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 allocation, dashboard type, and spring specifications for a special 25 HP car for 'R'.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 55\1\ Scan064 | |
| Date | 5th October 1931 | |
| S/W. Copy to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Lid.{A. J. Lidsey} Hn{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders}12/I/5-10-31. SPECIAL 25 CAR FOR R.{Sir Henry Royce} D/BP6/OG3-10-31. As the chassis is to have a universal dashboard, we think it best to allocate one from the second half of 'M' series as we presume you will have no difficulty in building this out of its proper turn. We propose, therefore, to allocate chassis GFT-102. If, however, you cannot build a chassis bearing this number so far in advance of its normal position on the Delivery List, then we are agreeable to its being called GFT-50, although this means, of course, incorporating features which in the ordinary way would not be found on so early a chassis. We attach an E.P. sheet giving a specification of the chassis and are leaving it to you to fill in the number. When you have taken a decision as to what number it will bear please let us know for our own information what it is. By the way, we are assuming that by 'universal dashboard' you mean a dashboard suitable for any position steering column. We take it the dimensions will be those of the current standard dashboard, although we believe the bonnet will cover the edges of the dashboard, just as the bonnet does on N-2 series Phantom II. Please confirm. It will be observed from the E.P. sheet attached that we have asked for springs for a body weighing 9 cwts. This is a much more common weight than 7 1/2 cwts. and if these springs are fitted in the first place then there ought to be no necessity to make a change when the chassis reverts to us and we have a stock body mounted. After all, so far as the special body for R.{Sir Henry Royce} is concerned, it seems to us immaterial whether the springs are strong or weak as we take it the Experimental Dept. has no intention whatever of running the car as they get it back from Park Wards but will not put in on the road until the body has been transferred to the proper special chassis. Hn.{F. C. Honeyman - Retail orders} ATTACHMENT BP | ||