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).
Car seating positions, driver comfort, and vehicle design considerations.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 95\3\ scan0163 | |
| Date | 6th November 1935 | |
| x346 ? Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} E.2/HP.6.11.35. c. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Les.{Ivan A. Leslie} Car Seating Positions. Thank you for your Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Les.14/KW.1.11.35, I am attaching herewith copy of E/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}7/MN.5.11.35 commenting on this proposal. With regard to the suggestion to use a horizontal steering wheel, it is certainly true that the driver's position at the present time is determined by his toes touching the dashboard with the clutch and brake pedals thoroughly depressed, and hence we cannot move him any nearer to the dashboard than he is now. Actually on the design of the V.8 car that was discussed at the last conference with Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}, the dashboard followed by the driver could have been pushed at least 2" further forward, but we were unable to take advantage of this because of the spare wheel preventing the front door from moving forward. We should like to house the spare wheels in the back of the body for this reason, and also because the redistribution of weight obtained thereby would be beneficial to the ride. I take it that the horizontal steering wheel is proposed as a means only of obtaining a long bonnet effect. With regard to the Hupmobile, it is possible that they cramp the dimension from the pedals to the rim of the steering wheel more than would be accepted by our customers. Personally I still think we need not go all the way to making the Wraith wheelbase as long as the Phantom 2 to obtain the required improvement in the ride. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||