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 alterations, testing protocols, and the risks of introducing a new chassis design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 65a\2\ scan0105 | |
| Date | 12th November 1926 | |
| Secret. To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From R.J. 5. What alterations have been necessary for us to make and undertake to make free of charge on Phantom chassis since delivering to customers, with estimated cost, in spite of the Phantom having run 10,000 miles? (C. Please fill in from free of charge cards.) 6. Ditto ditto ditto re 20 HP cars. (C. Please fill in from free of charge cards.) Probably the strictest regulation in the Company is that we should continue the invariable policy of the past, which has been found necessary after many years of experience, viz. that before even minor alterations are made to the standard chassis, these shall be tested for 10,000 miles under the most severe conditions of high speed on French roads. It is now suggested to order material for a chassis which is practically of completely new design (with the exception of the engine) before the usual 10,000 miles test has been made, and to assume that the test will prove so satisfactory that we can now burn our boat/s and drop building the present chassis, although our experience in the past has always shown that about 6 months time for experimental test work would be much safer. To attempt to push through this almost entirely new chassis is to take an enormous risk that either (a) the chassis will be put on the market in a hurry in an insufficiently tested and developed state, which would injure our name beyond repair, or (b) if anything proves unsatisfactory during the tests we may have to delay delivery of all the cars on order for customers who are waiting delivery, and not only annoy them but risk a very large financial loss owing to the delays and stoppages at the Works and elsewhere. 7. In what parts will the SS{S. Smith} (a) chassis (b) engine differ from our present standard Phantom? (Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Please report). 8. What experience have [handwritten] the Works had so far of testing each of these parts in the usual strenuous manner considered essential, namely, 10,000 miles at high speed on bad Continental roads. (Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Please report). 9. What would be the effect on the financial year if we introduced the SS{S. Smith} chassis at next Olympia? (Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} and C. Please report). 10. Ditto ditto ditto if it was introduced 4 or 6 months later. (Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} and C. Please report). | ||