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).
Production costs and economic viability of the Wraith model compared to the 25/30.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0112 | |
| Date | 25th August 1936 | |
| -3- Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}10/KW.25.8.36. Wraith Costs. We have heard it said that the Wraith has got to be cheaper than the 25/30 because at the present moment we are barely making a profit on this model. When we look at the specification of the car we cannot understand how anybody expects it to be cheaper than the 25/30. Briefly, the independent suspension is more costly than the conventional front axle; the boxed-in frame is more difficult to make than an ordinary frame; we are going to add a synchromesh second to the gearbox specification, and this move on the Ph.III cost us £12. 0. 0d; and a banjo back axle is being designed for the Wraith but no basic analysis has yet been got out as to what we expect to save on this item. It may be considerable; on the other hand we say that Ford make a back axle which is similar in construction to our own. We agree that we ought to save something on the axle but do not see how it can possibly balance the synchromesh second and the independent front suspension. The remaining parts of the car - engine unit, steering, etc. - are basically the same as at present. We quite believe that the cost could be got down a certain extent by improved manufacturing methods, but we are equally certain that if the present routine is followed Wraith will go into production without anyone having any comprehensive idea on what will be saved over the 25/30, or how. If it is costly, the Works can criticise design, on the other hand, design can say it is not produced economically. Now that 90% of the schemes are completed, somebody should have to take the responsibility of saying whether the material can be bought and the chassis made to sell at what is considered by Sales to be an economic figure. Obviously no-one can take the responsibility without having control. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||