Jowett Javelin: a rare 40s - 50s British car
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- čas přidán 8. 04. 2023
- Today's video is about the Jowett Javelin - let me know what you think and don't forget to like and subscribe for future videos on mid-century cars
Thank you so much to the Great British Car Journey team - visit the museum or find out more about the attraction here: greatbritishcarjourney.com
Check out channel sponsor Bidding Classics to buy yourself a classic, or perhaps sell the one in your garage at home to free up the space for something new: bit.ly/BiddingClassicsIDriveAC...
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Jowett Javelin
Jowett as a company was founded back in 1901 and like many vehicle manufacturers of today, begun by making bicycles. The company rebranded as Jowett motor manufacturing company in 1904, with their first car produced in 1906. However, it wasn’t until 1910 when the vehicles became available to the buying public.
Whereas the Javelin was a universal car designed for worldwide appeal, their first car was designed to be simple and tackle the local terrain: a low weight vehicle with low speed torque and gearing ratios suited to the hills and high points of Yorkshire.
1914 sees the outbreak of the First World War, which means the factory output is put on hold for war efforts and it’s not until 1919 when the company takes on its factory in Idle, Bradford and begins producing cars.
Keeping this brief, there are then a few highs and lows. 1921 is the first London Motor Show for the Yorkshire based car manufacturer and takes it nationwide. A fire in 1931 sets them back briefly and in mid 35 the company becomes publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange.
And then we have the Second World War, which once again, puts things on hold.
But unlike many, Jowett didn’t take those wartime years as a pause and were still working away in the background. They knew that the cars post war needed to be far more advanced than what had been offered pre-war and drafted in Gerald Palmer in 1942, who had lead the design on the MG Y type.
Palmer got to work and his car was the Javelin, debuted in 47 and on sale from 48.
Knowing post-war cars would need mass appeal and to be able to sell globally for company success and to meet those government steel quotas, he applied his lived experiences of early life in Zimbabwe and applied this to the road handling considerations; knowing roads overseas would need much more.
The Javelin was an all new design and combined sleek monocoque coachwork with a new 1.5 litre flat four engine said to be capable of sports car performance at instant command.
Apologies at this point, because I do refer to it as a slant four engine later on when I meant flat four!
Suspension was torsion bar with rack and pinion steering and you’ll see when we go driving, the low centre of gravity means it really sticks to the road. It’s easy to see why it was a car which competed in many a race and had an outright victory at the 1953 Tulip Rally.
There were two levels of trim: standard and deluxe. This car we test here today is a deluxe, given away by the door card arm rests.
Sadly the car whilst loved by motoring experts, was simply too much for a small firm. We talk about some of the problems later, but there simply wasn’t the infrastructure to push the car or to make the sales quotas happen and there ended up being piles of parts and it led to Jowett closing down in 1954.
But Jowett isn’t a name we should forget: the club is thriving and active, the cars are still perfectly usable and as you’ll see here today when in 1947, motor sport magazine described it as an astonishing car and a credit to the British technician, they were absolutely spot on. - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Very accomplished gear-changing, if I might say so.
I hope the "mink" coat is faux!
I’ve pinned comments elsewhere where I’ve been wearing this coat and it’s a 1970s St Michael fake fur. It was unworn when I bought it and I wear it sparingly hence why it still looks so good on film. In real life you can tell it’s plastic fur not real 😂
@@idriveaclassic
In that case, I apologise for mentioning it.
@@paulsutton5896 honestly I’d rather people asked! I am a veggie of many years, it would knock me for six to wear some poor little creature.
@@idriveaclassic
Excellent.
I too have been a vegetarian for about forty years.
I am proud of that fact.
But secretly, I think of myself as a failed vegan.
@@idriveaclassic😅 Greetings from Switzerland 🎉
The British certainly made some magnificent vehicles back in the day.
They certainly did!
Alas, the big boys didn't like tiddlers like Jowett and they caused Pressed Steel to be born. A jolly good idea as it had the effect of putting the little squirts out of action.
