James Milner Phillips

James Milner Phillips (1 July 1905, (Chelmsford) - December 1974 (Stow on the Wold)) was an English automotive engineer and businessman. He was managing director of Motor Panels Ltd, a major producer of steel bodywork for the UK car industry. He also supervised the building, testing and world land speed record attempts of Donald Campbell's Bluebird-Proteus CN7 which on 17 July 1964 became the fastest four-wheeled vehicle in the world.

From 1944, Phillips was managing director of Motor Panels, a Coventry based engineering firm who specialised in the production of pressings and assemblies for the motor trade for clients such as Alvis, Armstrong Siddeley, Austin Motor Company and Daimler. Motor Panels had been part of Jaguar Cars (then SS Cars) since the 1930s, but in the 1950s was sold to Rubery Owen. With the market for cars seen as unstable in the immediate post-war years, they shifted towards making cabs for trucks.

Under Phillips' direction, Motor Panels developed the MP Mk II truck cab or 'LAD cab', from 'Leyland-Albion-Dodge'. Albion already purchased their cab bodywork from Motor Panels. A new design, the 'Vista Vue' cab was developed for them, with better visibility, ergonomics and driver comfort. Leyland, Albion's parent company, were also interested in using this design for their new generation Leyland Comet. Motor Panels developed this as the first successful 'club cab', which was shared across a number of truck manufacturers. Dodge UK were also looking for a panel supplier. Their previous 'parrot nose' Dodge had shared a bonneted cab design with the first Leyland Comet and the Ford Thames ET. This body was produced by Briggs Motor Bodies, who were purchased by Ford in 1953, leaving Dodge without a cab supplier. Dodge used the new LAD cab for their Dodge 300. The new cab was first shown at the 1958 Motor Show. It was used by Dodge until 1966, and Albion until 1976. Over 135,000 were produced in total.

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