Jowett Javelin PE DeLuxe

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WE REGRET TO SAY THAT THIS CAR HAS NOW BEEN WITHDRAWN

The Jowett brothers began making cars at their Bradford factory as early as 1906 and quickly earned a reputation for making tough, well-engineered cars with outstanding economy and excellent pulling power – ideal for charging around the Yorkshire Dales!

But the car 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 intended to be a major leap forward following the relatively staid designs of pre-war Jowetts.

It was powered by a superb 1.5-litre flat-four engine featuring an aluminium block and wet cylinder liners, developing 50bhp (and 52.5bhp in the case of the PE) 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 ‘DeLuxe’ 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.

First registered in December 1953, this particular Javelin PE DeLuxe is one of the last examples to be made, featuring all of the upgrades and improvements that were made during the life of the model, and is believed by the owners’ club to be the latest surviving example. The original buff log book shows that it spent most of its early life in the London area, being first owned by GW Wilkin Ltd of Kingston-upon-Thames, and shortly afterwards by the rather splendidly named Commander Sir Griffith WN Boynton of the United Services Club, Pall Mall (he being the 13th Baronet of Boynton in the East Riding of Yorkshire).

About five years ago the car was substantially restored by the previous owner, including bodywork repairs and a respray in gold (from the original grey), a full interior retrim, new wiring loom, full brake and suspension overhaul and conversion to run on unleaded fuel. It was also rolling road tuned by Aldon Automotive in August 2014 at a cost of £521. Said to drive very well (the only known fault being that the fuel gauge does not function correctly although a new one is included in the sale), it is MOT exempt, the last MOT expiring in December 2014 with no advisories recorded.

It comes with a fair number of bills documenting much, but not all, of the recent expenditure, plus much technical literature relating to the model including an original owner’s instruction book, maintenance manual and parts book, a wiring diagram and two books on the history of Jowett and the models produced. All adding up to a most tempting package at the modest guide price suggested.