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).
Importance of weight reduction in 40/50 and 20 HP cars for performance, cost, legal compliance, and handling.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5\2\ 02-page079 | |
| Date | 1st February 1927 | |
| To BJ. C. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} To SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Wgr. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} PN.{Mr Northey} c. to CMB. DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} RE. WEIGHT OF CARS - 40/50 & 20 HP. X5830 X.8830 X.9840 X.4538 X.5830 It will be realised that to keep the 40/50 within the law for weight of high speed vehicles, our recommendations of light bodies and saving weight in chassis and accessories, are of the utmost importance, because also, it is the best way of getting a good performance, especially does this apply to the front of the car, so that - (1) For performance. (2) For cost of running - tyres and fuel. (3) To keep within the law (40/50) (4) For steering and riding qualities (save weight of the front wheels). We are doing our best to give you some light and good accessories. We are endeavouring to push the weight back - rear wheel, battery in frame etc. DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} should help and supervise all models and trials bodies, and report to BJ. and R.{Sir Henry Royce} departures from the best dimensions and details. We are endeavouring to save weight, especially forward end of chassis, engine, clutch and flywheel, radiator etc. One point that occurs to me is the difference in weight and more especially in ease of handling, between Barker and RR. dipping headlamps. Drive mechanic Dodd says he cannot handle Barkers easily enough to be effective. We have seen how important this question of weight is with the 20 HP. It is quite as important with the 40/50 because of the relative importance to us of the two cars, and also the matter of the law. I don't want to be worrying myself and others with these memos, unless they produce some results. Can the facts be more widely distributed to our sales people and agents, for guidance of customers and coach builders, without doing harm by calling attention to the small margin of weight of the 40/50 under the law, and creating an impression that we cannot carry the weight. Shall we ask somebody with literary talents to write the essay from my, and others, notes? DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} is a likely person. It must be someone scientific, and who knows the work from A.{Mr Adams} to Z. give figures of relative acceleration, cost etc. I am aware of the difficulties, but others are producing very light silent bodies of considerably contd :- | ||