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).
Proposal for the development of a small quantity production car and marine units, considering pre-war progress and post-war production strategies.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\2\ scan0249 | |
| Date | 18th September 1939 | |
| -4- (d) SMALL QUANTITY PRODUCED CAR. A considerable amount of progress had been made with this car before the outbreak of war. We suggest that the designs should be completed on the following lines. Park Wards could undoubtedly fabricate the body and frame of the prototype though, ultimately these would be fully pressed steel. The engine would be a scaled down version of the high power units which have proved to be reliable and efficient and might be tooled up completely as an insurance policy without any very great risk. The transmission, i.e. gearbox and axle might be considered from two angles (a) What we should do normally. (b) What we are forced to do to get into production with s sufficient rapidity after the war. The design so far has catered for case (a) For case (b) there should be no difficulty in designing a steering gearbox and axle that are at present in production in the U.S.A. into the chassis (fortunately the little Studebaker is almost exactly the right size) so utilising a proved product that has been fully tooled up and a price for which has been established. The necessary tool equipment adapted to our plant could go forward. The suspension, which would be a scaled down version of the rationalised suspension, could be tooled up with little risk. Care could be taken to see that wheels, tanks, electrical equipment, radiator etc. could all be produced from tools in this country at present. It should be remembered that this car need not be produced under the name of either R.R. or Bentley (e) MARINE UNITS. Whilst the market is small, it cannot be neglected and the 5½ litre straight eight seems to be a very desirable size. Designs could be completed for fitting the necessary marine gearbox, bilge-pumps, inter-coolers etc. Obviously any | ||