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).
Confidential and secret memorandum regarding the future strategy and potential improvements for the 20HP chassis.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\T\March1929-December1929\ Scan219 | |
| Date | 17th October 1929 | |
| [crossed out] S.S. [/crossed out] FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} [crossed out] C. to C.C. [/crossed out] C. to [crossed out] FOR. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} [/crossed out] [crossed out] BA. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} [/crossed out] CONFIDENTIAL & SECRET. [STAMP] ORIGINAL [/STAMP] 20HP. CHASSIS. R5/M11.10.29. DESPATCHED 17. 10.29. [handwritten] [crossed out] x5770 [/crossed out] x5830 [crossed out] x5771 [/crossed out] the above. The following is humbly suggested from my views of Sales, Works, and W W., are not in complete agree-ment concerning the 20HP. chassis, as regards urgency of doing more than just increasing the bore (already done.) The rate of sales is decreasing, therefore either there is not a market for this model, or our programme is not suffi-ciently attractive. Concluding that there is a market then why are our sales decreasing? The broad reason is that value for money is low - i.e. the complete car costs the buyer more than its merits warrant. Sales can continue their efforts so that the buyer is put to the least unnecessary expense, but we cannot expect to compete with popular prices. We can, without much extra cost to ourselves (except perhaps a small percentage of loss of orders at the moment, then in a little time our sales will increase) improve:- (1) The appearance. } Can only be improved by avoiding big (2) The riding qualities. } bodies (high, wide, and to a less } extent, long.) (3) Performance. } Can only be improved by avoiding heavy } bodies and adopting the improvements to } the engine, which are in sight. (4) But an increase in the size of the both engine and chassis is necessary for big bodies, to get (1), (2), and (3). Shall we do either, any, or all, of these, or shall we let the 20HP. fade away? I want to make it clear that unless I can do some-thing my responsibility must stop. I will do my best, but if you do not follow my advice, I must not be blamed. I very definitely do not recommend (4) because it will make our second model compete with Phantom. Therefore we must once and for ever cease to fit the large ponderous bodies. I feel that our only hope is to adopt as soon as possible improvements (1), (2), and (3). These will only affect parts under the bonnet - i.e. neither chassis or bodies, now that we have the extra 3" available. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||