All you need to know about Jowett Motor Company
Born: 1901 Nationality: British
The Jowett Motor Company was set up in Bradford by siblings Benjamin, William and Ruth, first to repair bicycles and then designing and manufacturing engines for other car makers.
They eventually produced their own first prototype car in 1906, powered by a twin-cylinder engine, the cylinders horizontally opposed. It was a configuration which was to be a long-term feature of Jowetts. There were also a number of motorcycles produced, notably the limited production Scott-Jowett built in association with Alfred Scott of Shipley.
From 1910, the company managed a modest output of "light" cars, initially rated at 6.4hp. Sales increased measurably when they renamed it as the 8hp, even though it was still the same car.
By the time the first World War started, the Jowett name was established, but the company was by no means considered a big player in the automotive business. From 1916, the factory produced war materials and restarted car production in 1920, along with its first commercial vehicle.
The brand prospered until 1930 when a fire destroyed the factory. It was quickly rebuilt and the company managed to exhibit at the 1931 Earl's Court Motor Show. However, not being particularly innovative, the income from rather flat car sales through the Thirties was augmented by selling engines to other makers.
Jowett was floated as a public company in 1935, though a family split had Benjamin leave the enterprise. William left the company just prior to the second World War, when car production ceased to make field-guns, mortar launchers and ammunition.
A prototype for a new car, the Javelin, was produced in 1944 and is one of two nameplates for which the company is today remembered. It was designed by Gerald Palmer, who had been lured from MG and the Nuffield organisation. A new version of the 8hp pre-war van was also built, named the Bradford, and proved to be very successful, with more than 38,000 units sold over its lifetime. The Javelin didn't get into production until 1947, and by then the company was controlled by its bankers. Powered by a 1.5-litre flat-four engine developing 50hp, the Javelin proved to be a good competition performer and in 1949 it won its class in the Monte Carlo Rally. It was considered by most enthusiasts to be the best of contemporary saloons in style and performance, and its aluminium-block engine was rather ahead of most of its peers.
The Jupiter sports car developed on the same running gear came along in 1950, using an aluminium body. A class win by a standard Jupiter in the Le Mans endurance race of the same year encouraged the company to build special versions for the 1951 and 1952 races, in each of which the model again won its class.
In addition to the cars produced by the company, fully-built Jupiter chassis were bought by coachbuilders such as Farina and Ghia Suisse. An R4 Jupiter shown at the 1953 London Motor Show was built of a plastic-resin laminate, which was conceived to be the trend-setter Jowett for the late Fifties and beyond.
But in 1953, the banks stopped car production entirely and sold the factory the following year to International Harvester Co. The name Jowett Cars Ltd was bought by Blackburn Aircraft in 1955, and is now owned by the Jowett Car Club.
Best Car: The Javelin in production terms, though the Jupiter is the sexier.
Worst Car: None, though some Javelins had transmission problems.
Weirdest Car: They tell me EVERYTHING from Bradford is weird.