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).
Typed question and answer document discussing the feasibility and testing of a sports car body.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 65a\1\ scan0170 | |
| Date | 11th November 1927 guessed | |
| contd :- -2- we think the present standard car cannot be used as a sports car. he may agree, after trying the car, that we can go ahead with it without waiting for the other parts. We do not think it is worth while raising these points with R.{Sir Henry Royce} until we can shew him a car which will satisfy him as regards the engine. Question 4. You will then fit the body which at present exists. Answer. We doubt whether this is possible and we are sure it is not desirable. The body on the present sports car has failed in several places. It is chiefly for this reason that WW. have interested themselves in the design for a sports body. It is necessary to depart from the orthodox coachbuilders methods of construction. Also the body has been altered materially in shape. This has been done in order to make room for a disappearing hood. The tail and rear wheel carrier have been altered. It is very necessary that the 10,000 miles test shall be run with a complete car. We are expecting to have a complete sports car ready by the time the bodies are ready. Although at the moment very few instructions have reached the Expl: Dept: As soon as we have carried out our preliminary tests on the present sports car it should be possible for us to recommend going ahead with certain of the new parts taking the risk of the result of the 10,000 miles test. The risk would be very very small as we can test engine parts much more severely on the bench than it is possible to do with the car on the road. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||