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).
Possibilities of creating a left-hand drive Phantom II for the American market by modifying the existing gearbox.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\4\ Scan390 | |
| Date | 29th November 1933 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} C. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} C. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} C. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} X7772 Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/MJ.29.11.33. Re. LEFT HAND PHANTOM II. CAR FOR AMERICA. Referring to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}6/E.16.11.33. We have looked into the possibilities of the left-hand P.II. car for America. We believe that the present standard right-hand box can be used without any difficulty. On our present box the change speed mechanism is bolted on to the gearbox proper. If, instead of taking this to the right hand side of the car, we reverse it and take it to the centre of the car we can get a central change with a minimum amount of alteration. We should have to use the gate as we do on the present right hand car. The other disadvantage would be that the change speed lever would come close up against the driver's seat and that it would not be as convenient as the previous left-hand cars for being able to slide along the seat past the change speed lever. We do not consider this an unsurmountable difficulty because with suitable mechanism we think the gate position might be pushed forward. This leaves us then that if we produced a left-hand carburetter of the latest type with suitable controls there should be no other design work necessary. There is no doubt that it would be much better to compromise on the ideal position for the central change speed lever than to accept the alternative of an entirely re-design of gearbox or the right hand chassis. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||