Steph - After commenting on your last video about the Standard Vanguard, you've just granted my wish, which was for you to feature a Jowett Javelin. My grandfather bought a new one in black in 1949 from North Riding Motors in York, the price - £999. Grandad passed away in 1955 when my father inherited the car which served us well until 1962. I have many childhood memories of holiday trips to Scotland, the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District. I can confirm what you say about their 82 mph top speed after nagging dad to put his foot down one day !!! Although I considered the car old fashioned as more modern cars arrived in the 1960s, I was sad to see the old girl sold and miss her comfort, space and personality to this day.
Jowett was the maker of the rather humble little "Bradford" commercial vehicles , vans and pickups. When the car production finished in the 1950s Jowett was working on a new model of the Bradord van. An alternative future for Jowett would have been to just concentrate on commercial vehicles.
They were also working on the R4 Jupiter that was to share the same frame as the CD Bradford except it was a shorter wheel base. If only they held out for another year or two we may have got the new models produced
A wonderfully well designed car for the time. Having the door handles flow into the chrome trim is a piece of genius and looks gorgeous
Like a 1961-63 Thunderbird, except those didn't move and there was a separate button.
@emjayay and the javelin was over 10 years older and from a much smaller company, very impressive
Spotted those, they didnt appear on a lot of other manufacturers until early 70s. Also, no quarterlight window
Those door handles are 'brilliant' in design and fine in function!
Thanks Steph for a lovely review. Anybody interested in Jowetts, as part of the JCC Centenary there will be a Jowett meeting at the Great British Car Journey on June 18th 2023.
Shockingly beautiful bodywork
The "P" I suspect is for panel lights. When this car was built it was illegal to park without lights, even in a 30 mph limit, so all cars had a separate switch to kill all unnecessary lights to save the battery. My 1967 Morris still had that facility.
Hi Steph,following my racing Vanguard info,there was a Javelin racing at the Goodwood revival a year or two back(!) Back in the the day they ran works Jupiters at Le Mans.Just goes to show you can more or less race anything with right know-how & workshop! I recall going to an auction in the early 60,s & seeing a Javelin knocked down for less than £20! Great looking machine.Happy days.
That must’ve been strong well-built cars I was born in 1960 and I can remember these still on the road into the early 70s
Oh deffo. Just too expensive/too ambitious for world post war I think. Another great example of too much too soon is the Austin Atlantic (another favourite of mine…)
Back in the 1950s my grandad had a grocer's shop, and his workhorse was a Jowett Bradford van. Then another one! Then around 1959 he switched to the Morris Traveller (Jowetts no longer available). Aw, Steph, PLEASE find a Bradford!! Ideally in maroon...
There was a Jowett Bradford vqan around Colwyn Bay up to about 5 years ago not seen it for age4s, hope in in a garage safe somewhere unique sound from that Flat twin engine.
My father restored a CA Bradford. I can’t remember what year 46-47? He painted it Maroon and Black.
What style! Super colour too!
It’s the colour for me
Assuming it's authentic which I'm pretty sure it is, it must have been rather startling at the time. I wonder what it's called.
Everybody likes to see a nicely restored car but an original running and driving survivor like this is pure gold!
Very proud to be a member of the Great British Jowett Car Club celebrating its centenary year: the oldest single marque car club in the world!
Wonderful review! Thank you, Steph. I knew vaguely that Jowett Javelins were somewhat upscale but I wasn't expecting such an attractive interior. What a great car.
Thanks Paul!
Steph, I tweeted to you a few months ago asking you to do the Javelin, and you came through-thank you! Fascinating car that would definitely have a place in my fantasy garage. Building transmissions in-house was a cost-saving move. In hindsight, they would have done better to keep buying them in from H. E. Meadows.
There was a Javelin in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. It was 500 miles from Seattle, so I never quite mustered up the initiative to contact the owner and ask if I could come and see it. I understand that he’s now deceased, and his son sold the car to someone in the eastern United States.
Recommended reading: "Auto Architect," the autobiography of Gerald Palmer. Jowett Javelin and Jupiter: The Complete Story," by Geoff McAuley and Edmund Nankivell.
