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).
Letter from B.J. to R. discouraging the use of a sports car to avoid starting rumors about a new speed model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 20\11\ Scan285 | |
| Date | 25th June 1928 | |
| X780 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} To R.{Sir Henry Royce} FROM B.J. Copy to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Car for Hendon. BJ52/E25.6.28 My dear R.{Sir Henry Royce}, It is very good of you to suggest that you will be guided by me in regard to the use of a Sports car on this occasion, and, were it not for the fact that I know that you are as anxious as I am that nothing should be done which might disturb our sales, I would not like to suggest that you should use one of our standard cars. There is no doubt that your appearing in public in a car which is so obviously different from anything else we produce must necessarily start false rumours that we are about to produce something new such as a speed model. At this juncture, when our orders are coming in so freely, we do not want to take the least risk of starting rumours which might cause people to delay ordering in their fear that they might not obtain the latest type. For this reason we have given instructions that the speed model shall never be seen. We shall try to sell it to some remote part of the world. Of course we cannot prevent coachbuilders putting special bodies on our standard chassis for their customers, but this is likely to have very little influence in starting rumours compared with you personally being seen with such a car. I am confident that under these circumstances you will understand that it is only my wish to guard our interests that causes me to make this suggestion. Please let me know if we may send our open Phantom demonstration car for your use. It is a lovely car - probably one of the best the Company has ever produced, if you prefer an open car to one of our closed models. Yours ever, B.J. | ||