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).
Letter to C.W. Ward discussing car body production, costs, materials, and comparisons with Rover and Studebaker models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 117\2\ scan0103 | |
| Date | 15th December 1939 | |
| C.W.Ward, Esq., -2- 15th. December, 1939. (5) This again is entirely a question of price. We should not, however, want the durability of the body to be inferior to that of the Rover. (6) We have an example at the Factory of the Studebaker body which is more roomy than that on the Bentley and weighs less. We will let you have particulars. We consider that the B.V. body as at present built reaches the maximum weight which we can permit. We hope to be able to reduce this figure materially. (7) The standard of finish is not to be inferior to that on the Rover. (8) Logically, since we are offering to pay twice as much for this body as the Rover people would charge for a similar article, we should expect to be able to afford aluminium wings. However, it might not prove possible to get the price down with anything but steel wings to begin with. (9) Same as the Rover. (10) Agreed. (11) Agreed. (12) We will discuss this when we come to London. (13) As mentioned in our letter of 30th. October, we should expect to produce bodies at the rate of 60 per week. 50 per week would have to be fabricated at the low figure, 10 per week might have certain variations with regard to the quality of the trimming or colours, but would have the same shell and basic pieces. (14) The cost of tools must be spread over 6,000 cars. This means that to the cost of labour and material must be added a figure for tool cost which is the total divided by 6,000 and the net result including overheads must not exceed a factory cost of £135. | ||