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).
Suggestion to increase rear passenger room by widening the wheel track to address customer complaints about lack of space.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 72\2\ scan0039 | |
| Date | 16th January 1928 | |
| X5990 Whr.{Mr Wheeler} London. Pt. 5/BM. 16-1-28. C. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Derby. C.W.E. London. H.P. Derby. Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} Derby. Many times astonishment has been expressed by R.R. owners that there is so little room on the rear seat in R.R. coachwork so that unless passengers are below average in bulk it is uncomfortably tight for three. Most people when buying a car of this price and h.p. look for roomier rear cushions and are disappointed, many declaring that certain American cars cater for their needs more amply. The limiting factor in width of cushion and the equally desirable low position of same is the distance between the inner sides of the wheel races and not so much the width of the coachwork itself. It seems to me that customers' wishes might be met in regard to the above by widening the wheel track at the rear, and the necessity for this is of course more apparent since the adoption of balloon tyres. If we could only persuade customers to have one spare wheel suitable for the front axle only and one spare wheel suitable for the rear axle only, then the extra width of track at the rear could easily be obtained by merely moving the rim centre outward relative to the hub centre and arranging the spoking accordingly. The only other way would be to widen the centres of both front and rear axles, as any alteration to front wheels, similar to that suggested for the rear ones, would affect steering and braking. If the alterations were carried out by widening the centres of both front and rear axles there would be an additional advantage of increased wheel-lock. The above of course is merely a suggestion. Pt. | ||