The suspension was indeed torsion bars all around, but I don’t think it was fully independent. The car had a live rear axle.
I live in the States, and I had never heard of Jowett or seen one before. Thank you so much for the history and the detailed views of this car. And you look beautiful sitting in it!
Me either. Looks a bit like the Chrysler Airflow with a more restrained front end.
Jowett sold Jupiters to the USA. That was the sports car model using same engine / drive train that’s in the Javelin. There is a Jupiter owners club there.
Dad used to have one, I remember me and older brother using back of car as a slide.... Dad was always fixing it... But what car back the did not need fixing..... Good motor... Happy times.
My mum was a enthusiast driver and had a javelin, she said it was a brilliant drivers car
Great review of a great innovative car....!!.....Am I the only viewer that sees echoes of Tatra, VW, Porsche etc with their flat-4 engines and aerodynamic styling.......
Like (Roger Coleman) I also had a teacher with a 'Jowett Javelin' silver coloured back in the early fifties (1952-56).
Mr Jones was the science teacher of 'Tweenaway SM School for Boys Paignton'.
I recall the car was used every annual sports day to power the 'loudspeaker' system around the sports field. Thanks for sharing Steph t ...
I think that’s a common occurrence. Two guys in the car club were both teachers and both drove black Javelins when they were teaching
In 1956 my art teacher had a Bradford van made by Jowett Cool vehicle.
What an absolutely beautifully looking motor car. Can you imagine turning up at Tescos to do the shop.
Ive just had a call from E Jowetts son, i am the proud relative of the Jowett family & am currently looking at joining the jowett car club. At the moment i cannot say more, but i hope to be able to help him learn all about a family that we never knew existed until i went through my late mothers belongings and found all the proof & things we have!!
Hopefully this will be interesting to all Jowett fans! Or maybe not lol!
I would love to speak to him if you can share my email address!
@idriveaclassic He seems such a lovely man. Do you have a private address i could message you on?
@idriveaclassic Id love to share more details but its far to early on at the moment. I must respect his privacy, as im sure you understand.
Great enthusiastic review as always Steph, the ' P ' switch on the right is for ' Panel ' or dashboard instrument lamps .A school teacher of mine, Mr Hurst had one , trading in an Austin Ruby for a black Javelin and always said what a wonderful car it was !.
Thank you for telling me. We were all stumped and I was incredibly tired when I made this. I think with a bit more sleep I might’ve had a spark of thought 😂😂
At last... a Javelin.
Always been fascinated by these cars.
I saw a Jowet Javelin at an all british car show about 35 years ago and l have never forgotten it the bonnet was open and l saw the engine configuration and l thought how different the layout was but to see a review all these years later was fantastic thank you Steph
Yes, it would've been nice to see the engine on this example.
@@stephenholland5930 Athough it looks like a 1940s car but the configuration of the engine and gearbox also been a water cooled flat four so different from any other car from the 1940s proerably the most unusual car of the 1940s the Volkswagen Beetle had an air cooled flat four but the engine was at the rear but the engineering was very good it worked and that was done without the use of computers
Lovely car. My school caretaker had one.
My old friend who passed away recently had a passion for rebuilding old cars. The Jawa he rebuilt was far superior to the one I saw in a motor museum. I remember going away and collecting a rear windscreen for him when I took my daughter to Uni. I had to be very careful with it as it was curved. I do not know what his family did with the cars he rebuilt. Will never forget them or the years he spent working on them and working a normal job👌
Oh they are so beautiful 🥰
Agreed. A beautiful little thing.
So reminiscent of the Morris Minor, Which was still popular as a reasonable modern car through to the 70s, and with the enlarged rear light, much admired.
It's probably more comparable to the Morris Six, although with 4 cylinders.
@@caw25sha Yes, I do agree, I was referring to overall body shape, although slightly over scale. I should have made myself clearer. Those Morris minors were a treat to drive, with a high level of driver engagement.
The lines are beautiful. This is one of those cars that I wish were produced today. Modern underpinnings, of course, but the lovely design would grace our roads.
