Armstrong Siddeley Motors: Minutes of a meeting held on 24 November 1954 in connection...

It has been decided to deal with this motor car under two headings, one covering design and development, and the other one, finance. The design and development minutes commence hereunder. Chassis. Frame The necessary drawings have been modified to cater for a wheelbase of 9' 3'. Engine: (i) Air intake noise. (ii) Excessive exhaust noise. (iii) Improved oil filler cap. (iv) Engine front mounting brackets. (v) Distributor. Gearbox: (i) Jumping out of third gear on deceleration. (ii) Judder associated with the mounting of the gearbox on the chassis. (D) Propeller shaft and axle. (E) Rear springs. (F) Rear shock absorbers; Experiments with the Teleflo type shock absorbers have been abandoned because of their continued failure on the pave. The units will be replaced by the Armstrong, which is the next cheapest to purchase. In the meantime the Girling will be used. (G) Front shock absorbers as (F). (H) Front suspension; this is approved. (I) Brakes; Mr Wright of Dunlop has informed me that any quantity production of disc brakes to be available by July 1955 is out of the question. Dunlop said that deliveries might begin in early 1956. (J) Overdrive; is approved with an operation planned for top gear only. (J) Automatic type gearbox; there are two types under consideration 9a) The Mnumatic; (b) The Magnetic. (L) Steering. (M) Radiator; is still not satisfactory. Further work proceeding. Body: (A) Petrol filler cap. (B) Seats. Mr Ashley is of the opinion that the present seating is completely unacceptable from a comfort point of view and the criticisms are too numerous to record and therefore Mr Henley has been requested to obtain the following seats: One bucket seat as fitted to the Hillman Minx; Bench seat as fitted to the Rover; One bucket seat as fitted to the Daimler. (C) Petrol tank; it is proposed to fit the dampers forward of the rear axle instead of aft, with the result of saving space. (D) Instruments: Mr Ashlwy records that basic instruments in the motor car are inaccurate and particularly commands the experimental department to see that these errors are omitted from Experimental cars forthwith. Appendix A: 2.3 litre prototype No.1; 2.3 litre prototype No.2 giving dimensions of seating area compared with on sheet two: Vauxhall Cresta and Dover 90. Appendix B: Report No c.144 Pave test on 2.3 litre prototype