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 body design, advocating for light, fixed-roof bodies over open-car styles like the Beatonson head.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\P\2October1926-December1926\ Scan116 | |
| Date | 22th December 1926 | |
| TO BJ. SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} C. ) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} D.V.) C.C. - WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} PH. GWB. ORIGINAL DELIVERED TO WW. DURING XMAS HOLIDAY. X8830 X5830 +7830 BODIES FOR RR. CARS. Although the Beatonson head is far better than an ordinary open car, the fact that it can be taken down prevents it being upholstered, and otherwise carried out as a perfect closed car of first class inside appearance. So that our present tendency in all utility first class luxury cars is to have a fixed roof, but it must be light and free from drumming, therefore of leather or fabric, and the bodies we are proposing to recommend are similar to the Hooper fixed cabriolet, (two promised for trial at 50% from retail price), and the Barkerlite for the 20HP., which Sales are arranging to have for trials. No one could say but that such a scheme is very good and necessary, and should be pressed forward with vigour, so that we should have something to shew buyers, and discourage heavy, noisy, top-heavy bodies on all our chassis, especially the 20HP., which is more susceptible to weight. The minimum of glass should be used as this and its fittings add to the weight, and sometimes take up valuable room. There is not the slightest doubt that bodies should be compared and proved for durability on rough French roads at high and low speeds. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||