Sounds like a Subaru! I suspect I'd die of frustration by the lack of oomph but it's a lovely car. Gerald Palmer was a very clever man and the equal of Issigonis.
Was thinking the very same! Early Subaru engine sound.
Love the sound of that flat four engine!
This car looks like a quality car , great styling and fit and finish , how could a car company fail producing that .
Pressed Steel made the body...Jowett was in front of its time..The British Leyland Company told Pressed Steel Co. that if they kept producing bodies for JOWETT they would take their custom elsewhere so they had no way of making their own futuristic bodies, which is why Jowett stopped production..
@@keith-nb8ps No it wasnt, it was Briggs Bodies first at Dagenham and later at Doncaster built the Javelin along with the Bradford van. The gearbox issue led to Javelins being stockpiled all round the works and beyond, waiting to have their gearboxes replaced. There was a downturn in sales both here and overseas then later Briggs was bought out by Ford.
My uncle had one and it was just a great car . I was only a kid back then but I remember people said it was 10 years ahead of it's time
My Dad had one in the early 60s
Dreadful shame that Jowett died when it did.
The company had a problem with broken crankshafts.
They hired the services of a renowned German (Austrian) engineer: Robert Eberan von Eberhorst who solved the problem. This was just after the war, remember.
I think this contributed to Jowett's reputation for unreliability.
However, what eventually "put the boot in" was that sales slowed as a result of its reputational problems.
With its problems behind it, Jowett was ready to sell its vehicles again.
But it was contracted to receive bodies from its supplier: Briggs at a certain rate.
Briggs was then bought by Ford and it refused to vary the original agreement.
Ten years later, BMC had contracted to buy four litre engines from Rolls Royce, but couldn't use them up fast enough.
Rolls Royce was similarly intransigent and refused to countenance a change to the supply rate.
Austin Healey could have helped. But BMC thought they were already in enough trouble.
I think this, like Jowett, was a great opportunity lost.
If Jowett was able to hold on for another couple of years we would had seen the next few models of Jowett that was prototypes being put though for testing. The R4 Jupiter and CD Bradford.
Dad thought the company could had still made Bradfords as a stop gap measure since it was the only model making the company money. Till the new models where ready
A friend had one of these in the late 60's . We had some fun on staurtday nights cruisin around in it. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for this Jowett video. Steph, what a lovely car for its time and well worth its asking price. One other factor leading to closure was the purchase by Ford of Jowett's body builder Briggs, which could no longer supply bodies. Regardless, the club and Bradford can be proud of Jowett's place in British motoring history.
At the time Jowett owed Briggs an absolute fortune, so it was no surprise they stopped supplying Jowett. Briggs also built the bodies for the Standard 8 & 10, but they continued to supply Standard Triumph until they were superceded by the Triumph Herald. The other car effectively killed off by the Ford takeover was the Lanchester 10. Lanchester were forced to change to a coachbuilt Barker body which upped the price.
@David Jones Thanks for that information, David. I don't recall reading about that.
Thanks so much, Steph : I was secretly expecting a serious Jowett Javelin drive test from you, as I bought a rare LHD 1950 belgian car a few years ago ....
All those gauges! They tell you all is right, or going wrong. Not the idiot lights of today when it comes on WHEN it’s gone wrong! Thanks for the superb video.
Ps, my first car was a'36 Ford 8 Y type. (EPH 465] wish I had it today!
Thanks again for sharing Steph. The Jowett Javelin looks similar in appearance to the Standard Vanguard. 😊👍
Great sounding engine. Quite a sophisticated car for its’ time.
Guess my wish came early this year seeing a Jowett being featured. I went to the NEC Birmingham Classics show in 2019 and remember the Jowett club. There was an old lady who wishes for her car to go to a better home. We had a talk and it seems that the car had been with her for some time and she's selling it for a relatively small price. I was eager to buy it from her but I left the show empty-handed. As Thailand doesn't allow classic car imports even tho we had a long history with cars since the early days and had some very interesting cars back then. So classics become extremely rare as they are bought overseas on one-way tickets and many times overpriced if you do find one. It's a long story. If only we allow legal imports of classics, oh what inspirations these time machines will offer for future generations.
