STEEL FOR CAR BODIES

The Jaguar XJ6 story on page 129 of the December issue brought back memories from 50 years ago. I was a metallurgist employed by British Steel in Research and Development. We were always getting problems with steel products supplied to the car industry, in supplying suitable steel for car bodies. I do not think that the Scottish Ravenscraig works ever met the Ford Motor specification. That steel strip was used in the Hillman Imps, and the 'reject' steel was exported to Russia and came back as Ladas.

However, I recall a major claim by Jaguar regarding XJ6 car bonnets. The Welsh strip steel supplied had been 'over killed' with aluminium and pinholing rust was evident on bonnets less than 12 months old. The claim, which was proved, was rather large! Another one was an alleged heat treatment issue with engine components. I visited a large sub-contractor in the West Midlands where rows of 1940s Ward 7 lathes were knocking out components. The argument was that the tolerance of these machines was OK, it was the heat treatment of our 'poor quality' steel that was causing failure.

We compared the practice in use against current early 1970s German car makers. We looked at MercedesBenz, BMW and VW. Compared with Mercedes who were using CAD/CNC machine tools which I understand were 'upgraded' General Motors machines, there was no comparison. Jaguar lost, as we claimed it was down to individual inspectors using go/no-go hand held gauges to process each engine component. Admittedly there were one or two heat treatment problems.

Another was a large double acting press for large body pressings in the Bromsgrove area. It was rocking on its foundations, but had been in continuous use since the late 1940s. At a works quality meeting, it was suggested that young married couples should have first refusal on the next door housing, from where the complaints were coming regarding overnight shift working!

Keep up the good work. Eric Flack