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).
Design philosophy and specifications for a new small car model, comparing it to the Fiat and Goshawk.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\H\January1922\ Scan29 | |
| Date | 4th January 1922 guessed | |
| (2) We do not want to make the rough knock-about station car about which no one cares how it goes so long as it does go, or what is done with it or where it is left, but we want our small choice car to be the pride of the lady or gentleman who possesses it. For size it is to be slightly larger than the average light car including the Fiat, the wheel-base and track being ample to allow of a small 4 seater open body of the usual pattern, but it is principally intended for a 2 seater coupe, or my own impression is that it will be excellent for a 3 seater, like the drawing sent to C. for a body developed from that which Capt. Burt had fitted to the old RR. Tourist Trophy, i.e. all 3 seats under the hood (the dickey being an ugly scheme which should be avoided). A body to this (Lec 1529) I should like put in hand either for the 10.HP. D.F.P. or our own 12.HP., which I hope will not be long in materialising. For simplicity in our chassis we are proposing a scuttle petrol tank to be filled by lifting the bonnet. We have arranged to fit a magneto when such is demanded, but like the Goshawk, this chassis will give greater satisfaction with the battery ignition because this ignition has an automatic advance, which in the RR. pattern is very accurately timed to suit the engine. The chassis generally will be much like the Goshawk, but in nearly all the parts it will be smaller, and in many of simpler design; however we look upon the Goshawk as a very simple chassis, that there is not very much room to depart from. I would like to here remark that the Goshawk makes quite a nice car for a lady to drive and it might pay us to fit | ||