An unconventional revolution: Jowett’s design splash shakes up the executive saloon

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There is general agreement that many cars from the immediate post-war era suffered from inconsistency. Jowett Cars, a venerable marque shaped by austerity, was not immune to the growing pains of a new age. By abandoning conservative, ageing designs, however, the Bradford firm sought to reinvent its image with an executive saloon attuned to modern sensibilities.

In 1947, the Javelin was launched. Its looks, while unmistakably of their time, were penned by Gerald Palmer, later of Vauxhall Victor fame. Palmer’s bulbous monocoque body marked a clear departure from the brittle stylings of everyday pre-war runabouts. Briggs Motor Bodies, at its Doncaster factory, was responsible for primary body construction. Formed from pressed steel with an integrated box-section chassis, the design featured faired-in headlamps and a steeply raked windscreen—reportedly a first for a British production car—signalling Jowett’s stride toward modernism.

Buyers of early 1947 PB models could expect a spacious interior, with optional cloth or leather upholstery, a column-mounted gear change, and a generously sized steering wheel. Those seeking a walnut dashboard, however, would need to stretch to the higher-specification “de luxe” model.

Mechanically, the Javelin also broke with convention. Its 1,486 cc overhead-valve flat-four engine was horizontally opposed, allowing more space within the passenger compartment without increasing overall length. This layout did have drawbacks, notably in accessibility. Routine tasks such as spark plug maintenance could require removal of the front wheels. Nevertheless, the engine delivered a distinctive note and dependable performance, with a comfortable cruising speed of around 80 mph.

Production decisions would also hamper progress. Early cars were fitted with gearboxes assembled by the Henry Meadows of Wolverhampton, but Jowett later moved production in-house. Though not unfamiliar with transmission manufacture, the transition proved costly, creating bottlenecks and leaving partially completed cars stalled on the line.

While the Javelin impressed with its torsion-bar suspension and fully hydraulic brakes—still uncommon in 1947—it was not without fault. Persistent crankshaft issues impaired performance and compromised reliability. Combined with production difficulties, and following Ford Motor Company’s acquisition of Briggs Motor Bodies, Jowett ceased production in 1953.

Yet the Javelin did not fade quietly. A photograph from 1953 shows two examples competing in the Tulip Rally. Several Javelins were entered that year, with Hugo van Zuylen van Nijevelt and Frans Eschauzier taking overall victory in a privately entered car.

Jowett’s unceremonious demise left behind one of the more innovative executive saloons of the austerity era. Unsurprisingly, the Javelin has since become a favourite among enthusiasts—a true classic, despite its undeniable foibles.

Words by Alexander Simmons-Miller

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