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).
Private memorandum discussing the strategic and technical challenges of developing a new Sports Model car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 65a\1\ scan0116 | |
| Date | 30th September 1927 | |
| COPY. PRIVATE. BJ from C. SPORTS MODEL. C1/C30/9/27 Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} and I have been discussing the position in regard to the above, and it seems to us that the position is getting rather involved, and we really ought to take a review of the whole situation. You will remember that when we all discussed this matter in the first instance, we decided that we would put a Sports Model on the market, because we thought:- (1) That the car would preserve all the characteristics of the 40/50 HP car. (2) That with slight modifications it would be our Phantom chassis, and could therefore be manufactured and dealt with alongside or as part of our ordinary output, so that any orders we took for it would be extra orders and profitable accordingly. At the meeting held at Gerrards Cross I understand the same idea was in mind, i.e. to make the chassis like that of the Blue car. It would seem, however, that we have now found that we cannot give the necessary performance with the present car and judging by R's memos. (viz. R1/M19/9/27. R4/M15/9/27. R1/M9/9/27. and R1/M10/9/27 attached) very extensive alterations are contemplated in the design of the chassis. A perusal of these will indicate that the engine will be different in many respects from the standard Phantom and not, as we expected, merely a 'hotted up' Phantom, as there are important alterations to other parts, such as frame, axles, hubs, etc. etc. We therefore suggest that the points for consideration, in view of this change of technical policy, are as follows:- (a) Delay in issuing the car to the Public. (b) If the Sports chassis is to have so many special features will it pay us to manufacture it as a separate chassis in the Works, bearing in mind that so far we have only reckoned we can sell 50 per annum. (c) If we issue this chassis with many novel features, should we not be taking a very big risk with our 'bread and butter' business, i.e. the risk of prospective buyers taking the view that the Sports Model contains features that we shall be incorporating in our standard production, and therefore the standard chassis is out of date and we are only working off the old stock, and introducing a new model in a | ||