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).
Strategy for quantity production of car bodies for the Bentley 50 project.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0246 | |
| Date | 13th December 1937 | |
| By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} also in Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}'s Policy file 1260 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}3/R.13.12.37. ROLLS-ROYCE & QUANTITY PRODUCED BODIES. The basic weakness in the present Bentley 50 project is that, in order to get the bodies at the right price, we have got to put ourselves in the hands of a single manufacturer. If we split the order, the volume will be insufficient to get economical production. It is an unfortunate fact that, whilst the Park Ward body shell is undoubtedly preferable to the wooden frame, Ward has absolutely no idea of how to produce bodies in quantities. Therefore, unless when Roberts submits a price he also can demonstrate the personnel and organisation which will enable him to get down to this price, we believe that we shall be well advised to deal with Mulliners to begin with at any rate. We don't want to have to teach Park Wards how to produce bodies in quantities. If Park Wards put up a special factory, surely it ought to be nearer Derby than London. If we don't deal with Park Wards for the first quantity produced body, then it seems almost certain that we shall have to go straight from wooden construction to pressed steel. We find it difficult to understand any policy that does not ultimately lead to us producing our own bodies. We say this because no concern of any real consequence in the Automobile World allows someone else to make their coachwork. It seems to be accepted practice in the industry that there are many chassis components that can, with advantage, be bought from outside firms but not bodies, particularly when it comes to any quantity. The coachwork of a car expresses its individuality, therefore, bodies made for one Company cannot be interchangeable with those made for another. Furthermore, there are many features of the body to-day which can only give satisfaction if engineered in conjunction with a chassis. Examples of these are - car heaters, radios, noise insulation, etc. | ||