Jowett Javelin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Jowett Javelin | |
|---|---|
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| Manufacturer | Jowett Cars |
| Production | 1947–1953. 23,307 made. [1] |
| Successor | none |
| Body style(s) | saloon |
| Engine(s) | Jowett flat four, 1486 cc |
| Transmission(s) | 4-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 102 inches (2590 mm) [2] |
| Length | 168 inches (4267 mm) [2] |
| Width | 60 inches (1524 mm) [2] |
| Height | 61 in (1,549 mm)[3] |
| Curb weight | 2120 pounds (940 kg) [2] |
| Designer | Gerald Palmer |
The Jowett Javelin was an award-winning British car that was produced from 1947 to 1953 by Jowett of Bradford. The model went through five variants labelled PA to PE, each having a standard and "de luxe" option.
The car was designed by Gerald Palmer during World War II and was intended to be a major leap forward following the relatively staid designs of pre-war Jowetts. The flat four overhead valve engine of 1486 cc with a compression ratio of 7.2:1 was water-cooled and had an aluminium block and wet cylinder liners. It developed 50 bhp (37 kW) at 4100 rpm (52.5 bhp in the case of the PE) giving the car a maximum speed of 77 mph (124 km/h) and a 0-50 mph (80 km/h) time of 13.4 seconds. [2] Two Zenith carburettors were fitted and PA and PB versions had hydraulic tappets. The radiator was behind the engine. A four speed gearbox with column change was used.
Design features included aerodynamic styling with the headlights faired into the wings and, for the time, a steeply sloped, curved windscreen. The body was of pressed steel, incorporating a box-section chassis and was made for Jowett by Briggs Motor Bodies in their Doncaster factory. The suspension used torsion-bars on all wheels (independent at the front) and internal gear-and-pinion steering. PA and PB models had mixed Girling hydraulic brakes at the front and mechanical braking at the rear. Later versions were fully hydraulic.
The car had a wheelbase of 102 inches (2,600 mm) and a track of 51 inches (1,300 mm). Overall the car was 14 feet (4.3 m) long, 5 feet (1.5 m) wide and weighed about 1 (Imperial) ton (depending on model and year). The car was expensive costing GBP819 at launch. [1]
A de-luxe saloon version tested by The Motor magazine in 1953 had a top speed of 82.4 mph (132.6 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 20.9 seconds. A fuel consumption of 29.1 miles per imperial gallon (9.71 L/100 km/24.2 mpg US) was recorded. The test car cost £1207 including taxes. [3]
Just over 23,000 units were produced.
[edit] Sporting achievements
An early example won in its class at the 1949 Monte Carlo Rally whilst another won the 2-litre touring-car class at the Spa 24-hour race that same year. In the 1952 International RAC Rally a Javelin again won its class and also took the "Best Closed Car" award, while the 1953 International Tulip Rally was won outright by a privately entered Javelin.
