Hello...looking for info on buying a Javelin

[ClassicCarFan]

Thank you for letting me join the forum.... I've been around classics for quite a bit now, since they were just old bangers really! My daily driver is a 1955 Hillman Minx. I've been looking for a project something a little more upmarket, think Wolseley, but more technically interesting, but as the 1950s is my thing, and I've never had one before I thought of a Javelin.

What are they like 'to live with' using on an occasional basis? Are running spares, brakes, plugs, points, coils, etc straightforward to obtain?

I don't want an immaculate one, far from it, I much prefer, oily rag, which I'm NOT frightened to enjoy, than a trailer queen......

The big question is, how much should I pay for one?

Ideally for me, a running one, but needs for example paintwork or minor accident damage putting right or some OFF or rechroming..... how often do they come up for sale?

Any advice would be appreciated.....

Many thanks in advance

[Chris Spencer]

They are a great car to own - much advanced for the era - like every classic car they can have their problems so purchase a sound one if you can - don't adopt the idea that buying cheap or sight unseen will be fine - The vast majority of parts are readily available through the clubs spares department at very realistic costs - You can pay anything from £500 (DONT) up into the mid teens £k for something that would be considered concours - I have a light recommissioning project for sale currently - needs a little tidying but its a fairly sound car - For sale on behalf of a late member - car is in North Manchester - been stood / dry stored for the last 2 years some pics attached

Price is £1750 firm - let me know if would like any further details - otherwise they occasionally become available - a decent on the road car will cost you somewhere upwards of £5k - one in really nice condition £8k + Full restorations can cost well in excess of twice the value of the vehicle upon completion - The one above would suit your needs if you didn't mind a little work and you are not bothered running a patina type car - Good luck - Chris

[ClassicCarFan]

Hello Chris. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me and for the great information about Javelin's. This info will be really useful for me! The info on the Javelin for sale looks very interesting. I have got one to look at this weekend, if no joy I will be in touch with you.

Thank you. David

[Nick Webster]

Hello David,
I may be a bit late to the party but perhaps I can also offer a few words of advice.

Let's be honest, Javelins are not easy cars to own. If they were, there would be lots about and Jowetts might still be in business. One of the reasons for this is that Jowetts did not develop the car properly before putting it into production and an enormous number of modifications / improvements were trickled out during the production life of the car. Then they compounded the problem by using the same part number on diferent part revisions. So unless you have examined the part in question and know which type it is, you could well end up ordering the wrong part. For this reason, Jowett owners have heads full of technical information that takes a minimum of 10 years or so to learn. You will note the amount of technical advice available on this forum.

The Javelin does not rust any more than any other 50s car but even quite nice examples may be afflicted with bubbling along the front wing rear edge, the door bottoms and the rear wing front edge. That is not a disaster and the good news is that the sills are quite simple and not a box section full of condensation like some other cars. This sort of rust is annoying but not super critical. Be aware though, that unlike the information found on some "review" web sites, the Javelin does not have a separate chassis, although there is a substantial box frame. Obviously, you can't lift the body off to deal with rot in the frame. I regret there are some cars about that look very nice on top but are a different story underneath and one might suspect this is why they seem to be changing hands quite a lot. Check the sales history. There are two serious and indeed, unless you are very capable, worrisome rust areas. The first is the front "legs" that hold the engine up and also serve as pick up points for the bottom arm of the front suspension. Secondly, the rear end of the frame where the lower suspension arms pivot. In this day and age of TIG and MIG, rot here is not as terminal as it used to be but it means a lot of effort or a lot of money, depending on who repairs it. I have seen a number of otherwise quite servicable cars afflicted in these two areas.

I could go on and on. That is the nature of the beast. The good news is that they really are a "driver's car". Even after some 47 years of Javelin ownership, I cannot quite put my finger on it. Even though you may have to work on it every weekend, all is forgiven when you are actually on the move.

Regards,
Nick Webster (Javelin Registrar)

[Chris Spencer]

David - I've also just made aware of a members car that is coming to the market due his retirement from driving & health issues - the car is in the East Midlands - again please feel free to contact me directly for information and I'll put you in touch with the vendor

[David Morris]

Hi Nick,

Your comments on Javelin's are very helpful and surely describes two of the major rust-prone areas.

I would like to add a third, from bitter experience. Jowett's decided on a design that was between the later integral body designs, and those that relied on a full chassis. They decided to have a bit of each, and the Javelin, unlike the Jupiter, has a substantial box frame. as Nick says, this suffers from corrosion and stress cracking at the front, under the engine on both sides, and corrosion under the rear seat squab, where the rear torsion bars are held in the chassis extensions. Both these areas are very hard to repair, unless you are super confident.

However, Briggs, in their wisdom, put felt all along the tops of the chassis box sections, between the box top and the bodywork. This just is a trap for water and wet here rots the tops of the chassis boxes. This wouldn't be too bad, but the rear fixing point for the front torsion bars relies on the chassis box here to be in good structural condition. If the top of the box is rotted out, this stress from the torsion bars can collapse the box section, with serious results. It is also very complicated to repair, mostly due the the dismantling needed to reach the tops of the chassis boxes.

With Javelins approaching at least 70 years, and rust prevention from new being sketchy at best, you must expect rust to be present. I would guess that those examples, where no subsequent prevention work was undertaken, to all be scrapped by now. I have seen so many where the chassis consisted of Dexion angle iron or similar and know at least where one was buried, because it was too far gone! So, those now on the road are probably dependent on how much care they have received to prevent corrosion over the years, the best will be great and the worst hiding their rot under layers of underseal and bodge.

Buyers need to take care, and I would always suggest to new owners to recruit someone, before you part with your cash, who knows where to look! I, like I am sure about other members, would be very happy to assist.

All the best,

David

[ClassicCarFan]

They are a great car to own - much advanced for the era - like every classic car they can have their problems so purchase a sound one if you can - don't adopt the idea that buying cheap or sight unseen will be fine - The vast majority of parts are readily available through the clubs spares department at very realistic costs - You can pay anything from £500 (DONT) up into the mid teens £k for something that would be considered concours - I have a light recommissioning project for sale currently - needs a little tidying but its a fairly sound car - For sale on behalf of a late member - car is in North Manchester - been stood / dry stored for the last 2 years some pics attached

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Price is £1750 firm - let me know if would like any further details - otherwise they occasionally become available - a decent on the road car will cost you somewhere upwards of £5k - one in really nice condition £8k + Full restorations can cost well in excess of twice the value of the vehicle upon completion - The one above would suit your needs if you didn't mind a little work and you are not bothered running a patina type car - Good luck - Chris

CHRIS, are you getting my messages about the Javelin you have for sale? Dave 07480 963775