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).
Chassis frame and engine mounting modifications for 20HP models codenamed 'India', 'China', and 'Japan'.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\T\March1929-December1929\ Scan124 | |
| Date | 9th May 1929 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} ) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} ) Copy to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} WCR. C. PN.{Mr Northey} SECRET. ORIGINAL R3/M9.5.29. 20HP. X5770 X5005 X5050 X5380 X5230 Regarding the various stages of the 20HP. we have called in the past one of the improvements 'India'. We are now passing to the increased bore and longer chassis, which we have called G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} 5., and wish to use a code word such as 'China'. SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} and C. have agreed to this. This car should be proved in France while manufacturing the 200 known as 'P' series. I want you to include in this run the 3" longer frame because some people have considered that this had some influence on the radiator jellying. I do not know the slightest reason why it should, and therefore cannot believe it. Our next move is what we have called G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} 6., and now it is agreed that we code it as 'Japan'. This car is represented by the close coupled coupe recently brought to WW, known as 17-G-4. Naturally this car is a long way from being completed ready for going to France, and at the same time it is hardly useable because of the radiator movement. This radiator movement since the cross has been removed seems no longer to be periodic at the same speed as the front axle, but is definitely unbearable as the front of the car is too flexible, and in spite of reduced poundage on the shock dampers it follows the axle too much. Now as you have removed the cross in the frame this cannot have any bearing on the subject, and neither can I believe that the 3" longer frame can make such a marked difference between this and the one representing 'China', but I have carefully compared these two cars and find that they have the marked difference that the rear support of the engine is in the case of 'Japan' of rubber, whereas 'China' is the original rigid support. In this 'Japan' specimen, which gave such a poor impression to Sales, both the engine and the radiator appear to move an unreasonable amount, and I want you at the first possible minute to remove these rubber rear feet, and if possible sling the rear of the gearbox off the cross member so that the engine shall be steady in the frame, and you should not feel either by the steering column, or the pedals, or the change speed lever, such considerable movement relative to the body. We also hope that it will bring this car nearly in a line with 'China', which has been passed by the Sales representatives as an unusually good 20HP. car. (1) | ||