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 four-seater all-weather car bodies, covering width, doors, riding comfort, lighting, horns, and colour schemes.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\T\January1929-February1929\ Scan185 | |
| Date | 23th February 1929 | |
| DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} (At Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence.) SECRET. ORIGINAL C. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} WGR. C. CX{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} R1/M23.2.29. REC'D AT WW. 26.2.29. G.4. - CLOSE COUPLED FOUR SEATER ALLWEATHER FOR R's USE. X5770 X5800 X5830 It is possible that this should be one of our Sales standards because for 4 seats or less, and for an owner driver, one cannot imagine a better form. On the 40/50. they should be fairly wide - as 18-EX. or slightly more. On the 20HP. the width of the G.4. Barker fabric body - not like the Hooper. There is evidently no excuse for thick doors. 18-EX is quite good, and the windows very nice to handle etc. Riding in the back seats of these bodies is surprisingly good, nearly as good as the drivers' seats, and markedly better than the longer 6 seater bodies. It has impressed me so forcibly that it will affect my suggestions for the future. We must try all we can to keep the spare wheels and weight at the back, and the passengers forward. It is the only way to give first class riding and other qualities - i.e. steering and road holding. Lighting should be smaller side lamps as on 18-EX. This is very important, and our three lamp scheme after much experience is by far the best. On the Riviera road lighting control is important. The foot switch is good. I am anxious to try an electrical vibrator (Bosch) instead of the Klaxon. All cars should have low note horn - it is most useful and polite. Regarding colour, if you keep to the pure greys (mixture of black and white paints) I should prefer that the darker was less dark than sample as this would look like a bad black. For upholstery I prefer VM805. which is a dark grey, though here again I should prefer it somewhat lighter. V.M. seems good leather as judged from 18-EX., at least it seems nice to the touch. Since none of us seem entirely pleased with either colour scheme I suggest looking into a green grey scheme - i.e. not vivid green - with upholstery like VM840., but I fear it might look dirty. Yesterday we saw a particularly smart looking Mercedes-Benz with closed sporting body, smaller and lower than our 18-EX., smarter coloured, but not such a motor carriage. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||