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).
Letter from a coachbuilder discussing design considerations and drawbacks of a French Streamline Body.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 161\1\ scan0224 | |
| Date | 3rd October 1938 | |
| 1380 PARK, WARD & CO LTD COACHBUILDERS OFFICIALLY APPOINTED RETAILERS OF ROLLS ROYCE CARS (SHOWROOMS - 40 CONDUIT STREET) 473 HIGH ROAD WILLESDEN LONDON N W 10 DIRECTORS: A.{Mr Adams} T. ROBERTS W. M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} PARK C. W. WARD W. C. THORNE J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} A.{Mr Adams} FALCONER. C. A.{Mr Adams} C. FALCONER. W. S. PAGE TELEPHONE: WILLESDEN 2595 (6 LINES) TELEGRAMS: WARENPAR-WILLROAD-LONDON [STICKER: 32ND INTERNATIONAL MOTOR EXHIBITION CARS & BOATS OCT 13-22 EARLS COURT OUR STAND No. 104 GROUND FLOOR] CWW/JMW. 3rd October, 1938. W.A. Robotham, Esq., Messrs. Rolls Royce Ltd., DERBY. Dear Mr. Robotham, Re: French Streamline Body. As requested, on my return to the Works, I carefully examined the drawing of the streamline body we produced for you sometime ago, and on checking over some of the dimensions, should assume the French Designer has paid no attention at all to the rear seating, this, to make same reasonably comfortable should have 3" more leg room between front and rear seating and an increased height of 2" and to produce this the roof above the rear seat has to go up 3 1/4". In carrying this increased height forward towards the front peak to keep the same contour of roof profile as now would not the frontal area be increased to such an extent that the speed and acceleration figures would be reduced considerably. The body has quite a number of exceptional features, the width of the front seat is very good, design of wings, carrying of spare wheel and under-faring is very good, but what effect is produced by the angle of the front screen on a wet night? Our experience in London of an acute angle front screen with the alternative road lamps, on a wet road one continually gets the appearance of something flashing across the screen. Has this body this peculiar effect? I did mention to you that I knew of two people who would sacrifice quite a lot of comfort to gain extra speed, but I would imagine the sales people should be | ||