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).
Front-end styling of the Spectre model, comparing it to the Phantom and proposing design changes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 92\1\ scan0022 | |
| Date | 15th September 1934 | |
| TO E.R. FROM E.V. COPY TO SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} WGR. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} FRONT APPEARANCE OF SPECTRECodename for Phantom III. The loss of the front horns of the frame and the moving forward of the radiator relative to the front wheels has caused the SpectreCodename for Phantom III to have a different front appearance from that of the Phantom. Although both of these changes are in the direction of making the appearance more modern and we all admit that the present Phantom front is rather out of date, yet we instinctively tend to dislike any change from the present appearance. It is thought to be less distinctive and dignified. We suggest that this is because the new appearance, being more modern is much more like that of the bulk of the other cars in its general characteristics. Having worked on and looked at practically nothing but SpectreCodename for Phantom III for the last two months I have got quite used to the new appearance and on returning to the Phantom with its long front horns and backward radiator position I feel it to be distinctly ugly. I suggest that use may help us, therefore, to get SpectreCodename for Phantom III right. Working on the basis that the more we make it like the present Phantom the more we shall like it. We are making one eighth scale model of the front, bringing the wings further forward in front of the wheels so as to move back the radiator relatively, deepening the apron accordingly and producing small front horns as at present which will be the bumper fixings. We are making the apron width approximately that of the front of the radiator so avoiding the ugly vertical walls on the wing valance each side of the radiator. I feel that the grill has a lot to do with the lack of dignified appearance because it possesses horizontal bars. These take off the appearance of height. Although the radiator is taller and narrower than Phantom it does not look to be so. If we could discover a type of grill which looked very like the present shutters it would do a great deal to help. It might be possible to mask the interior by arranging the slats as indicated below and still to get an adequate flow of air. The above we call Move No1. and is based on the orthodox Rolls Royce appearance. Move No2. is to retain the radiator top tank but to abandon the square base to the radiator sweeping forward in the form of a shield on the lines indicated in a sketch which we sent to you some time ago. Such a treatment simplifies the design of the wings in a case like SpectreCodename for Phantom III where they are carried off the radiator and does away with all of the pockets and sharp corners in them. There is a little difficulty with the architecture which | ||