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).
Modifying a Phantom with a 14-tooth axle to match the hill-climbing performance of a Packard for a potential sale.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 127\1\ scan0154 | |
| Date | 6th January 1927 | |
| 4435 Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} PN{Mr Northey}18/GM/6.1.27. Copies to:- Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} A case has arisen where we can sell a Phantom without much doubt if only it is capable of putting up the sort of performance which the straight-8 Packard can put up when going slowly up a steepish hill on top gear. In other words, we think that if we have an open touring car fitted with a 14 tooth axle and the performance was at least a bit better than standard, we could give the impression we want in this case. The client is a Mr. Roberts, a very wealthy man who did own Rolls-Royce cars and will now only use a Packard, because of this characteristic, the Packard gear ratio, as you may remember, is 4.66 to 1. If you have a reasonably presentable open touring car, which either is or can be fitted with such an axle, the matter is really quite urgent because it would probably mean another sale to us. We should require the car only on the day when the demonstration would be given and the day before in order that I can satisfy myself that it is generally speaking suitable for the purpose. PN.{Mr Northey} | ||