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).
Feasibility of an 8-cylinder engine for the 'Bensport' model, considering interchangeability with 'Peregrine' parts, tax, and market implications.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 3\4\ 04-page024 | |
| Date | 24th April 1932 | |
| H/E K4558 To H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} from WK. Copy to R.{Sir Henry Royce} Mr. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} re Bensport. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}14/24.4.32 Referring to B.2/HP.F1.1."2 and E.5/HP.S1."2 relative to making this a 8-cylinder instead of a 6, I should like to discuss this on Wednesday. Various points of course arise such as the price question. Another is the question of interchangeability. I should be glad if prior to our meeting you could collect some information as to what the degree of interchangeability would be between the Bensport as a 6-cylinder and "Peregrine" parts, and as a 8-cylinder and "Peregrine" parts. One rather imagines that in either case it would be very small. If an 8-cylinder is right and the interchangeability aspect is not important because it refers to so few parts, then we must consider whether an 8-cylinder "Peregrine" engine dimensions is the best that we could do. An 8-cylinder with "Peregrine" bore gives about a £25 tax but with a smaller bore and a longer stroke we get a lower tax and possibly as good if not better results. This sort of point I think we ought to ventilate and discuss as, if we are going to depart from the original idea of making as much as possible interchangeable with "Peregrine", we ought presumably to try to obtain ideal conditions. Another aspect we must bear in mind is that, if the car is going to be considerably more expensive, than we originally intended, it will mean a smaller market for it. At the same time I quite realise that it would be a mistake to cramp our whole style with too small an engine. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||