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).
Cost targets and production strategies for an £800 car and a £135 body.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 117\2\ scan0205 | |
| Date | 12th February 1940 | |
| Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}14/MH.{M. Huckerby}12.2.40 - 3 - estimates can be substantiated in production. 5. THE £800 CAR. In Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/MH.{M. Huckerby}11.11.39 the first target was to make an £800 car and for this to be possible, Park Wards had to sell a body to R.R. at £225. From the figures so far submitted, they can sell the second 500 B.V. bodies they make at £250. It is therefore evident that if we are not prepared to order at the rate of more than 10 per week or in total batches of more than 500, we must go at least part of the way towards using the Jaguar or Rover quality of leather, head linings and fittings. We estimate that, if we go the whole way, and this means adding some weight by using steel instead of aluminium wings, we can save a further £40, but this has yet to be demonstrated and a body so built accepted for appearance. One of the second batch of 6 B.V. bodies being built will be so constructed. If successful, we have obtained the first Park Ward objective, a body of the right price for an £800 car, without excessive quantities being necessary. 6. FURTHER COST FIGURES. It is clear that the figures from which we have been quoting, whilst exceedingly useful, consist almost entirely of information that was available before the war but not in an understandable form. To get to the £135 body, which is our next objective, a very large amount of entirely new information is required concerning the effect of increased numbers and better equipment on production costs and also the reduction in cost to be obtained from £60,000 worth of tools. All this was asked for in our letter Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}9/E.18.1.40. Undoubtedly such information is essential if the rationalised range of cars is to be a success and when they have been dealt with the Myth requires consideration. Neither Mr. Ward nor Mr. Green seemed to think that they had the necessary staff at their disposal to deal with the project in the detailed manner that we believe is essential. Mr. Ward is of course very conscious of the fact that his factory is half empty and is anxious to keep his overheads down. This prevents his engaging additional staff with the necessary knowledge. | ||