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).
Chassis improvements through weight reduction and leveraging aero and sports car experience.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\Q\July1927-September1927\ Scan146 | |
| Date | 21th September 1927 guessed | |
| -2- which we are reducing, by reducing the weight of the unbalanced parts. The reason we run into this is that we want to use the lowest gear possible for the speed, so that - Aero engine experience, } will be improving Sports car experience, } our standard chassis engine. CHASSIS Considering that we shall have reduced the weight of the bodywork, and the engine, we ought to reduce the weight of the chassis wherever it will not depart from interchangeability with standard, or weaken the parts. The first point is shorter and less protruding road wheel hubs, which naturally will be lighter. This has already been done on the continent. The second point is, many parts of the back axle, including the heavy rear brake drum, are not needed now we have 6 brakes. Unsprung weight is of the utmost importance for holding the road: also we want to be nearly as light (sprung weight) on the front wheels as the Hispano. We have lowered the chassis because using stiffer springs calls for less bump clearance, so we have come down 1". I am sure you will be pleased with the improved results. Since we know that it is needed, and how to do it, we must do it, or not profit by our experience and knowledge. We must get Mr. Wormald to help us to shorten the delay: he can do it. Yours ever, R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||