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).
Future car model strategy, focusing on engine size, body space, and model positioning.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\2\ scan0043 | |
| Date | 16th November 1938 | |
| [Header] BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} -2- [Typed Text] rationalised pieces, it being clear that this type of Wraith was to give the same body space as the present car, and we are wondering if this is clear with an 11'.1" wheelbase against the present 11'.4". (The position is made rather more obscure by reference in certain parts of the memo to 'Silver Wraith' and in the next paragraph to 'Replacement Wraith,' both apparently being the same car.) Then, beyond this, we understood that there was contemplated a car with the Wraith type of frame but with an 8 cylinder engine, it being generally felt that this car would replace the Phantom III, and would, therefore, presumably want to have a slightly larger engine than the Wraith of today. What we want to be clear on is that the Wraith size of engine of today must not be superseded by a bigger engine. We do not mind whether the Wraith engine of today is eventually superseded by an 8 cylinder engine of the same capacity, but we must keep in that very valuable class. In other words, the 8 cylinder with bigger engine would replace P-S and run side by side with the smaller 8 cylinder one or 6. With regard to the penultimate paragraph of Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}'s memo., we rather feel that the P-S replacement 8 cylinder car ought to have a few inches more body space than the Wraith. We shall have to ask more money for it and additionally we are finding that there are some people who are not satisfied with the Wraith body space. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} [Handwritten Annotations] [In left margin]: WHY ? [At bottom of page]: Does it matter what we sell as long as we get the turnover & get a fixed % of profit on the turn-over. | ||