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).
Confirming a telephone conversation about non-standard dashboard and radiator dimensions for chassis GFT-102, expressing concern over the impact on stock bodies.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 55\1\ Scan077 | |
| Date | 26th October 1931 | |
| 85992 Hnl/V.26.10.31. A/W (BP). Copy to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} GFT-102 - R's car. Confirming our telephone conversation of this afternoon Park Ward & Co report that the dimensions of the dashboard of this chassis differ from the current standard as follows:- 1. It is .375" higher at the shoulder. 2. It is 9/16" higher at the centre. 3. It is ½" narrower. They also tell us that the radiator is ½" higher at the shoulder than the standard. We can understand that the dashboard is narrower because the bonnet overlaps but we are somewhat concerned at the increase in the height because we believe the dashboard is intended to be the same as the dashboard which will be fitted to chassis in the second half of "T" series. We have had stock bodies built for chassis in the second half of "T" series and if the dashboards are going to be higher than the current standard then these stock bodies will have to be altered at considerable expense to us. We were under the impression that although with the second half of "T" series you intended to introduce the universal dashboard with the overlapping bonnet, the dimensions would be virtually unchanged so that bodies built for chassis of the new current type could be fitted without alteration. We appreciate that on this one chassis GFT-102, the dashboard has been specially made, and it may be that the dimensions differ from standard for this reason. We should like to be reassured because of our stock bodies. In addition, we would like to know what Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} wants us to do on the new body for 20-G4. Are Park Ward's to make their scuttle to suit the dashboard on GFT-102? If they do it means that 20-G4 will have to have an exactly similar dashboard. If they are not to do so then they must have a fully detailed drawing of the dashboard which will be on 20-G4. - 1 - | ||