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).
Chassis specification, performance, and cost-saving measures for the Continental Phantom III.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 92\6\ scan0012 | |
| Date | 29th August 1936 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} & Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to C. c. to Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} c. to Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} c. to Tr.{Capt. F. W. Turner - Finance} c. to Sr. X 300 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/KW.29.8.36. Continental Phantom III. Further to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/KW.21.5.36. We have now gone further into the specification of this chassis. In order to make it sufficiently attractive we think it should have at least 10% better acceleration on any gear than the standard car, and a true top speed under the most favourable conditions of 100 M.P.H. We cannot get the improvement in acceleration with the 7% higher axle ratio, even with a concentrated effort on saving weight. It is therefore proposed to use an 8 - 33 ratio, which is 3% higher than standard only. This means that to achieve 100 M.P.H. the engine will have to run up to 4,600 R.P.M., which will only be possible with R.R. tin-aluminium bearings. Fortunately these are developing favourably. With regard to weight and cost saving, the attached list undoubtedly contains a number of controversial items; our suggestion is that they are all tried out and only abandoned if it is found that they will not work. No-one would have agreed four years ago that the Peregrine rear axle was suitable for a 4¼ litre power unit, and yet it is doing the job satisfactorily to-day. The question of cost appears to be so serious that we think the development of this chassis ought inevitably to incorporate any savings that can be made without complete re-design, even if this delays the final car somewhat. In view of Vanvooren's achievement on the Paris Trials car, it is difficult to believe that a 10% reduction cannot be made in the weight of a body of 35-EX type, without cutting out any desirable features. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||