Transparent Roof Panel?

[Jack]

Has anyone ever seen a Javelin that had a "Transparent Roof Panel" fitted? Surely they don't mean the rear windscreen?

This ad mentions it, I've never seen a Javelin with anything other than a plain steel roof, wondered if this is something they actually did and if there is an image anywhere of a car with one, how it looked etc.

http://automuseum.autokiosk.nl/wp-conte ... br-003.jpg

Jack.

[ian Howell]

Jack: -

Others may be more authoritative but I believe that only one Javelin was built with a clear roof, for one of the motor shows.

I have seen pictures in the past (L O N G P A S T !) but I suspect someone will have a lot more information.

I don't know if the Motor Show car was ever sold to the public.

Happy hunting!

[Andy Stevens]

Javelin PA 1001, Calcott Reilly's car was fitted with a perspex roof. The car still exists, or did until recently, in a poor state in Essex (together with a Jupiter).
I have some photos somewhere which I will post if I find them.

Andy

[robert lintott]

The Palmer book Auto Architect pages 54 -56 shows a picture of a Javelin fitted with a perspex roof panel which looks to be about the size of a present day opening roof . The car was FKU 372, a factory owned car , could be PA1001. The text says it was judged to be too costly for production but was commended by drivers including Laurence Pomeroy . The car is not in the 2008 register . It would be quite possible to have a glass fixed roof or even an opening one hinged at the front edge,fitted to a Javelin --assuming the roof could be cut as needed -- as has been done with other cars . Perhaps the rather pronounced curvature of the Javelin roof might be a problem . I think such items were not so readily available in the 1950s. Bob

[jowettgeoff]

The Javelin with the 'sun roof' is currently owned by Noel Stokoe. I have a copy of the Jowett Cars Ltd tooling cost projections which was possibly prepared from converting Noel's car. So far as I know, the option was dropped. I'm not aware of any others - but you never know!

Geoff.

[Andy Stevens]

javelin 1.jpeg

javelin 2.jpeg

A couple of pics of PA 1001 FKW 318.....in 1987 (!)

Andy

[robert lintott]

It seems likely there must have been more than one Javelin with a perspex roof . The one in Palmer's book is FKU 372 and he refers to it as the car " Peter" Reilly used for a tour of Sweden in September 1948. The picture in the book is not too clear but the sun roof seems to be smaller than that on FKW 318 /PA 1001 . FKU372 can't be PA 1001 unless the registration numbers were changed around for some reason known to Jowetts , both were factory cars so it could be .KU and KW were both Bradford Council numbers

On the rear view does FKW 318 have a plinth under the boot mounted number plate ? This was a feature of one of the 1954 designs , I believe it was the same as or adapted from the Jaguar rear plate at the time .I have seen a picture somewhere . Bob

[Andy Stevens]

Reg numbers not changed. When it looked at the car the original log book was with the car.
Rear number plate not 1954 type - see Javelin / Jupiter book for better picture.

Andy

[ArthurBailey]

look on youtube for motor show 1948 and see javeline with clear roof panel.

[Forumadmin]

Arthur,
Please provide link onto you tube as I cannot find it. All I got was this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq6XeXc2DX4 17 secs in has ERA Javelin chassis (Jupiter)

and this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8shRPO6ftw

with nothing Jowett as far as I can see.

[NoelStokoe]

My Javelin...FFR900 has a sliding metal opening roof, not a Perspex one. I was told by a previous owner that the original owner, a dentist in Blackpool, had always had convertible sports cars and wanted a Javelin with an opening roof. I am not sure if the Jowett factory fitted it for him or if it was fitted by a local coachbuilder.
Noel Stokoe

[PJGD]

You can see the Javelin with the "Moon Roof" being demonstrated in this British Pathé film from the 1948 Geneva Motor Show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg8NLi21IdQ

Watch from 1.30 to 2.00

Philip

[Forumadmin]

That is a naff shade! Worse than homemade.

Thanks Philip for finding the clip.

[Srenner]

Naff shade!?!?!?!? That is exactly the same as the shades for the Vista Cruiser window above the second row seat in my 1995 Buick Roadmaster wagon!!! There are even two of them so the kiddies can argue about shade or sun.

[Andy Stevens]

Is there anyone local to Cooksmill Green, Chelmsford, Essex, who could go and see if FKW 318 still exists? (And its stablemate Jupiter) - fitted with a Ford V4 engine.
Looking on google earth, the site where they were, a derelict nursery, is very overgrown.
Cars were / are owned by a guy called Geoff Mitchell. I believe Peter Young knew him.

Andy