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).
The benefits of 'Parallite' body design focusing on ventilation, coachwork, and luggage space, with illustrations of alternative car designs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\2\ scan0193 | |
| Date | 16th July 1934 guessed | |
| Ventilation: The problem of successful ventilation of a car is still a very real one, and therefore the advantages of the "Parallite" body in this direction must be mentioned. The improved airflow over the engine, the greater cooling area of the bonnet top and the additional room by the engine for leading the heat away from the front of the body and the consequent improved cooling of both engine and body can be realised. 3 Alternative Designs Siddeley Special Saloon. Wolseley Hornet Saloon. Open Tourer. So far as the ventilation of the body is concerned, it will be found that owing to the streamlining and the aerofoil section of the roof the sliding roof can be opened without any draught or a few inches without even rain entering. Instead, the air is actually drawn out of the interior of the car. Coachwork has really advanced very little since the "Horseless Carriage" came into being over a quarter-of-a-century ago. Admittedly detail refinements have been added and style has improved, but even modern coachwork is designed as though a horse were still in front of the driver, and therefore the valuable space at each side of the engine is lost. In fact there is even a tendency towards making bodies narrower to enable the "lines" to merge more successfully into the present width of the bonnet. With the realisation of the possibilities of the streamlined motor car it became increasingly evident that a departure from present coachwork design standards was necessary, and experimental cars were made with a view to overcoming the technical difficulties and producing a body which would give the possible improved comfort, safety and performance. These cars were thoroughly tested under every conceivable fast touring condition, in practically every country in Europe, for a period of eighteen months, and from them has evolved the "Parallite" body, examples of which are here illustrated. Below are given, briefly, the main advantages claimed for this patented and registered type of body:— LUGGAGE.—More than twice as much room is available in the "Parallite" body as in the ordinary body, as will be seen by a glance at the comparative plans— | ||