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 trial of cars without subframes, detailing the positive results for the first car (31-GX) after 6,460 miles of continental use.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 14\8\ Scan311 | |
| Date | 10th October 1931 | |
| RECEIVED 13 OCT 1931 Y7380. S/W. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Re- Subframes Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}7/KW2.10.31. You are no doubt aware of the fact that we are having three Company's cars put into commission without subframes, in order to see the effect on the coachwork after a certain amount of usage. On e of these three cars has now been in use on the Continent with Park Ward coachwork of the Saloon type built on chassis No. 31-GX, Continental Touring model. This car has now done 6,460 miles. We have sent the car back to Park Ward for examination and Mr.Gale also went carefully over the car with Park Ward's representatives in order to ascertain whether anything detrimental had arisen owing to the absence of the subframe. Not only is this not the case, but it is very pleasing to note that in Mr.Gale's report he states - " Bearing in mind that the car has been doing strenuous trials " work (abroad) and also the weight of the body which is a very " light one (the car being 5 cwts less than 26-EX), I have no " hesitation in saying that the body has stood up remarkably " well and it has raised the question re the usefulness of a " subframe. " The body bolts were not abnormally loose and the centre body " brackets were still rigidly attached to the chassis. The " attachment of body to the scuttle and separation was normal " and required no attention. All the wing fixings were " normal. Would you please let me know in due course whether you think it would be advisable for you or anyone else, at some convenient time, to also make an examination of this car from the point of view in question. The other two cars - 23-EX and 24-EX-are not yet in commission, but they will be shortly and we shall have further information of this nature at a later date. It might be as well to await a report on the other cars - or at least one of them - in order to get some substantiation of the first result. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} | ||