The First Jowett Car
Registered in 1906
The Jowett Car Club of New Zealand
The Jowett Car Club of New Zealand was formed in 1962 to provide
fellowship amongst owners of Jowett Cars
and those interested in the
marque, and to provide them with a forum for the interchange of
information.
The Club encourages owners to take a pride in their
vehicles, assists owners with servicing and maintenance
and supplies
spare parts. The Club now owns an ever increasing supply of spare
parts and today Jowetts are
better served for spares than many other popular makes of more recent
manufacture.
A Bi-Monthly Magazine is produced to keep members throughout the
country involved
and in touch with the many activities of the club.
While the Club is
a National Club there are 3 branches that organise local activities.
These are South Island, Lower North Island and Upper North Island.
Activities are typically Technical Evenings, Country Runs and Picnics,
Gymkhana, Fuel Economy Run, Car Shows.
Once a year there is a
National Rally in a provincial town where Jowetts from all over NZ
gather.
Spare parts, manuals, special tools, and technical advice is available
The
History of Jowett Cars
The first Jowett Car was developed
in 1904, it had a two cylinder 6.4 HP horizontally opposed engine
and
was first registered and taxed in 1906. Production did not start in
earnest however until 1910,
at this stage the Jowett Light-Car weighed
only 6 cwt. By 1921 the Jowett engine had been
increased in size to 7
HP and for many years the Jowett brothers, William and Ben,
restricted
production to only 25 cars per week in an attempt to remain a small
family business.
However, by the mid twenties production had reached
almost 100 cars per week,
a level at which it remained until the
Company was formed in 1935.
In 1920 only a short two cylinder with
optional dickey seat was produced but throughout the twenties
the
range was considerably extended. In 1926 two standard 7 HP Jowetts
crossed the
uncrossable wastelands of Africa from the Atlantic Coast
to the Red Sea.
This journey had never before been attempted, a
distance of 3,800 miles,
but the little 7 HP Jowett came out triumphant covering the distance
in sixty days, 1,600 miles of this journey
was done pulling trailers of fuel.
1946 saw the true successor of the pre war vehicle appear, the 8 HP
Bradford 10 cwt Van.
Still with a flat twin water cooled motor but now
with a sturdier frame and more modern equipment.
The Bradford quietly
got into production and offered economy, long life and simplicity to
the
thousands of tradesmen whom the war had deprived of transport.
Later in the year the Bradford Utility
and Lorry appeared. Bradfords were exported all over the world and
approximately 43,000 were
produced between 1946 and 1953. The horizontally opposed two cylinder
engine holds a place in the
Guinness Book of Records for the longest production of any engine,
from 1910 to 1953.
During the latter war
years it was decided that it would be unwise to go back to the pre war
model of car
so staff were engaged, amongst war time duties, to design an entirely new
and revolutionary car.
Thus the Javelin prototype arrived and was modified and remodified
until in 1947 they were launched
and received enthusiastically by motor distributors and dealers all
over the world.
The Javelin has a 1½ litre flat four engine of 1485 cc. developing 50
HP, top speed was 80 mph.
Seating capacity for six, petrol consumption, streamlined appearance,
road holding and performance
made the Javelin a very advanced car for its time. The Javelin was
most successful in international competitions
winning its class of the Monte Carlo Rally in 1949 and the same year
winning the 2 litre touring class in the
24 hour Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. By 1953 approximately 23,000
Javelins had been produced.
Due to the success of the Javelin it was decided to manufacture a
high performance sports car
By 1950 the Jupiter was in production,
using mainly the mechanics of the Javelin and increasing the engine
size
to 60 HP it was capable of 90 mph, cruising comfortably at 70
mph. Built on a tubular steel chassis with
a body made of aluminium it
was quite a heavy car at 18 cwt, nevertheless it had exceptional
competition success,
notably winning the Le Mans 24 hour Grand Prix 1½
litre class in 1950, 1951 and
1952 also taking 1st place in
the 1½ litre class at the 1951 Monte Carlo Rally.
Approximately 960
were made between 1950 and 1953.
1954 saw the demise of the company although new models were in the
pipeline and a few prototypes made.
The factory was sold to International Harvesters and over 100 staff
moved with a vast stock of
spares to carry on a spares service until 1963.
Jowett Motorcycles!
|
Jowett produced the
first Scott motorcycles: here's a picture of a Jowett Scott: |
 |
|
And here's a fine
example of a slightly later model:
Owned by Mr Peter Cooper of Auckland, who kindly supplied the
photos. |
 |
In 2006 we celebrated 100 years
since the first Jowett Car was registered and put on the road.
1901
The two Jowett brothers, William and Benjamin, with
their sister, Ruth,
formed the Jowett Motor Manufacturing Company with capital of £90
split into equal shares.
Their main work was building replacement engines for other cars.
After many experiments they produced a 55° v twin as replacement for
6hp Dedion and Aster engine –
theirs was much smoother running – quite
an accomplishment in those days!
Arthur Lamb looked after the clerical side of the business, and bought
Ruth’s share for £60 –
the business was now valued at £180
1905
The first 4 stroke horizontally opposed 2
cylinder engine was built and a car with a smooth running engine was a
possibility.
