Re: Packard Merlin Engine V-1560

Posted by Dave Kenney On 2012/1/12 17:07:43

I just finished an excellent biography of Henry Ford, "The Peoples Tycoon" by Steven Watts. In the book there is mention of Ford reneging on an agreement brokered by his son Edsel to manufacture 6000 engines for Rolls Royce (which I assume was the Merlin) prior to the US entering the war in 1940. I had known that Henry Ford refused the contract to build the engines but didn't know that he had in fact accepted the contract then cancelled much to the embarrassment of Edsel.
After Dec.7 1941 Ford changed his mind and wholeheartedly supported the war effort as we know.