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).
Declining to examine the North Lucas Car due to a perceived lack of novelty and its disadvantages.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 128\1\ scan0007 | |
| Date | 14th March 1923 | |
| Bt.{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Y3531 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}4/LG14.3.23. Referring to your memo. Bt{Capt. J. S. Burt - Engineer}4/EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}9.3.23 and attached correspondence. We do not consider it would serve any useful purpose for us to either try or examine the North Lucas Car. We have no interest in novelties. From your description, however, we should not say that the North Lucas car is even novel. It appears very like the Rampler. Cars have been built before to get rid of the unsprung weight of the axle. The limitations of the Radial engines are also well known. We do not doubt that a car with the features you mention would have some definite advantages over the orthodox type of car, but we are certain that the disadvantages would out-weigh the advantages. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||