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, production estimates, and supplier timelines for manufacturing car bodies.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 117\1\ scan0149 | |
| Date | 1st November 1937 guessed | |
| -2- be higher and not generally so satisfactory with regard to accuracy and finish. "D" is the Park Ward method of construction, the body shells of which, I understand, now cost £90, but that by placing orders for quantities this would be reduced to £70. I have not seen their method of manufacture, but I think it is probable that upon investigation the cost might be lowered still more. I am preparing an estimate of floor space required for production, and the cost of equipment. These I will let you have as soon as possible, but you will appreciate that there is a considerable amount of work in the preparation of these estimates which accounts for the extra time taken. The schemes and estimates are based on a production of 4,000 to 5,000 bodies over a period of two years. The number produced over a given period will naturally considerably affect the cost per body, as will also the variation in finish, i.e. paint and upholstery. I have discussed the matter with the Pressed Steel Company of Oxford, who have given me a delivery date of 12 months from receipt of order. I feel sure that you will understand that as they have only seen a blue print showing three side elevations that they cannot give a definite estimates of costs, but those given are based on similar jobs which they have had in their factory. When you are considering the time that will be taken for the production of these models it will be necessary to add to any delivery date given by the pressing manufacturers the time required for assembling sample bodies made from the first run of sample pressings, which should be mounted to the chassis Cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} | ||