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).
Experimental research into coupé bodies and the potential acquisition of an American car for analysis.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 117\2\ scan0051 | |
Date | 22th July 1939 | |
1021. SECRET. W/S. Bly.{B. W. Bleaney - Bentley Sales} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/R.22.7.39. COUPÉ BODIES. We are conducting an experimental research into Coupé bodies. As you know, Coupé bodies are notoriously bad for general scuttle and windscreen movement, in fact a B.II with a coupé body is our idea of a thoroughly bad car. Things are better with a very stiff B.V. frame, but still not as good as they ought to be. The Americans sell a lot of coupes, and we are sure that they have solved this problem. We want to get hold of a thoroughly good sample for investigation. In view of the recent horse-power tax, it occurs to us that there must be some American cars going very cheaply. We wonder whether you could 'comb' the second-hand market in London and see what is available. We should prefer a General Motors car. When you have one or two alternatives we will come down and try them to see which is the best. If you come up on Thursday, I might come down on Friday for the job. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||