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).
The 'Myth' car project, staffing issues, and collaboration with coachbuilder Park Wards during and after the war.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 144\2\ scan0110 | |
| Date | 22th September 1941 | |
| Em.2/AT.22.9.41 - 2 - We suggested to Ward (we can do no more, we have no authority) that if the efforts being exerted at Derby to keep the Myth project moving were not to be negatived, he should have a small staff permanently allocated to the frame and body of this car. We have succeeded in doing this at the Clan, with all our other commitments, though we change such staff about, to give everyone an opportunity to contribute to the war effort. It is not the first time that we have made such a suggestion, and we have no great hopes that it will produce any very different results than previously. Ward said that he was being encouraged by the Board to get the maximum turnover and, in so doing, he had been forced to neglect the Myth temporarily. He agreed in principle that Park Wards would be entirely dependent on Rolls-Royce after the war, whereas Rolls-Royce, even as regards the Chassis Division, had several other sources for bodies. Therefore, logically one would expect Park Wards to be more interested in bodies than Derby. Actually the reverse appeared to be the case. Actually Ward is working as hard as anyone, and if he is not satisfying us it is not his fault. After all, his first duty is to satisfy his Board of Directors and, as we see the situation, no one on the Board has suggested that he is distributing his energies incorrectly. Emphasis has been laid on his turnover, and he is operating accordingly. We paid a further visit to Park Wards last week. Ward had a number of men working on Myth, but it was evident that they had only just started to pick up the job again. SENIOR RANGE CUSTOM BUILT COACHWORK INCLUDING B.V BODIES - It will be appreciated that Myth is a full time job for Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/EAG, and his three draughtsmen, both during the war and for many months after it. The planning, purchasing and setting to work of the necessary equipment to fabricate Myth bodies in quantity will not only absorb the whole of Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/EAG's energies, but those of the best staff he can pick and train. Therefore Park Wards have got to stand on their own feet after the war as far as their own production is concerned. They had a rather rough time financially just prior to hostilities and also from the manufacturing and organisation point of view, particularly during the period of Mr. Finney's control. They will have one great asset after the war, if they can take advantage of it - a simplified range of chassis that can be sold at a lower price than heretofore, and which permits of a good deal of body rationalisation. | ||