It took me 10 years to find a car and that's an adventure I'm writing for a British car club I'm a part of.
What a lovely video of one of my favourite makes of classic cars ,I first fell in love with the javelin around 1950 when i was 10years old and my dad was looking to buy his first car but unfortunatly they were far to expensive ,however i never lost my affection for jowetts and in 1977 i bought and restored a jupiter which i kept for 33years and i still know its present owner. i think your videos are great and imformative I would just add that i would think the stiff column change is due to lack of lubrication in the many joints of this system as they are known to be one of the best , i could change with one finger, the P switch is for panel lights and lastly the javelin had worm & peg steering box , the jupiter had rack & pinion.
When I was growing up in the early sixties, there was a Javelin at the end of the street. It had a unique look and I asked my father what it was. He told me and since he knew a lot about cars, added that Jowetts were well made quality cars. Naturally, I have thought of them in that way ever since, so I was pleased when your review confirmed it.
My Grandad always talked about the Javalin as a car he liked. That is definitely a car to have and that engine is so smooth, I do like the sound of a flat 4 engine, I love the Citroën flat 4 and this is a lot smoother.
Happy childhood memories. Thank you
My dad had one in 1961 learned to drive in it ,for its day was a class car
That is what I learnt to drive in - a very nice car to drive - try to get yourself drive of the sporty model - the Jupiter - they are fairly rare nowadays - the last one I saw on the road was a participant in Targa Tasmania in the Classic section - that was in the 1980's
Our next door neighbour had one of those when I was a kid. It was black, and I remember it looked quite menacing from behind (I *was* only a couple of feet tall!). I remember my dad telling me 'That's a Javelin', in hushed, reverential tones.
Fun fact: the comedian Kenneth Horne was Sales Director of Triplex from 1945 to 1954, a company he'd worked for (barring wartime service) since 1927.
If I didn’t know I would have said this was a French car. Looks a bit like a Peugeot 203 of the era. No way does it look British….to me. Fascinating car and history. Still a few of these on the road in Australia.
Beautiful old car. You could certainly say 'they don't make them like that anymore.' Almost big enough for a board meeting! Thank you Steph for a great review.👍👍
Brilliant . As a student in Aberdeen in the sixties and seventies , a friend of mine had a Javelin and a Jupiter . I drove them both and they were immense in terms of finish and performance compared to my old Anglia !!! I was so jealous .
this channel provides a great service for those of us who never get to experience cars like the Javelin ... also love the hostess is lovely and very informed
Your best review ..the love shines thru !
Such a shame Jowett couldn't keep in business after making the Javelin and Jupiter cars they were really special and that plush interior!
I think the main reason they stopped production was that BMC bought the company that pressed the body panels and would no longer produce competitors components. Chris B.
@@453421abcdefg12345 Yes the company was Pressed Steel and that was the end for them
That was an element of it, however, all bodies were honoured and as mentioned they piling up with no incoming orders :(
What a lovely dashboard ! Really enjoyed this video, thanks Steph 👍
I could watch your videos all day . Thank you Steph x
I love British motorcycles and cars. I have fellowed you channel for some time now . thanks for the videos .
Excellent review, thanks a lot. Those cars are just so special.
They also did a sports car called the Jowett Jupiter
Looked unmistakably like the Standard Vanguard that you test drove last weekend, although it has a smaller engine. There was a total of 22,799 Javelins produced between 1947 and 1953.
I’m quite keen to own one of these before I pass on!
Yay!!...been waiting for you to do a Jowett. I love these cars. My very first car was a 31 year old Javelin. It was such fun. I have since owned 36 cars but it is my Javelin that i regret selling the most. If i could afford one now i would sell my great little Citigo and buy one AND use it everyday. We hve a great owners club for Jowett here in Aotearoa New Zealand. Thanks for the review
Im related to the Jowett family, my gran or Auntie were related.
My mum was adopted by my gran, Irene Wood.
In Bradford in 1947, my mum was from Ireland.
