Jowett Javelin

Infobox Automobile


name = Jowett Javelin
manufacturer = Jowett Cars Ltd
production = 1947–1953. 23,307 made. cite book |last=Robson |first= G|title=A-Z of British Cars 1945-1980|year=2006 |publisher=Herridge |location=Devon, UK |id=ISBN 0-9541063-9-3]
class =
body_style = saloon
engine = Jowett flat four, 1486 cc
transmission = 4-speed manual
length = 168 inches (4267 mm) cite book |last=Culshaw |first= |authorlink= |coauthors=Horrobin |title=Complete Catalogue of British Cars |year=1974 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |id=ISBN 0-333-16689-2]
width = 60 inches (1524 mm)
height = convert|61|in|mm|0|abbr=on
weight = 2120 pounds (940 kg)
wheelbase = 102 inches (2590 mm)
successor = none
designer = Gerald Palmer

The Jowett Javelin was an award-winning British car that was produced from 1947 to 1953 by Jowett Cars Ltd of Idle, near Bradford. The model went through five variants labelled PA to PE, each having a standard and "de luxe" option.

The car was designed by Gerald Palmer during World War II and was intended to be a major leap forward following the relatively staid designs of pre-war Jowetts. The flat four overhead valve engine of 1486 cc with a compression ratio of 7.2:1 was water-cooled and had an aluminium block and wet cylinder liners. It developed convert|50|bhp|abbr=on at 4100 rpm (52.5 bhp in the case of the PE) giving the car a maximum speed of convert|77|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on and a 0-convert|50|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on time of 13.4 seconds. Two Zenith carburettors were fitted and PA and PB versions had hydraulic tappets. The radiator was behind the engine. A four speed gearbox with column change was used. Early cars had gearboxes made by the Henry Meadows company, whilst the remainder of the cars had gearboxes made by Jowett themselves. The decision to make the gearboxes in house proved to be a costly mistake for Jowett. [Images of Motoring: Jowett by Noel Stokoe (ISBN 0752417231)]

Design features included aerodynamic styling with the headlights faired into the wings and, for the time, a steeply sloped, curved windscreen. The body was of pressed steel, incorporating a box-section chassis and was made for Jowett by Briggs Motor Bodies in their Doncaster factory. The suspension used torsion-bars on all wheels (independent at the front) and internal gear-and-pinion steering. PA and PB models had mixed Girling hydraulic brakes at the front and mechanical braking at the rear. Later versions were fully hydraulic.

The car had a wheelbase of convert|102|in|mm and a track of convert|51|in|mm. Overall the car was convert|14|ft|m long, convert|5|ft|m wide and weighed about 1 (Imperial) ton (depending on model and year). The car was expensive costing GBP819 at launch.

A de-luxe saloon version tested by The Motor magazine in 1953 had a top speed of convert|82.4|mph|km/h|abbr=on and could accelerate from 0-convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on in 20.9 seconds. A fuel consumption of convert|29.1|mpgimp|L/100 km mpgus was recorded. The test car cost £1207 including taxes. cite journal | authorlink = Unsigned |title = The Jowett Javelin Road Test| journal =The Motor| volume = | pages = | date = April 8 1953]

Just over 23,000 units were produced.

porting achievements

An early example won in its class at the 1949 Monte Carlo Rally whilst another won the 2-litre touring-car class at the Spa 24-hour race that same year. In the 1952 International RAC Rally a Javelin again won its class and also took the "Best Closed Car" award, while the 1953 International Tulip Rally was won outright by a privately entered Javelin.

Popular Culture

The song "Jowett Javelin" appears on the Harvey Andrews album "Snaps" and describes a ride in the automobile.

References