William Heynes

William 'Bill' Munger 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.

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.

During late war time the XK engine was designed and later developed with a launch in 1948 at the London Motor Show with the new XK120 sports car.

With Dunlop he 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 1954/55 with monocoque body construction followed the forward design thinking of Heynes and his engineers, post war.

This unit remained the standard rear suspension thirty years in E-Type, Mark X, S-Type, 420, XJ6 and XJ12 Series 1, 2 and 3, and XJS.

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.