Bernie Ecclestone programme

[PhilEdwards]

Those of you who watched the BBC Panorama programme last night (28th) might have noticed an old photo a few minutes in, showing the Compton and Ecclestone dealership with an early light coloured Jowett Javelin in pride of place in front of the entrance. I couldn't quite read the number, but I think it was something like S** 3 ??.
Episode should be available on i player?
Phil

[robert lintott]

The picture also appears in Tom Bower's book "No Angel" page 210 facing . It seems to be SMV 3, which is in the 2008 register as D8 PA 61, the second oldest Javelin in the list . In the picture it is White but in the register it is Black . Also there is in the Jowetter of April 1987 an article on SMV3 headed the "oldest running Javelin", the same car ( PA 61) but then Black , by the owner Keith Waller . Presumably stiil in the JCC?

According to the book Compton and Fuller were in Bexley Heath and Bernie joined up with Fred Compton in about 1948 which meant the Javelin was quite new at the time --it was registered in May 1948.

Bob

[ian Howell]

I don't remember the whole number, but way back when there was a Javelin registered SMV *** that was owned by Sid Balchin and was generally recognisable as 'Sid's Motor Vehicle'.

Same one, or another from the same 'stable'?

[paul wilks]

Hello. SMV3 was definitely Sid Balchin's (Sid's Motor Vehicle) in the 60s and 70s and was black.
I have a photo showing it fitted with prototype front and rear bumpers but the origin of the bumpers is a mystery to me.
I have seen no prototype Javelins with similar bumper design.

Paul

[robert lintott]

There seems no doubt that the car SMV 3 in the 1948 picture on Ecclestone's forecourt and the same registered car pictured in the April 1987 jowetteer ( 39 years later) are the same, having had a colour change to Black in the meantime . The front bumper in the April 87 picture is unusual, the profile of the bumper seems more rounded and the larger overriders seem to be farther inboard than normal . Indeed it may be imagination but the overriders in the 1948 picture may be the same .

What is more , Mr Waller ,in the article in 1987 says that it was owned by Sid Balchin from 1953 to 1975, followed by Oliver Evans from July 75 to July 81 . Mr Waller bought the car in 1983 and possibly still owns it ? He was the Javelin Registrar in 1987. Bob

[TedAllen]

I posted a copy of this photo on the gallery here some years ago. Last time I looked it was still there.

[PAUL BEAUMONT]

Keith Waller died a few years ago, but SMV3 is still owned by daughter Fiona. It is an interesting car because although black on the outside, the door frames and door shuts are still white!

[paul wilks]

Hello Paul

Do you know whether SMV3 is still fitted with those unusual front and rear bumpers?

I'd still love to know the history behind those bumpers. Were they Sid's own design or were they intended for production? Does anyone know?

Paul

[PAUL BEAUMONT]

I don't know Paul, sorry. I have not seen SMV3 or Fiona for a while, but she is a current JCC member I believe.

[robert lintott]

Reference the bumpers on SMV3. It is not clear in the Ecclestone forecourt picture of 1948 whether SMV 3 has normal bumpers or not . The picture on Page 18 in the April 87 Jowetteer definitely shows non standard bumpers and overriders which may well be still on the car albeit 27 years later . There is no reference as to where they came from or why. However as many of us know trying to make bumpers fit different cars is very difficult , they just will not bend to the shape you need ! Also making special bumpers from scratch is costly and needs proper tools etc . It seems to me therefore that the non standard ones on SMV3 probably came from a diferent make , the donor car having the same overall width as a Javelin .

The April 87 picture shows the profile of the bumper to be symmetrical but not ribbed as the Javelin Standard bumpers are and the overriders seem larger and quite different from the javelin type, heavier looking . It would take some searching through Motor Show Autocars etc to see where they might have come from .

I happen to have kept the April 87 Jowetteer, it is a "special javelin edition " full of fascinating articles by Gerald Palmer etc , are there any othe copies around , it might even be worth doing a reprint ., 2007 will be the 70th anniversary of first deliveries of Javelins to distributors !
Bob