By DAVID PIKE

Jowett cars built prior to World War II were not known for their technical brilliance but did have a reputation for being rugged and solidly built. Towards the end of the war when it was apparent that Jowett would need to eventually recommence car manufacture the company engaged Gerald Palmer, whose design experience included work at MG and the Nuffield Organisation to give them his ideas on a new car.

The engine, a flat-four overhead cam design driving the rear wheels had already been determined but Palmer integrated this into a new body design.

When released in 1947 not long after the cessation of hostilities the Javelin was highly praised for its style as well as its performance. The car was basically built around a unit-construction four-door sedan body shell that Briggs Motor Bodies in Doncaster produced. It had a rather high nose but the body swept back to a steeply sloping tail which gave it good aerodynamics. Compared with earlier Jowett vehicles it seemed rather revolutionary.

The use of independent suspension all round, a Palmer concept, was just one of many innovative concepts employed. The 1.5-litre engine was a completely new design and after Palmer had worked on its tuning to iron out a few initial problems it proved to be one of the fastest 1.5-litre engines in use at the time. With a bore and stroke of 72 x 90mm it produced 37 kW at 4100rpm aided by its two downdraught carburettors.

The Javelin soon developed a good reputation in long distance car rallies and this encouraged Jowett to develop a specialised sports car – the Jupiter – based on the same running gear.

The Jupiter established its reputation in the Le Mans 24-hour race. However, because Jowett lacked the investment finances to mass-produce the company could not sell its cars cheaply enough to compete with Ford, Austin or Morris and even lacked the finances to facelift the original Javelin style.

By the early 1950s the Javelin was well past its peak and the last cars were built in 1953. In seven years a total of 22,799 Javelins and 899 Jupiters were produced.

© Copyright David Pike