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).
Modifications and a potential sale of a Phantom III car to Mr. C.R. Fairey.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 96\1\ scan0204 | |
| Date | 3rd September 1937 | |
| W/S. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 361. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}4/R.3.9.37. Mr. C.R. Fairey. Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}10/KW2.9.37. I think it would be a great mistake to sell Mr. Fairey a P.III car without the overdrive box. Tests have been carried out on 32-EX at Brooklands which indicated that the overdrive box increased the maximum speed of the car in still air by 3 miles per hour. In France, of course, under favourable conditions, they get 8 or 9 m.p.h. better than standard. This is simply because they can take advantage of downhill stretches with a following wind. We also think that Mr. Fairey will greatly appreciate the improved steering which comes on shortly after the overdrive box. Again, the deletion of the hydraulic tappets, in our opinion, would give Mr. Fairey a more reliable motor-car. With regard to increasing the engine output, as you know, with the existing output, we are in trouble with big-end bearings. A re-designed big-end bearing is going to France on 39-EX, and is going to be run with high-compression cylinder heads. We are fairly certain that this will be successful. This test should be over by the end of the year, and the combination would be exactly what Mr. Fairey wants. Briefly, if this P.III has got to compete with a lot of American chassis and is going to get us further sales if it does well, we consider that the improvements, which will be available by January, are well worth waiting for. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||