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).
Car trial comparing a long wheelbase car (38-EX) against a standard model, concluding against changing the standard wheelbase.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 96\3\ scan0153 | |
| Date | 4th February 1937 | |
| Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} C. to C. C. " Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C. " Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} C. " E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} S/W GRY{Shadwell Grylls} 360 Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}6/KW4.2.37. 38-EX. C and I tried this car together yesterday, and no doubt he will be giving you his own views separately. Had I not known which was the long wheelbase car I should have had some difficulty in deciding which was which from the results obtained during the run, as the difference under those circumstances would be, I think, indistinguishable, and I would therefore say that in my opinion the disadvantages of the longer car would more than outweigh any advantage to be gained in comfort. In order to deal with the point raised by Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} that in his view any benefit derived from the better ride of the long car was neutralised by the unsatisfactory cushion, we changed over the cushions on the return journey but still there was in my view no noticeable difference. Furthermore, it would be interesting to know whether 38-EX has rear springs of the standard poundage such as our car 3-AZ-22 had before it was converted, i.e.rubber inserted between the springs and the axle, when we know that stronger springs were fitted. If so, presumably the standard car would be even better than ours when normal springs could again be used, which I understand will be so on a non-converted chassis. Another point to bear in mind is that as we do not wish to build bodies any longer than our present standard Pullman Limousine it is difficult to know quite what to do with the back end of the frame in covering it up with coachwork, and in some designs there would be an unnecessarily long projection at the back. Altogether, therefore, I would be definitely against any departure from our present standard wheelbase of 11'10". Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} Att: Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}22/R19.1.37 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}3/R24.12.36 E/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}3/MN21.12.36 | ||