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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).
Meeting notes discussing post-war production plans for the Senior and Junior car ranges, including costings, materials, and specific model development.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 144\2\  scan0037
Date  20th February 1941
  
Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}3/AT.20.2.41 - 2 -

It was agreed that no capacity was available for tooling up for the manufacture of the Senior Range.

Some observations were made as to the way in which production could be started up after the war.

It is still thought that Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}4/R.18.5.39 (copy attached) outlines a reasonable programme of how the change over from Bentley V's to fully rationalised chassis could be effected, though the dates mentioned in this memo will all require modification owing to the war.

Cost of Rationalised Chassis. - Some queries were raised as to the price at which Senior Range models could be sold. This would depend largely upon the tools used and, since these did not exist, it was almost impossible to form an accurate estimate of cost. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} suggested, however, that the figures given in Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}4/R.3.6.39 still represented a reasonable approximation as to prices under pre-war conditions. This arrived at a selling price, for the Ripple, of £737 if Rolls-Royce got no profit out of the deal, but the Agent got his discount on both chassis and body. Any price in excess of this figure, therefore, at which the car would be sold, would represent Rolls-Royce profit.

Use of Light Alloy. - Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} expressed the opinion that, after the war, aluminium would be as cheap as cast iron, easier to machine and less costly to cast if permanent moulds were employed.

Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} pointed out that they had an aluminium casting of a Senior Range engine block and crank case (the largest cast iron piece on the car) and that much useful information could be obtained if this could be finished, machined and tested. Progress will be reported at the next meeting.

JUNIOR RANGE.

"Myth". - The "Myth" model was seen and approved, as also was the size of the luggage locker and the frontal appearance of the "Ripplet", which closely resembles the proposed appearance of the Myth when fitted with a Rolls-Royce radiator. Full size drawings of the 6-light and coupe bodies were also inspected.

Body. - It was agreed that the body was the vital part of the Myth, and that Park Wards were about the only people who could undertake to make an all steel body which would serve as a prototype for the fully pressed steel job. Ward has already started making wooden formers for this body and it was agreed that means of expediting its progress would be discussed with him if he came to Derby next week.
  
  


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