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).
The French coachbuilder Franay and general conclusions on bodywork suitability for continental conditions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 117\1\ scan0025 | |
| Date | 3rd July 1934 guessed | |
| -5- (f) FRANAY. This is a fairly recent firm who build bodies on the old orthodox lines. The results are heavy but well built. They are very anxious to co-operate with us and I suggest that they would most likely become good if we had time to develop them on our lines. At present their work is extremely heavy. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS. I formed the general conclusion that English Rolls-Royce and Bentley coachwork is not suitable for Continental conditions, after examining the Trials cars, customers' cars at Coachbuilders, and bearing in mind our 10,000 miles cars. French bodies, although heavy and often badly made, do stand up to the conditions. Apart from the few Custom Coachbuilders who fit bodies to Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Hispano, etc., the great bulk of the cars have all steel bodies, (Citroen, Renault, Peugeot and the bulk of American cars) the durability of which is very high. All French Custom Coachbuilders use steel panels, wings and steps and some form of body articulation for the base of the pillars at least. (Silent-Bloc") The doors are always buffered on "Silent-Bloc" stops. Our next batch of Bentley bodies are a step in the right direction, having metal pillars and sheet steel wheel arches, and body bottomsides. I suggest that, if we wish to get durability in Europe, we should articulate with "Silent-Bloc" fittings, or by any other suitable means the bases of the pillars, and mount the body on a vibration damping material. The wings should be of sheet steel. A sample of the special Duco Priming paint used by Binder to prevent rust is being sent to England for us to test, as well as a pair of the patent die case concealed door hinges which they use. Travelling at speed in the Trials Saloon Bentley showed one what must eventually happen to the front wings of such a car if made in aluminium. The movement of the front wings and lamps is alarming, whilst the higher setting of the front shock dampers, aggravate the trouble. One would like to have a Binder body for a 10,000 miles test. | ||