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 and body design, focusing on rear spare wheel placement, frame modifications, and comparisons to competitor models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\4\ Scan010 | |
| Date | 13th January 1930 guessed | |
| -3- clearance should be over 1". At the same time, after discussion with N.Y. Sales, we considered last February that it was highly undesirable to slope the rear spares back. We have no objection to sloping them forward on special jobs with rear bustle, but consider the vertical position which you have adopted on P.II is correct general practice. Association of ideas (which may not exist in England) connects a backward-sloping rear wheel with old Ford and Chevrolet models and suggests a short-wheelbase car with a body too long for it. Presumably layout D.72338 for spare wheel back of cross-member could be modified as shown at D-D to fulfil the requirements of Brewsters, but this would limit us to one spare wheel at rear. Two spares would involve side-mounting. Although N.Y. Sales do not know whether they can "get away with" rear spare wheels, our own organisation are enthusiastic about them for many reasons, but principally because it gives such remarkable possibilities of developing the long smooth lines of the car in side view. (8) Therefore, we have made the suggestion shown in the perspective sketch and 1/8th scale, namely to sweep down the rear crossmember about 5" at a radius of about 16", raise the wheel center about 1", and so allow the forward spare to be carried vertical almost over the center of the crossmember 4" back of its present position. We believe this does not reduce the road clearance. (I hate to suggest another bent crossmember, but there does not seem any other way of carrying two spares behind a long car without enormous rear overhang). (9) As a help to this the swinging bar used on R.H. cars for the rear number plate is apparently of no value either on L.H. cars or on R.H. cars fitted with rear bumper or bumperettes as it would foul the bumperettes. Omitting this makes it more possible to sweep down the rear crossmember as proposed. Possibly on English cars the rear number plate will be carried on a side-mounted tail light as on the American car? Above I have covered the points which appear to be of present interest. Follow suggestions on straightening rear of frame with a view to dropping rear seat etc. (1) I attach Packard chassis layout with a line roughly indicating how Brewsters dropped the rear seat board over the "knees" of the kick-up, and so got a car standing 69" high with about 46" headroom. The local raised spots over the axle and frame member are allowed for by a few short springs in the mattress and do not prevent getting a comfortable cushion in 6" compressed height. cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} | ||