Lot Ended
Description
A delightful example sympathetically restored about 20 years ago;
De Luxe model with wooden dash and leather seats; few owners; recent brake
overhaul; driven 25 miles to the sale
The only car
made in Bradford, the first Jowett made its debut in 1906 but the model that
really put them on the map was the Javelin, a compact family saloon so far ahead
of its UK-produced rivals that it had more in common with the best that Europe
had to offer.
Designed by Gerald Palmer and
launched in 1947, it was powered by an innovative 1.5-litre flat-four engine
featuring an aluminium block and wet cylinder liners, developing 50bhp and
giving the car a maximum speed of 77mph and a 0-50mph time of 13.4 seconds. A
four-speed gearbox with column change was used, feeding the power to the rear
wheels and giving the Javelin performance that wouldn't feel out of place in a
car 40 years' its junior.
To quote Georgano:
"With its independent torsion-bar suspension front and rear, rigid unitary
body-chassis construction, good aerodynamic shape, light weight and high
gearing, its fine handling, 80mph maximum speed and combination of excellent
acceleration and high cruising speed, it was more reminiscent of the pre-war
Lancia Aprilia, the Fiat 1100 or the BMW."
The
Javelin went through five variants labelled PA to PE, each having standard and
De Luxe options. Fast and economical, it achieved considerable competition
success, coming first in class at the 1949 Monte Carlo Rally, winning the
2-litre touring car class at the Spa 24-hour race that same year, and winning
the 1953 International Tulip Rally outright.
Supplied new by Godfreys Ltd of London in February 1951, this super
Javelin PC De Luxe was first owned by Park Lines Ltd of Tottenham, manufacturers
of garages, greenhouses, sheds, kennels and pigeon lofts.
Little is known of the car’s early history but it has had just four
owners, according to the V5C. From 1985 – 2022 it was owned by a Mr G Cooper of
Church Stretton. There are various invoices on file, including one for an engine
rebuild in 1986 with new pistons, liners, bearings crankshaft etc.
Other invoices and photos show that the car was
sympathetically restored between 2001 and 2003. This included localised repairs
to the bodywork, a new wiring loom, new carpets and headlining plus various
other jobs. It was presumably also professionally repainted because the
paintwork is very nice indeed.
It also got five
new tyres in 2011 which still look virtually new. In 2012 it had some localised
body repairs and paint rectification by those good chaps at Longmynd Service
Station, who also carried out some repairs to the chassis legs and gave it a
general safety check-over in 2014.
The MOT
history online shows that it has only been lightly used, clocking up some 3,000
miles since 2006, the odometer currently showing just over 77,000
miles.
Our vendor, a serial Jowett owner and
restorer, acquired the car last year and has gone right through it to address
any issues, including overhauling the braking system. He reports that it goes
well, with a lively engine, and it was driven 25 miles to the
sale.
As you can see in the photos, it looks most
attractive with nice shiny paintwork and a pleasingly original brown leather
interior. It also retains its original (transferable) London-issue number plate,
LXU 480. Starting promptly and running well as we have moved it around on site,
with good 60psi oil pressure, this rare and quirky Javelin would sit well in any
collection.
For more information contact
James on 07970 309907 or email
james.dennison@brightwells.com
* All charges are subject to VAT