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).
Modifications and development work on the Spectre bonnet and radiator.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 94\3\ scan0003 | |
| Date | 13th September 1934 | |
| R... 4494 360 To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} c. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} JNR.{Charles L. Jenner} E.3/HP.13.9.34. re SpectreCodename for Phantom III Bonnet and Radiator. I spent some time with EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} yesterday in going over the question of the SpectreCodename for Phantom III appearance, and we definitely came to the conclusion that the bonnet side hinge was too low at the front end. By using packings we raised the radiator .350 instages and after judging this with the whole car on a level keel we think it is the right amount of alteration required. We should, therefore, like to have a .350 solid aluminium packing piece put in permanently on the present SpectreCodename for Phantom III chassis. This will have the effect of raising the whole of the front of the car, namely, the wings, lamps, front apron and bonnet side strips, but this does not matter, and in fact will be beneficial. The bonnet may require some slight re-fitting to make it open and close easily, and the bonnet fasteners may require some slight attention. We should further like to have a dummy filler cap added to this existing radiator, to LeC. 4102 blueprint attached. Our next move will be to make a new pair of front mudguards and a new apron which we anticipate will greatly improve the appearance, keeping the present conventional RR. form of radiator. To avoid stopping development work on the first chassis it would greatly help us if you could complete the bumper chassis, including a radiator and bonnet side strips so that we could get these mudguards made up. When we have got this finished it should show us the best we think we can do with the conventional flat fronted radiator. We are also developing a further stage with the bottom of the radiator swept forward and for producing this without interfering with the experimental work on the first chassis the bumper chassis would again be useful. As we do not require for our purpose the pieces suspension to be in steel, it would save time if we could chassis assembled with the bronze pieces taken off the first ENCLOSURE N°974 E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||