- William Walmsley
William Walmsley was one of the founders of the
Swallow Sidecar Company a forerunner of Jaguar car company.He was the son of a coal merchant from
Stockport and when his father retired the family moved toBlackpool . Walmsley lived in the same street, King Edward Avenue, as the youngWilliam Lyons when they met in 1921. Walmsley was 30 years old whilst Lyons was 20. William Walmsley had designed a strikingsidecar which attracted Lyons, and the two struck an agreement to begin producing the model for the public a little over a year later. The Swallow Sidecar Company of Blackpool rapidly grew and began on the road towards becoming one of the world's best known car manufacturers.In 1927, they became coachbuilders, putting their own bodywork on an
Austin Seven chassis . In 1931 they entered into agreements to buy engines and chassis fromStandard Motor Company .In 1931 sales increased and at the London Motor Show the SS class was exhibited. It cost less than £350.
After the success of the S.S.1, Walmsley had a personal 1931 S.S.1 two seater commissioned. This one of a kind car is currently undergoing restoration at [http://www.blackhorsegarage.com Black Horse Garage] in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
William Walmsley rapidly became content with the company and unlike his business partner saw little point in taking any risks in expanding the firm. Walmsley was eventually bought out by Lyons in 1935 shortly after the company had moved to
Coventry .The name "Jaguar" was not used until after Walmsley left the company.
External links
* [http://www.blackhorsegarage.com Black Horse Garage]
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