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).
Urgency of chassis production, proposed modifications, and testing plans for a new model.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\S\2April1928-June1928\ Scan093 | |
| Date | 17th May 1928 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} ) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} ) C. to BJ. WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} SECRET. R3/M17.5.28. INDIA 3. X5778 X5830 X615 We are very anxious that there should be no delay in getting this passed when the chassis is completed, and for this reason it would be as well to obtain enough parts for three chassis. There are not many parts that are likely to give trouble outside the engine, so that it is a question of pushing forward sufficient chassis so that we are not dependent on a single one in testing the effect of the modifications on the road with different kinds of bodies. The new rear end, petrol tank, etc, DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} hopes to send by the end of this week. Apparently all these parts should not take long to produce, and many are similar to those belonging to the Phantom chassis. The importance and urgency to get this in production will be realised when it is considered that the frame of the chassis is 2" nearer the ground than the present 20HP., the road wheels being smaller, giving 1", and yet we shall have 1" more road clearance. In addition to the low appearance the improvements we are expecting in this chassis are too numerous to state briefly, but the only ones likely to cause serious delay are we think the modifications to the engine, but there is little in this below the cyl. joint, as they are confined chiefly to the head, and the induction pipe. Both our chassis are growing nearer alike so that the experimental work done on one should be applied to the other. Since writing the above I have decided that it would speed up the model chassis by fitting the present engine. We could test:- (1) Smaller road wheels - 2" less in dia. (2) Longer wheelbase - 3" more to cancel 'B' steering. (3) New rear end with petrol tank in frame. (4) Wheel carrier and grid. (5) "X" in frame for torsional stiffness. (6) Rubber engine mounting. (7) Central oiling. (8) Modifications to steering. (9) 1" higher radiator. Any time while this is being done we can change the engine should the new head and induction pipe etc become available. Appearance and performance will be improved. We must push forward: we are continually getting behind in our improvements, not so much in conception as the terribly long time we take before we can let the customer have them. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||