Id love to hear from someone about the family, i have a family photo & also a grandfather clock made by him. I remember the name Elsie Jowett getting talked about a lot when i was little.
Your channel seems to feature some wonderful and (often) lesser-known marques! Thank you for bringing them to us!
Brilliant review of what is a beautiful car Steph, the green really makes the car.
Thanks For Another Great Video Steph That's What I Love About Your The Variety Of Vehicles You Show & Drive Nice Dress
Absolutely loving it
Thanks Steph really enjoyed this one. If I ever get the time and chance I would visit and have a go in this one as a to do list thing .keep up the fantastic reviews.
Happy Easter.
Thank you, we enjoyed this video enormously. 🐈
There's nothing better than watching someone having fun.
Fantastic color! Contrasts so nicely with the red cloisonné bonnet badge! Love the fastback stying.
Another superior video Steph!
Fantastic review Steph.
What a lovely car . Beautiful design and the leather seats still have a lot of mileage in them . Love the channel Steph x
What a great video - so informative and well presented.
I really enjoyed this one, Steph! The Javelin really was a creative triumph. Nowadays we’re surrounded by Subarus with that same engine layout, so I guess Jowett was on to something. Thanks yet again.
We're recently back from visiting the museum and this one was one of my faves 👍
Great car to present Steph.
Looking great Steph! And so's the car...! 🙂(collective groan...) Thanks for sharing!
In the 60s I got offered a Jowet Javelin for £15. I thought it was rather expensive as it needed a fair bit of work. I had many great classics in the 60s an Austin 8 for £5 and Ford Prefects and Angliers from £10. They were good days.
I've not driven one, but I remember a chap in Bury who collected them. They were definitely ahead of their time.
I don't know why, but it kind of brings Rover to mind. The quality perhaps?. I don't know. But it certainly is a beautiful vehicle.
It's got style!.
Definitely on par quality wise
I suppose it was a direct competitor to the P4.
Hello Steph Happy Easter to you to your friends and family we love your videos beautiful classics to show to the world❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊
Great review my dad had one in the mid fifties in green too, he loved it.
Another cracking vid Steph.
Beautiful colour..great upload
My first car was a 1948 standard model 1198th off the line, my late father in law rescued it from a scrap yard for spares. It was 2 years older than me. It was also too good to scrap. So easy to work on too. We once changed an engine in an evening. Yes I cut my mechanical teeth on this and father in law’s various Javelins, also there’s a sense of regret looking back in selling his last 1953 2 owner car but times change….
Great video , wonderful knowledge and experience. You can see how the design evolved into the Morris minor
Cool cars! I saw lots of Jowett's om display at the Industrial Museum in Bradford about 3 years ago!😍😍
This is such a good informative channel. And you are lovely .
Wow! You’ve batted out of the park with this one Steph!! The Javelin is a thing of immense beauty! Such an advanced and clever car for the time - very sophisticated engineering…….sadly maybe a bit too sophisticated when compared with the competition at the time? Lovely, lovely things!! Thank you!!
As you did your walk around I was amazed at the quality of the panels and shut lines. It was advanced for its times. I saw one about ten years ago and was surprised at how neat and compact it looked. It’s quite American in its styling. Lovely review.
Love a Jowett, it looks good, you are looking good as well, a lot more confident.
Jolly good time indeed! Thank you.
A beautiful colour. It suits the car perfectly. The build quality is top notch too. A rare little beauty
Thank you for an excellent review. As a lad I remember a neighbour owning a gold coloured Jowett Javelin: at the time the body shape seemed futuristic.
What a beautiful car. Never been in one, but always loved them - the styling is something unique. Shame you couldn't actually take it out on the road, but nevertheless, I'm so jealous of you ! Thanks for yet another fantastic review. Take care and Happy Easter 🙂
My maternal grandfather had a Javelin. I have a couple of colour slides of the car in Norway when they travelled there in 1957. He was nothing if not adventurous! Sadly that was before my time, but I do remember his Mk2 Zephyr.
First time watching your channel. Very nice review and commentary. I am now a subscriber 🙂
That sounds fantastic