Rolls-Royce Archives
         « Prev  Box Series  Next »        

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).
Internal memorandum discussing the potential introduction of a Sports 25 HP model and its market positioning.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 56\3\  Scan038
Date  18th January 1932
  
X5120.

Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}6/MJ.18.1.32.

16-G4. CAR - SPORTS 25 HP.

There are one or two further arguments we should like to put forward in order to try and push this car.

In the case of Phantom ll we introduced a Continental model and obtained many more orders for this type of car than was ever anticipated. It is reasonable to suppose that when it has the increased performance we shall attract a further number of buyers.

On the Phantom it has been accepted that the Continental car will, and can, look different to the standard town carriage type. There is a suggestion now of introducing a Continental 25 HP. Therefore, to be consistent, we should expect the Continental 25 HP. to be and look different to the standard 25 HP. To introduce a Continental 25 HP. which has only the performance of a standard car would be not giving the car a chance. The modifications make use of the J.l engine and are actually less than the modifications we are asking for on the improved Phantom ll Continental car. If we make use of two S.U. carburettors on the Continental Phantom ll then it would be consistent to use a similar arrangement on the 25 HP. On the other hand, if we use the R.R. carburetter on the P.2 we still have R.R. carburetters available for the 25 HP.

I got the impression from Sales that they were worried about selling a 25 HP. car with the same performance as Phantom. We see nothing in this because it is an actual fact that the American Ford has a very much better performance up to 60 M.P.H. than any car we are at present making. Although the 16-G4 car will have as good a performance as the present standard Phantom the performance is not the same as regards quality. There is more 'fuss' and there always will be.

When we introduce our improved Cont. P.2 car customers will anticipate that we shall carry a similar modifications through on the 25 HP. and to attempt to sell a Cont. 25 HP. made from the standard car would be a failure. With the changed conditions of today one would think that we ought to do all we can to popularise the lower priced model. It is absolutely certain that the numbers of big cars we shall sell will be very few indeed. From this point of view it might be more profitable if we pushed ahead with the Cont. 25 HP. even at the expense of Phantom ll, but fortunately there is no reason why both cars could not be launched together.

If it is proposed to do anything with this car then we would recommend that 18-G4., before it goes to France, is fitted with this type of engine.

Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}
  
  


Copyright Sustain 2025, All Rights Reserved.    whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble
An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