William and Benjamin Jowett founded their small
engineering works in Bradford at the turn of the century. It was not
until 1906 however that the first Jowett car appeared, with production
limited to close friends and family until full production commenced in
1910.
The two-cylinder horizontally opposed
6.48 hp engined car quickly gained a reputation for unashamed Yorkshire
ruggedness and amazing hill climbing ability. The "little engine with
the big pull" had arrived and remained in production until 1954 in the
Bradford range.
The first World War resulted in the
company concentrating on munitions so it was not until 1919 that the 7hp
engine was introduced. This powered the Short Two with Dickey seat,
acknowledged as the lightest and most economical car of that time on the
roads. Road fund tax was £7 per annum and production was 25 cars per
week.
In 1926 two standard 7hp Jowetts
pulling trailers crossed Africa from West Coast to Red Sea, a distance
of 3800 miles in less than two months. There were virtually no roads in
those days.
The angular design of the Twenties
gave way to the flowing lines of the Thirties and by the middle of this
period the Kestrel saloon was well established. In 1936 a four-cylinder
10 HP engine was introduced (Jason and Jupiter) while in 1937 the 7 was
enlarged to 8 and rationalisation meant one body style for the Eight and
10 the enabling Jowett to compete with a major companies.
Once again war checked the Jowett
progression but during the latter part Gerald Palmer (also of MG fame)
worked on the design and development of the famous Javelin and its 1.5
litre flat-four power unit. Production commenced in 1948 and the Javelin
became the first completely new model to be produced in England after
the war. The car immediately hit the headlines and gained a reputation
with its class win in the Monte Carlo rally of 1949.
The Jupiter sports car was
subsequently produced in 1950 and this achieved immediate acclaim with
three consecutive class wins at Le Mans.
In 1953 the company started to run
into difficulties and despite developments of two promising vehicles;
the C D Bradford and the R4 Jupiter (glass fibre body) which were at
prototype stage, the Jowett car company ceased production in 1954.
So ended a company who had stuck to
horizontally opposed and advanced engines throughout its history. The
name of Jowett however continues and thrives through the Jowett Car
Club. Its sporting heritage is the basis of many national and
international competitions with cars from the vintage period to the
latest Jupiters being entered.