Many experiments followed with different drives.
1906
Eventually the AK 494 was born. 6’ wheelbase,
tiller steering 815cc horizontally opposed engine with the capability
of 2750rpm,
driving at up to 48 mph. This car then underwent 4years
and 25,000 miles of trials and refinement
1910
Jowett Motor Manufacturing Co started building
cars!!
Production started on 48 cars in batches of 12 over the next 6 years.
1910
The first car went sight unseen to South
Africa. An Englishman living in Cape Town advertised nationally.
He
wished to purchase a car that could climb Table Mountain in one clean
ascent.
He challenged a manufacturer to supply on a sale or return
basis.
The first production Jowett was supplied on this basis and
never was returned!!
1911
Resistance was being felt to the meagre RAC
rating of 6.4hp for sales so
the Jowett was advertised at 8hp(RAC) and sold well with no changes! A
waiting list of one year developed and business went well.
1916
The final car number 1648 or the last of 48
produced in 1916 was sold
to a doctor in NZ, and is the earliest Jowett in NZ – still in
Christchurch
waiting to be restored.
Then came WW1 and War Work
1916-Nov 1918
1919
After the cessation of 24 hour war work Jowetts
lacked any volume of work but couldn’t shed staff
so they made a loss
for 1919. On 30th June Jowett Cars Ltd was registered with
£30,000 of shares
of which £1500 was paid up equally between the
three. About this time a disused quarry at 5 Lane Ends
was purchased
for £100 and the Bradford City Corporation paid for it with tipping
rights.
1920
A newly built factory was moved into by January
1920. The first car rolled out by April.
By late 1920 a new road
traffic act meant that by increasing bore and capacity to 907cc an
RAC
rating of 7.04 hp meant £7 road tax per year. So the 6.4hp became 8 hp
and now 7 hp
1922-1923
Jowett Car Clubs formed and the “Southern Jowett Car Club” is now the
“Jowett Car Club” of today
1924
The second car to reach NZ shores was
this 1924 Jowett 7 here today!!!
1925
Two trips across Africa – in
response to challenges to British Motor Car Manufacturing Companies.
The First 1770 miles through Kenya and Uganda.
The Second across Africa 3800 miles from Lagos to Red Sea in 60 days
over mostly no roads
averaging 30mpg + 77 miles/day.
1929
Minor
changes to engine camshaft and clutch and 4 wheel brakes introduced.
1932
Rubberised bushes on suspension points. "Silent
Bloc" bushes. And "Lay rub" couplings on drive shaft.
1935
4 cylinder engine introduced in “Jason” and
“Jupiter models. Very raked radiator and twin carburettors.
1937
Radiator rakes lessoned and back to single carburettor on 10hp 4
cylinder engine and 8hp 2 cylinder engine.
1939
Jowett by now a public company. Both Jowett brothers
had retired, but still had majority shares.
1940
Finally a synchromesh gearbox!
1939-1945
WW 2 and War Work
1942
Gerald Palmer headhunted from MG. The start of
the Javelin
1946
CA Bradford produced –
a van with the famous 2 cylinder engine designed in 1906
1948
Javelin in production
1949
Gerald Palmer leaves for MG May 1949. October London motor show ”Earls
Court” Jupiter chassis on display
1950
March 2 Jupiters ready -One for USA April show.
3rd Jupiter entered for Le Mans in June Finished 16th overall. 1st
1500cc class and broke
Aston Martins 1937 record with 75.8 mph
average. First of 3 consecutive class wins.
1951
More rally and racing successes for Javelin and
Jupiter. Best production figures for Javelin.
Early 1951 gearbox built
‘in-house’. April 1951 gear steel EN36 became unavailable due to
Korean war.
Alternative steel caused major problems and gearboxes
became a problem.
1952
Gearboxes became a ‘big’ problem but various other
shortcomings didn’t help.
In May delivery was halted briefly, for more gearbox experiments.
Sales of Javelin were dropping off badly.
Christmas 1952 200+ bodies
stockpiled around stores and roads. Briggs asked to stop body supply
temporarily in Dec 1952.
1953
Start up negotiations with Briggs stall. New commercial
vehicle range tested, but not to be put into production.
No new
Bradford CD! Trading improved and backlog of cars sold, and 1953 saw
profit of £25,000 and 1954 of £74,000
1954
In July employees were told the factory and most jobs
and machines would be with International Harvester from October
Last Jowett left Idle on Nov 4th 1954, a Jupiter
1955
Jowett Cars Ltd sold to Blackburn Aircraft. No debts
and shareholders paid out pound for pound!!!!
Jowetts promised to
supply parts and service till Dec 1963, which it did at Howden Clough
Bradford.
1956
Jowett Car Club of Australia formed.
1960
Blackburn Aircraft became part of Hawker Siddley Group.
1962
Jowett Car Club of New Zealand formed!!!!
1963
Jowett finally closed and 30 tons of parts sold at
scrap prices to 5Star Motors Auckland.
For the last 40 years clubs in UK Aust, NZ USA, & Denmark, have kept
spares and the Jowett flag flying!!!!!
Prepared by Neil
Moore of Jowett Car Club of NZ
Jowett Assembly in New Zealand
