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 car body production, including in-house manufacturing versus outsourcing to coachbuilders.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 127\3\ scan0194 | |
| Date | 1st October 1937 | |
| -2- (5) If the body project is to go forward, we believe we ought to get hold of a sound and experienced production man forthwith to start planning equipment, advising us on body design, and helping to negotiate with the Companies who are to manufacture the pressings. Mr. Green, recommended by Wilks, seems to be just the man, and we think if he seems suitable after an interview, that we should press Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} to start him. With regard to if, and how we should start the job, we believe that we have got to make our own bodies eventually, and that, therefore, the sooner we start, having regard to the energy available, the better. However, just at present, the factory is in the process of reorganisation, and if production of bodies at Derby were started simultaneously with that of the Phoenix chassis both would undoubtedly suffer owing to the energies of the Management being over-taxed. Furthermore, we believe that we must have an extended period of experimental production before we can get either the quality or the price right. From the public's point of view, it might be preferable to ease the shock of a low-priced Rolls-Royce product by retaining custom built coachwork at the introduction of the product. Briefly, therefore, the best scheme seems to us to be that we should go ahead forthwith planning the necessary accommodation, equipment and personnel for our own body production but that Phoenix should be introduced with an All Steel body purchased by tender from London Coachbuilders. Park Wards would almost certainly get the job, and we know they can now produce reasonably sound work. We know from Rovers' prices that they could supply a body @ £140 and make a profit. We ought to start by trimming and painting an increasing percentage of these shells at Derby. This would avoid us making our habitual mistake of going into production before we are ready. We consider that the Administration should be made to realise that commencing coachwork production is, for us, an undertaking of the first magnitude where we can do irreparable harm to our reputation by making a few mistakes at the beginning. We shall not lack critics among the people whom we are putting out of business. | ||