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).
Letter regarding the completion of a Corniche car by Kellners, discussing import licenses, shipping, and logistics.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 146\5\ scan0354 | |
| Date | 9th May 1940 | |
| To Bentley Motors Ltd. London Copy to Mr. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} TED. Levallois SrI/ET.9.5.40 Re: COMPLETION OF CORNICHE CAR BY KELLNERS I have carefully read over the contents of your memos C4/CE.5.40 and CI/C3.5.40 and confirm the receipt of your telegramme reading SLEATOR WROTE THIRD SHIPPING ONE CHASSIS ONLY BEFORE TWENTYFIFTH I also confirm my wire of the 7th instant worded as follows: COWEN WE ARE IN POSSESSION IMPORT LICENSE BV CHASSIS BUT THIS EXPIRES TWENTYFIFTH MAY IMPORTANT CHASSIS SHOULD BE SHIPPED OVER BEFORE THIS DATE WRITING Since sending you the above telegramme we have gone again very carefully into the matter of this import license and find that we can, without too much difficulty, have it extended to a date later then the 25th May, so we should not have any trouble in this respect. As regards the time limit of 3 months given by the Board of Trade, we hope this also will be all right, as we have discussed the matter with Kellners who tell us that they antici-pate being able to complete the bodies in 2 1/2 to 3 months. We have asked them to give written confirmation of this, but have not so far received it. We are filling in the forms and will return them as soon as this has been done. As previously stated we are in possession of the ne-cessary import license and ready to receive the chassis as soon as you are able to send it over. Concerning the question of making use of the car in France, this unfortunately cannot be done on the importation li-cense in our possession. The car will therefore have to be re-turned to England with its body on which English duty will have to be paid. After this the car will have to be re-exported to France under cover of a Carnet de Passages. We could then no doubt carry on as we used to do, but under difficulties which are becoming more and more acute every month. | ||