 The mass-produced Packard Motor Company (co-founded by James Ward Packard, Lehigh Class of 1884) version of the Merlin was actually found by Rolls Royce to be superior to its own handmade version, and the Packard version powered most P-51s.Packard also made improvements to increase the maintainability of the engine, which were subsequently adopted by Rolls Royce in its own versions.Two firms founded by Lehigh graduates were instrumental in the construction of the Panama Canal.