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).
Secret memo regarding the design and production of car bodies for 'Japan III', discussing blueprints and the use of subframes for secrecy.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 104\3\ scan0134 | |
| Date | 2nd February 1931 | |
| SECRET X 5380 To DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} re Bodies for Japan III. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}8/E3. 2. 31. X5380 X5380 Copy to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Referring to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/MJ 20.1.31 I should be glad if you would let me know how sonn we may expect to receive completed coachbuilder's blue prints. Nothing very much can of course be done in regard to the question of bodies for experimental chassis until we have coachbuilder's blue prints which can be relied on as being accurate. With regard to subframes, whilst we agree with Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and would much prefer bodies that are made for Japan III to be made without sub-frames, nevertheless we cannot see at the present time how for reasons of secrecy we can do this. To build them without sub-frames would, so far as we understand, necessitate the chassis going to the coachbuilders whereas with subframes this could be obviated. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} | ||