Re: Rolls Royce vs. Packard:Who Built a Better Merlin?

Posted by Tim Cole On 2020/2/14 19:03:38

Too much Packard mythology going on as regards the airplane engine. Consider the following:

The redeveloped Ford Trafford Park Factory was bombed only a few days after its opening in May 1941.

As Sir Stanley Hooker stated in his autobiography:

" once the great Ford factory at Manchester started production, Merlins came out like shelling peas at the rate of 400 per week. And very good engines they were too, yet never have I seen mention of this massive contribution which the British Ford company made to the build-up of our air forces. "

Merlin Wartime Production Sources

Derby 32,377

Crewe 26,065

Glasgow 23,675

Trafford Park 30,428

Detroit 55,523

I find the whole legend of Rolls-Royce supposed cobblers not being able to produce engines not supported. The two Rolls plants (Bentley and Rolls-Royce cars) alone built more engines than Packard. You can't do that using 18th century production methods.