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 R. Summers about overdrives, the Paulin car's aerodynamics, and rear springs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\1\ scan0251 | |
| Date | 21th March 1939 | |
| 261d. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}4/R.{Sir Henry Royce} 21st March, 1939. R.{Sir Henry Royce} Summers, Esq., Messrs. John Summers & Sons, Limited, Hawarden Bridge Steel Works, Shotton, CHESTER. Dear Dick, I am sorry you are not more enthusiastic about overdrives, you would be if you had to service the engine. With regard to the Paulin, this will be in the Showrooms in about a fortnight's time if you happen to be London way, and you should have a look at it. Personally, I think it has the correct appearance for the job which it is intended to do, i.e., go fast. I am sure that you are sufficiently progressive to appreciate that far too much energy is expended pushing the standard shape of car through the air because drag has not been studied. All fast cars are going to be this sort of shape in a few years. You may be interested to know that the stream-lining on the Paulin car @ 80 m.p.h. produces the same increase in acceleration as reducing the weight of the car by 5 cwts. However, the Paulin car was just a side line to keep us amused, and I can assure you that the standard product has not been neglected. I am sorry about the rear springs. I presume that by now you have only done about 75,000 miles on the car. Hope to see you before long. Yours sincerely, | ||