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).
Letter to Rolls-Royce America detailing the development and advantages of the new 'SS' chassis over the Phantom.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\3\ Scan013 | |
| Date | 21th January 1929 | |
| X7772 Expl: Dept: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}4/LG. 21st. Jan. 1929. Messrs. Rolls-Royce (America)Inc., Springfield, Mass., U.S.A. X7770 Dear Mr. Beaver, We understand that BJ. has written to you fully in regard to the proposed programme of dates we expect to be producing and selling 'SS{S. Smith}' cars, and asking you for a decision in regard to your programme. We are not in a position to let you have this information. The position technically is that we have now built five 'SS{S. Smith}' chassis - three of these are fitted with complete bodies - one of them has run 11,000 miles in France - the other two have completed 2,000 miles. The 10,000 miles test in France went through with the minimum amount of trouble. We are all very pleased with the prospect of this new car. Briefly, the outstanding advantages over the Phantom, which have been proved, are :- 1. Improved riding comfort. 2. Improved appearance owing to lower chassis frame and lower radiator. 3. Increased performance due to increase in engine power and reduction in chassis weight. 4. The indirect gears are more silent, probably due to the unit construction. 5. It is anticipated that the 'SS{S. Smith}' chassis will be less costly to produce. We should not like you to imagine that we are through with all our troubles, but we have gone far enough to be able to state that we shall be able to deliver SS.{S. Smith} cars to customers which are a definite improvement over the present Phantom. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||