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).
Supply of updated L.H.Phantom II chassis to the American Company, considering engine and gearbox modifications.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 19\4\ Scan387 | |
| Date | 16th November 1933 | |
| [Handwritten top left]: xxxxx # [Handwritten top right]: Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} I should like to talk about this Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to Wcr.Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}HX. re America. The American Company have been asking for some time what we can do about supplying them with further L.H.P.II chassis. At the present time we of course are very full up and are not in great need of the business. At the same time the day may come when we shall be only too pleased to have it and, therefore cannot really afford to neglect the market even if they can only absorb one or two chassis per week. The chassis which they have been taking is, as you know, out of date in many respects, the most important of which being the non-synchromesh gearbox. I attach a list of the points which we believe to be the principal differences between the L.H.Chassis and the P.II of to-day. It occurred to us that, if we were going to build more chassis for them and could not get a definite contract but had to build on speculation, it would be less risk for us to use the present chassis, [text struck through: but the existing column over on the L.H. side]. But looking at a chassis I rather doubt whether this is a feasible proposition and would not in the long run entail more complications and certainly a lot of Drawing Office work, which also we do not want. So far as the engine is concerned, it would apparently be fairly simple to bring the existing L.H. engine up to date, but I am not sure whether the new type carburetter of the R.H. chassis would go on to the L.H. engine or whether it would mean a new carburetter. As regards the gearbox, would you please have the matter looked into from the point of view of whether the existing gearbox [handwritten above: could be] adapted to the L.H.chassis so that it could be operated from the centre of the car. If not, then I believe it means [handwritten above: an] almost completely new gearbox, but should be glad to have information on this point. What we really want to know is how we can keep | ||