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).
Confidential memorandum detailing the requirement for two sample car bodies to test the new EAC.II chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 71\1\ scan0033 | |
| Date | 24th July 1924 | |
| To C. from BJ. Copy to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BJ6/H24.7.24. X8830 CONFIDENTIAL. E.A.C.-II BODIES. X8830 We require two bodies as quickly as possible, similar to the drawing herewith, in order to test the EAC.II. The drawing is a working drawing. Therefore please have prints taken off it and send the original back to West WitteringHenry Royce's home town and a copy to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} The drawing should be carefully examined to see whether it can be sent to coachbuilders without giving them information that we are producing a new chassis. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} will provide templates. One car should have a bonnet and radiator of our present 40/50 h.p. standard size. The other should be 1-inch higher and 1-inch broader than the present 40/50 h.p. standard. The C.S.C. should be asked to look at this drawing confidentially, with a view to deciding whether it is a suitable design for standardising, or if not, what alteration should be made, bearing in mind that it is definitely intended to be a sports model only. The C.S.C. may, however, find that the seats are too cramped, or the leg room too short to expect our customers to be satisfied. All points should be carefully considered with a view to our adopting a satisfactory standard, which may be necessary before we actually see these two sample bodies made. The sample bodies should be made as quickly as possible, so that we may criticise them as soon as we can see their shape, before they are painted. Great care should be taken to prevent coachbuilders having any knowledge of these bodies being for a new type of chassis, and anything which is sent to them should be clearly marked as indicating that it is a sample body for our present 40/50 h.p. standard chassis. If there is any alteration, such as the bend in the frame, it should be explained that if these experimental bodies are found to be satisfactory, we may adopt a differently shaped frame on our 40/50 h.p. for a limited quantity of sporting bodies, and that we are making two special frames of this shape, especially to try a sporting design of body. B.J. | ||