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 building of an American chassis at Derby Works, detailing items to be omitted for the US market.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\3\ Scan055 | |
| Date | 14th February 1929 guessed | |
| Copy. AMERICAN CHASSIS OR C HASSIS TO BE BUILT BY DERBY WORKS FOR AMERICA. ------------------------------------------ Regarding negotiations under which the English Company will build the Super-Sports Phantom Chassis with left hand steering, central gear shift, etc.. and suitable for American conditions of use. Subject to regular list price, less a discount to us of 22½%, and less such items or equipment as desirable or necessary to be omitted at the time of shipment. These items to be omitted and the reasons for accommodation or adjustment, are as follows:- (1) Electrical Generator and Motor Battery, Lamps. The omission of these on Derby built chassis is necessary because everything electrical applied to automobiles in America has the 6 volt system and no supplies such as lamps, fuses, etc., are available for a 12 volt system. Rolls-Royce owners send their cars the length and breadth of the country, 3000 miles east and west and an equal distance north and south, into Canada, and the problem of satisfactory service or maintenance is universal. There are fifty to sixty thousand automobile service stations throughout the country so that American made generators, starters and batteries with which the service stations are familiar have been found to be of paramount importance in the conduct of Rolls-Royce business in America. (2) Wheels and Hubs. Tires and Tubes. The same reasons as under (1) above apply to these, because American tire sizes, wheel rims and wire wheel spokes, for which supplies must at all times be promptly available, due to the many accidents met up with, and to fair wear and tear of tire and wheel equipment, are different from English sizes. The manufacture of the well base rim and tires suitable therefor has not been adopted in America. (3) Clock, Horn and Speedometer. The same remarks apply to the Clock, Horn, Speedometer. (4) Mascot. We can supply this satisfactorily here. | ||