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).
New petrol tank design for the 'U' series to improve appearance and reduce costs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 106\2\ scan0066 | |
| Date | 1st August 1931 | |
| X546s BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} FROM DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}1/M29.8.31. X.5460 X.5120 X.5600. C. to - SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} PETROL TANK - 'U' SERIES. At the request of Sales we have made a design of petrol tank extending to the rear crossmember of the chassis - see N.Sch.3324. herewith. As the majority of our cars have no spare wheels at the rear, this tank will give a clean appearance and avoid the fitting of a rear apron, which is costly. Such cars as have a wheel at the rear are only those with rear luggage boots or trunks, in which case the wheel is carried on a dummy hub bolted to the body, and the wheel is behind the chassis cross tube. Hence all of our existing wheel carriers at the rear, save this bolted on dummy hub, can be abandoned, with a considerable saving in cost. The design of tank is a development of your Sch. 1488. We suggest that as the material of the tank is now .048", rivets could be deleted in the tank ends and baffles, and that we trust to the strength of the folded metal and sweating. This would effect a saving in cost and provide a cleaner exterior for painting and buffing. We have shewn a modified petrol gauge fitting which will follow immediately. This can be used on P.2. also. The filter fitting has been modified to give a cleaner exterior. We recollect calling your attention to this when you sent us a design for this fixing. The tank fittings - gauge and filters - have been moved back as far as the grid will allow, there being no wheel carrier to worry about. This makes possible bodies with less ugly turn-under to the rear panel. As the special touring saloon is to be a model of 'U' series this tank should be fitted to the chassis which you are preparing. We think another tank should also be made to this design and fitted to a standard maximum bodied car so that it may be viewed, as on the special touring saloon the tank is hidden entirely by the luggage boot. DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||