be a very good example of a car we do not want. You mentioned the Lagonda, but I believe if you tried this car you would again say it is not what you want to sell. Therefore, I do strongly recommend that Sales should get out a specification of what they expect from this car. The specification we suggest is as follows:- (1) The car shall be capable of being fitted with a four-seater, four-door saloon body. Some indication of the size of the body should be given. The body we have in mind is a wider body as fitted to the Talbot. (2) Is there to be any luggage carrier. If so, we think this can only be in the form of a permanent luggage box, or else accept the position that if luggage is to be carried it would have to be done at the expense of the rear passengers. (3) These Cars can never have a partition between the driver and the passengers. (4) Performance. I do not think this car will be interest-ing to anybody as regards performance unless it is supercharged. From the designs we have seen so far we doubt very much until it is supercharged that it will be as good as the standard Peregrine because the design of the engine does not allow for sufficiently high compres-sion. We think this is an important point to be sett-led because it would be a mistake to get the idea that the B. 2. Car with a four-seater saloon body and reason-able comfort could in any way be called a fast sports car unless it is supercharged. If it is accepted that we are going to have a supercharger then we must know where we can find an example of a car fitted with a super charger which could be considered satisfactory when fitt-ed{J. L. Edwards} with a covered body. (5) Chassis price. (6) Date of delivery. We think it is probable that given sufficient time, we shall be able to reduce supercharger noise, but we should not think that this is a job which is going to be done quickly or easily. | ||