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).
Design considerations for a new car model, including ignition, size, and weight comparisons.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 180\M1\9\ img019 | |
| Date | 9th March 1921 | |
| To C.J. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} -2- R1/G3/9/21 Contd. The design will practically be the same, but the details made simpler. We should recommend for standard the fitting of our battery ignition, which will be exactly the same for all three models, providing that all three models are six-cylinder. In the ordinary way the large car only would have double ignition because the cylinders are too small to permit of double ignition plugs. We hope to get the magneto to work silently in these designs by driving the water pump and the dynamo and it in one unit. I am very concerned that this third model shall be definitely smaller than the second and I fear we are definitely getting a little too large all round though the proportions are good. If on seeing "Goshawk II" next week the Sales could borrow a chassis which they think right in size and weight for this third model, we should be more contented that we had got the right size. There will be no advantage in making two models near together. The chassis Mr. Edge refers to is definitely about 5% less in linear dimensions than the last ones I am agreeing to. It would make 16% difference in weight and say, 8% difference in cost. The 12 H.P. Rover is a larger chassis than what we think right here. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||