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).
Rejection of a General Motors body ventilation scheme due to its negative impact on appearance and weight.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 136\5\ scan0065 | |
| Date | 27th February 1933 | |
| S/W. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} G.M.Scheme of Body Ventilation. Arising out of the recommendation in your Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}6/KT23. 1.33, we took the opportunity of trying this scheme, which is fitted to Buick cars, by going out in one of the latest Buicks fitted with this arrangement. From the point of view of ventilation it seemed effective, but from our point of view it had many drawbacks, notably with regard to appearance. We have been striving for some time to get our cars to look lower and yet provide at the same time adequate headroom. In our view the effect of the vertical [strikethrough]pillar[/strikethrough] frames which separate the windows into two, entirely destroy the low appearance and react against the smart appearance of the car. We had some experience with windows of that design - although operating differently - with 31-GX, and I don't think that on our class of car split windows would be very much appreciated. This scheme also probably adds quite a bit of extra weight to a body, and, as you know, we are trying all we can to get body weights down. I am sending you separately a drawing with a flap pasted over showing the effect of these vertical frames. I think you will agree that this scheme does not conform to our ideas of appearance, and that does count for a lot these days. Meantime, we have been doing quite a bit ourselves with regard to improving ventilation, and on all our standardised Enclosed Limousines we fit the T & M rear quarter window which is hinged on the forward frame and opens outwards. This form of extractor is very effective and keeps the air in the car fresh without creating a draught. On all Saloons we have louvres over the windows, and if the windows are intelligently adjusted here again one gets good ventilation without draught. Our schemes have the advantage of not only not impairing the appearance of the car but actually improving it. We are therefore not proposing to take any action regarding the scheme as fitted to Buick cars, as we think we can bring about similar advantages in other ways and the appearance of the car will not suffer. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} | ||