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).
Road tests comparing the inferiority of aluminium mud-wings to steel ones due to cracking and repair costs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 55\1\ Scan196 | |
| Date | 26th January 1932 | |
| SG. {Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Lid. {A. J. Lidsey} c. to Wor. {Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to DA {Bernard Day - Chassis Design} /EV. {Ivan Evernden - coachwork} ✓155. Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Lid. {A. J. Lidsey} 6/MA. 26. 1. 32. ALUMINIUM AND STEEL MUD-WINGS. Road tests in France have demonstrated to us very forcibly the inferiority of aluminium mud wings as compared with steel. Nearly every car fitted with aluminium wings has given trouble due to the wings cracking and breaking away; the expense incurred in keeping the wings in a fit state to run is rather large. As an example 18.G.IV. at the conclusion of its first 10,600 miles test had to be fitt- with a new pair of front wings, now at the end of the second test of 10,000 miles we are faced with a coachbuilders bil of £8. 10. 0d. for repairs to the front wings and we know very well that they will not remain intact for more than a few thousand miles. On the other hand 19.G.IV. fitted with the least costly body we have ever had, and incorporat- ing steel wings has at the conclusion of 20,000 miles not cost us a penny in wing repairs; the figures speak for themselves. At the present moment we are uncertain whether to have the existing front wings on 18.G.IV. repaired at a cost of £8. 10. 0d. or have a new pair made in steel which will cost £19. 15. 0d. We know of only one argument in favour of aluminium wings and that is that they are non rusting. There is no saving in weight because it is always necessary to fit stone gaurds under aluminium wings to prevent the paintwork being starred by stones. Our experience generally is that for experimental cars steel wings are less costly to maintain and very much more useful than aluminium. We should welcome a decision that all future experi- mental cars are fitted with steel wings and in addition we are holding up repairs to the front wings on 18.G.IV. as we are of the opinion that it will pay us to fit new steel wings in preference to repairing the existing aluminium ones. Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Lid. {A. J. Lidsey} | ||