Looking for some information for an article

[SamWise]

Hi all!

I've got a two page article to write for Practical Classics on the Javelin. It's titled "Why we love.....", which should give you a feel for the approach we're taking.

So, help me out here. What is it you love about the Javelin? I'm after everything from the performance to "the glove box is perfect for my daughters pencil case"!

[David Morris]

Hi Sam,

Quite simply, I have no idea where to begin! As you will have gathered from this website, there is a lively following for these fantastic cars.

Perhaps it says it all to mention that most car manufacturers, when introducing a new model, use many parts from their 'parts bin' to go into the new model. You will find many components in the new model that have been carried forward from the previous model.

This was certainly true of many UK manufacturers just after the war in the mid 1940's and remains so in many cases today.

Not so with Jowett's! The Javelin was marketed as 'new from the ground up' and this was true. Jowett's put their all into the new model and almost everything was a fresh design, often breaking the mould from Jowett's ( or anyone elses in many cases ) pre-war habits.

Just take a look at the Javelin design and you will see what I mean. Folded rack and pinion steering, torsion bars front and rear. Telescopic shock absorbers all round. A almost flat floor. A steering column gear change that works. Wet liners and hydraulic tappets. Twin carburettors. Positive crankcase ventilation. A heater! The list just goes on and on. Even little things like the spare wheel in a tray beneath the boot, saving taking everything out to change a wheel. The Javelin has just so many features that were new, coupled with a sales line that said ' Take a good look as it passes you' meant that it was the first really 'new' car after the war. In the early 1950's, Javelins were the 'bees knees' and captured the imagination of a young lad like me at the time.

I remember 60mph in a Morris 10 was probably its top limit and felt like it! To a Javelin, 80 mph was easily possible in those de-restricted times on the new motorways and they were flyers! Racing successes with the Jupiter followed too.

Fortunately, the admiration for what was a brave technical achievement by a small local company 'up north' has not diminished and I remain a faithful owner and loyal supporter of the marque.

All the best with the article. There are several excellent books that tell the story in detail and these can be recommended. Even the way Jowett's built Javelins was a new approach, with the cars being inverted for ease of installation as they came down the line in the factory.

Best regards,

David

[SamWise]

Fantastic stuff, thanks David. In terms of technical detail, the article is actually pretty brief (probably no need for reference books). It's more on the lines of an homage to a well loved car, and the focus is definitely on what gives the car such a place in peoples hearts.

[geoffwills]

Hi SAM,

For what it's worth I ran a Javelin for 20 years as a car for the family and for business use. I semi retired the car when, for a period, I was doing 1000+ miles a week for business in 1988. She sits in my garage now, in need of major restoration, with 329,000 miles to her credit.
In comparison to other cars of the day the Javelin measures up exceptionally well. The steering is precise, the ride is outstanding - better than most modern cars - and in great comfort. The Javelin was the fastest 1500cc saloon on the british market (10 mph faster than a Riley RM for example), you car enter a corner too quickly, and use the bakes and throttle in all the wrong places, and the car will forgive you and dutifully do all that you ask of it. The body (built for Jowett by Briggs in Doncaster) is a beautiful shape, and beautifully put together, with comfort and room for the occupants - rear seat legroom is massive! To add to the splendour she makes a lovely and distinctive burble as she goes through the rev range.
However the package did not come cheaply - In (say) 1951 you had a choice in how to spend your money: Four Ford Populars, or a Jowett Javelin! So, to use a JCL slogan: Take a good look when it passes you!

[ian Howell]

Another aspect which all Jowetteers know but which hasn't yet been mentioned is that the Jowett Car Club is the oldest 'One Make' car club in the country (world?).

It's strength lies in the nature of the Jowett owners. It always was - and even more so today is - a matter of duty to acknowledge other Jowett owners on the road and to stop and offer assistance to other Jowett owners (and other unfortunates who didn't own a Jowett) whenever one was encountered on the road with problems (few and far between!).

This cameraderie is still very evident in the club today, and you have experienced some of it in the responses you have had to your request for assistance.

Good luck with the article. There are several hundred Jowetteers around the world waiting for it to appear in print!

[pat lockyer]

Hi Sam, we must not forgett the genious of the late Gerald Palmer who was the designer of the Javelin when he moved to Jowett in 1942.
Also the early class wins in many international rallys.

Without the early rally success's of the Javelin the very advanced Jowett Jupiter{sports car]may not have come to be developed.

[TedAllen]

Hi Sam,
Good luck with the article. It is also interesting to know that a great many Jowetts stay with their owners for a long time. One of Jowetts slogans was 'Jowetts never wear out, they are left to the next of kin' I have owned mine for over 34yrs and many owners have done so even longer.

Many of the children of we oldies now take an active part in the club.

There is no finer sight than seeing the Javelin from above parked out side my bedroom window on a sunny day.

Ted.

[ian Howell]

Sam:

Ted is absolutely right! I owned and ran as daily transport, my Javelin from 1966 to 1987. It saw the birth and rise of my family of two, one of whom learnt to drive in it.

In 1967 I bought my 1930 Long Four for restoration. I have at last started this on a very occasional basis, but of course this means I have owned it for 40 years - over half its life!

And all this because in 1963, as an impoverished student (weren't we all?), I bought a 'basket case' Bradford van for £5.00 and rebuilt it, because I couldn't afford anything more.

Once you are 'hooked', there seems to be no escape!

[SamWise]

You guys are brilliant! It's much easier to write this sort of article when the people involved really ARE passionate about their cars.