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 first road run of a completed Wraith car, its weight, and coachwork progress.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 6\6\ 06-page117 | |
| Date | 28th January 1937 | |
| SECRET. RIDER 600 Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} WRAITH. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}9/R.28.1.37. The completed Wraith car had its first run on the road to-day. Its general behaviour was good for a new chassis. If it were not for the fact that we have to knock some cost off it, we should not anticipate much difficulty in bringing it up to the state where it could go into production. As a matter of interest, the weight of the car is 39 cwts. 3 qrs. 14 lbs; the weight of 22.G.Y - the last limousine 25/30 that we built in the Experimental Dept. - is 40 cwts. 1 qr. 14 lbs. Park Wards are to be commended on the fact that the body went on the chassis without the slightest difficulty. This is in strong contrast to Barkers, who, although they have already built a number of P.III bodies require the Continental chassis for a month in order to construct the coachwork. Considering that the last forgings only arrived a fortnight ago, we think that HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} has done remarkably well to get the chassis completed so quickly. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||