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).
The decision to increase the track width of the 'Goshawk' chassis.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\E\November1920\ Scan85 | |
| Date | 2nd December 1920 | |
| To C.J. From R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to: * H.S. * CPU. * [illegible] * [illegible] * [illegible] X.4219 ORIGINAL. RE REVISED "GOSHAWK" CHASSIS. I have decided to add 2" to the track of the above (making it 54".) This will make it 2" larger than the present "Goshawk", and such a modification tends, of course, to increase its weight and costliness, but I believe if we do not do so now it will be found advisable to do so later. It brings it to the exact average size of cars of a class which though definitely smaller than the largest class, is only one size smaller; this is known on the standard bodies list as the 20/30 H.P. class, in which our dimensions agree entirely with the exception of the track. We shall still be 2" narrower than the track given by this list, which we consider would be definitely too large for this size of car. We shall now be at least 2" wider in the track than our old 20 H.P. Tourist Trophy. Previous to receiving the suggestion from the Works' conference, I had written to Lord Herbert to say that this slight modification was a probable one, and one which we were considering. I should not have adopted it except that it would be beneficial for Colonial and American use. We believe, however, that a track of even more than our 40/50 H.P. chassis (56" is needed to match the tracks made by cart wheels, unless the carts in the Colonies are narrower than carts in England. R.{Sir Henry Royce} RECEIVED | ||