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).
Ongoing issues with rear wheel arch clearances on the Phantom II model.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\T\March1929-December1929\ Scan209 | |
| Date | 2nd October 1929 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} } FROM DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Copy to -- HO. " -- SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} " -- MNG. " -- G- PHANTOM 11. REAR WHEEL ARCH CLEARANCES. x9380. x7830. In our DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}1/M4929. we suggested that the top flange of the subframe should be cut back to give an increased wheel arch clearance. We have tried some cars with this clearance in London, and fouls still occur, now in the neighbourhood of the bottom flange of the subframe. This matter is becoming of serious importance. Many cars are being completed, or are under construction, and we still do not know what the wheel arch shape should be. We are still awaiting information from the Exp. Dept. In the meantime we can do little more than flounder along. We would like to know how it is that fouls have not occurred on the experimental cars although they have much less clearance than have the cars we are now producing in London and elsewhere. If fouls have occurred we wonder why they were not reported to us during the experimental stages. We have instructed Barker's and Hooper's to not only cut away the top flange of the subframe as suggested in our previous memo., but also to cut away the bottom flange about 3/16ths", and set the wheel arch in accordingly, and we think all coachbuilders should be circularised to this effect. We do not wish to make modifications to the chassis frame again until Derby have definitely told us the shape of the minimum wheel arch that is permissible, and we feel that the urgency of the situation will be fully appreciated when it is realised the number of bodies that are under construction, all of which will have wheel arches which will subsequently need to be modified, possibly at our expense. DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||