The Sherpa was a brilliant product, developed on a shoestring. Initial cost estimates said £1m and, on the strength of such favourable financial forecasts, the project was given the green light. Of course, Dews naturally kept trying to add in more goodies, much to the chagrin of the Product Planning and Finance Departments.
The CV306 very much needed to be designed and built on a shoestring – and every addition to the basic concept that Dews added would tip the finance further away from the original and appealing £1m estimate.
It went on to live a long and fruitful life. Here’s its story.