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).
Confidential memo discussing the car programme, specifically body and chassis dimensions for post-war models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 135\2\ scan0190 | |
| Date | 17th September 1943 | |
| 1134 To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} c. to Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/JD.{J. Draper - Frames} c. to Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager} CONFIDENTIAL. Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}8/JH.17.9.43. re Car Programme. You will see that I have outlined to Mr.Ward what you told him during our visit to Willesden. Also, I believe you will find interesting, and he useful, the chart of Experimental Cars in existance coupling Drawing Numbers with Chassis Numbers. When we wound up at the Squash Court the Rationalised Programme was stated on PL.139. The Senior Range then consisted of the following disregarding Rippletto:- Two body bases - 89.500 and 99.500 ins. Two front ends - 27.000 and 34.500. These were combined to give 4 frames and 4 wheel bases as follows :- 11ft. - 1 ins. 10 ft. 5 1/2 ins. 10 ft. 4 ins. 9 ft. 8 1/2 ins. You will perceive that at this juncture we decided to abandon the 95.500 in. body base of the Bentley 50 and Silver Dawn. Such bodies as 1.B.50. 2.B.5. 3.B.50. 4.B.50.(Cresta) 32.G.7. and 33.G.7. were transferred to the 98.500 in. body base used by the Limousine. The bodies were not lengthened, but the back wheels were dragged back 3.000 ins. No such bodies have been drawn except as thumb-nail sketches on the chart. To carry on with this policy it would be necessary to redraw 3.B.50. and redesign the lines of the back end and rear wings to blend them together. This could be done although it offers some difficulties. Mr.Ward has plenty of time to prepare the drawings prior to the end of hostilities, but we should not have models to look at and try. I feel, therefore, we should reinstate the 95.500 wheelbase for our immediate post war programme in order to enable us to go into production with models of which we have experimental samples in existance which have been well tried. Cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} | ||