William Heynes

William Munger "Bill" Heynes CBE (31 December 1903-July 1989),[1] born in Leamington Spa, was an English automotive engineer.

Heynes was educated at Warwick School from 1914 to 1921 before joining the Humber Car Company in Coventry in 1922 as a student where he worked in the drawing office before becoming head of the technical department in 1930.[2] During this time he oversaw the introduction of significant models including the Humber Snipe and the Humber Pullman.[2]

In April 1935, after the Rootes Group takeover, he was chosen by William Lyons to join as chief engineerSS Cars Ltd. Initially he worked on the chassis and suspension but was also responsible for increasing the power output of the modified Standard Motor Company engines then being used. He worked on development of an overhead-valve conversion for the Standard 6-cylinder engine.[3] One of the first cars to ever have it installed was the SS Jaguar 100.

Following World War II, SS Cars was renamed Jaguar. Heynes who was appointed to the main Board of Director as Technical Director and Chief Engineer (1946), had earlier persuaded the chairman William Lyons that the company should make its own range of engines. Heynes also pursuaded Lyons to go motor racing at Le Mans 1950 with almost standard XK120 cars privately entered but factory prepared by Heynes and his development team later to be known as the "Competition Shop".

Heynes with Dunlop was responsible for the Disc Brake joint development in 1952 and later Heynes following racing experience pioneered and introduced the system on all Jaguar cars. The Mk 1 2.4 saloon followed the forward design thinking of Heynes and his engineers, post war. This was later in 1961 followed by a world leading independent rear suspension designed by Heynes and developed with R J Knight. This unit remained the standard rear suspension thirty years in E Type Mk 10 S Type 420 XJ6 1 2 3 XJ12 XJS.

His team of engineers including Walter Hassan and Claude Baily, designed and developed the 6-cylinder XK engine, that proved to be the biggest and longest lived success of Jaguar.[3] In 1964 the first V12 engine prototypes were produced and developed and tested. A prototype V12 race car was initiated for Le Mans. A single prototype V12 car XJ13,designed by Heynes and his engineering team, was completed and tested in 1966 with competitive lap times at Silverstone prior to the project being cancelled. The Heynes designed V12 engine continued to be developed in line with emerging emission regulations for Series 3 E Type and XJ12 / XJS.

Heynes with Sir William Lyons designed and engineered the SS90 SS100 MkV and Mk V11 range of saloon cars and all post war sports cars XK120 XK140 XK150 C Type D Type and E TYPE and Mk 10 in 1961 followed by the XJ6 saloon, launched in September 1968. The XJ6 success was followed by XJS and V12 power units designed and initiated by Heynes before retirement.

The vision of Heynes, by designing both C Type 1951,and D Type, 1953/54 with at the time pioneering monocoque body design.This racing spirit enabled five Le Mans victories in 1951/53/55/56/57. Heynes technical ability with his small engineering team then designed the E Type during 1957 to introduction in 1961 followed later in 1961 by the Mk10 saloon using similar XK engine and rear independent rear suspension for both models which remained the mainstay of Jaguar for many years.

Bill Heynes always acknowledged his engineering team which he had directed and built up from 1935 and their contribution to the success of Jaguar.

At the end of 1969 he retired as Vice Chairman and Technical Director of Jaguar, after 35 years. Following his retirement it was reported that he intended to "devote enthusiasm to his farm whilst maintaining strong motor industry links and advising and assisting his close factory relationship with William Lyons and the Jaguar directors, F.R.W "Lofty" England and Bob Knight." [2]

Shortly before his retirement he was honored with a CBE for his services to exports and vehicle design.[2] His responsibilities were taken over by R. J. ("Bob") Knight (Chief Vehicle Engineer) and W.T.F. ("Wally") Hassan (Chief Engineer, Power Units), both of whom were appointed to the company's board as part of their promotion.[2]