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SWALLOW SIDE CARS
To trace the birth of this British company, we must go back to the northern seaside town of Blackpool. Here a young motorcycle enthusiast by the name of Bill Lyons, not yet 21 years of age, met William Walmsley, who was building a rather stylish sidecar for reconditioned motor cycles.
Young Lyons immediately displayed the two traits that would be his greatest qualities for the next 50 years or so. His business acumen shrewdly identified a good commercial opportunity and his eye for style appreciated the attractive appearance of these normally mundane creations. He felt there was great potential if the activity could be organized along business lines and production increased to make the operation viable.
SS CARS
After several years, though the restless William Lyons saw a further opportunity
for his Swallow Sidecar Company to build special bodywork for the Austin
Seven, and in 1927 created a most stylish, two-seater body for the little
car. An order from a major London dealer for 500 got the venture off to
a good start. Swallow bodies for the larger Morris Cowley, then the Fiat
509A, Swift Nine and Standard Big Nine followed, and as the 30's opened
there were sporty, Swallow bodies on a larger Standard and the Wolsley
Hornet car.
William Lyons was not content to merely build bodies and as a shrewd publicist set the scene for the introduction of SS range of cars in the summer of 1931. Within months the SSI and SSII coupes caused a sensation at the London Motor Show. The body was ultra low and the bonnet outrageously long...and they were remarkable value for money.
In 1934 Lyons asked the distinguished engineering consultant Harry Weslake
to help form an Engineering Department and William Heynes was appointed
as Chief Engineer. The fruits of their work were soon to be seen.
In 1935 the name Jaguar was used for the first time for a new saloon
and sports car range - William Lyons felt that the name suggested feline
grace, elegance, power and agility.
Heynes produced a chassis for the new range and Weslake designed an
overhead valve version of the standard engine, increasing its output from
75 bhp to 105 bhp. And Lyons designed the stylish bodies
The new sports car was glimpsed briefly as the SS90, and was quickly
revised as the SS100 - for many a classic pre-war sports car.
During WW2, Lyons and Heynes, with Walter Hassan and Claude Bailey,
planned a new engine that would establish the company as a world force.
They chose an advanced overhead camshaft layout for their straight six
engine, which initially produced 160bhp. To publicize it they decided to
build a limited run of sports cars, and Lyons had just a couple of months
to design a body before the 1948 London Motor Show.
The car - the XK120 - stole the show, and was destined to become one
of the great sports cars. Its designation was based on it's top speed,
and to convince skeptics a standard XK120 clocked 126mph in a press demonstration.
It was the fastest production car in the world.
1950's
In 1950 the Mk VII saloon was unveiled - a full five-seater powered by the XK engine. It was designed with the US market in mind, and some $30m worth of orders were taken within months of its introduction.
In 1954 the XK120
was superseded by the XK140, with a more powerful 190bhp engine. A year
later Jaguar's compact saloon was announced the first Jaguar with unitary
construction. Powered initially by a 2.4 liter version of the XK engine
and known simply as the 2.4, this car, later modified, became known as
the MKII and was to remain in production for over ten years.
The Mk II version of the compact saloon was announced, with disc brakes - which had been developed for Jaguar’s Le Mans winning cars. Then the 2.4 and 3.4 liter models were joined by the new 3.8 liter. With 220 bhp on tap, this turned the compact Jaguar into businessmen's expresses.
Jaguar fitted disc brakes to the XK150 from May 1957 and in 1958 a roadster version of the XK150 was introduced for the USA with the luxury of wind-up windows.
1960's
In 1961Jaguar made a quantum leap in sports car design with the introduction
of the E-type which was announced in March at the Geneva Motor Show. It
was a sensation. The E-type, or XKE as it was also known in the USA, was
very fast, had vivid acceleration, great flexibility and comfort, and stunning
good looks.
Later in 1961 the large MkX saloon was announced, with full monocoque construction. It shared the independent rear suspension and engine fitted to the E-type.
In 1968 the E-type underwent changes dictated by US Federal regulations. In 1971 the power and performance of this trendsetting sports car was further enhanced with the introduction of the Jaguar V-12 engine designed by Walter Hassan. It was remarkable for being silky smooth, and made the E-type a sophisticated touring machine.
The XJ6 saloon arrived in 1968, with strong Jaguar identity in its shape - another Lyons masterpiece - and setting new standards of ride and sophistication.
1970's/V12
In 1972 the engine for which it had been conceived, the much acclaimed
V-12 unit, was fitted. This XJ12 was claimed to be the fastest production
four-seater in the world. A Daimler version came in the same year.
In 1976 Jaguar launched a new version of the XJ saloon - the XJ coupe. The closely related XJ-S followed. This grand tourer had an impressive specification and a 150mph capability. The Cabriolet version came in 1983 and was the first open Jaguar since the E-type; it gave way to the Convertible in 1988.
1980's
A new 3.6 litre 225bhp six-cylinder engine, the AJ6 was introduced in 1983 in the XJ-S.
Jaguar’s new XJ6 range was launched in Europe in late 1986 and in the USA early in 1987, with either 2.9 liter or 3.6 liter versions of the AJ6 engine. It met with widespread approval. Three derivatives were offered - the XJ6, the Sovereign and the top-of-the range Daimler.
In 1989 the 3.6 liter AJ6 was enlarged to 4 liters, and a new four-speed automatic transmission was offered.
NEW ERA
Jaguar Sport was formed in 1988, to produce and market sporting versions of Jaguar saloons and high-performance sports cars, including the breathtaking XJ220. This became a production reality in 1991, three years after its sensational British Motor Show debut.
The Jaguar company entered a totally new era in 1989, when the company became a subsidiary of Ford. The integrity of the Jaguar marque was recognized. and the early nineteen nineties saw many exciting new developments to enhance the Jaguar product range. The most significant came in May 1991 with a substantial face-lift to the XJS range.
In 1993 the XJ6 range was improved and extended, and the Daimler Double Six featured a refined and economical 6 liter version of the V12.There were extended wheelbase versions of the Jaguar Sovereign and Daimler saloon, named Majestic (which partly took the place of the Daimler Limousine, which was discontinued in 1992). The XJ6 3.2s and 4.0s were announced, aimed at younger enthusiasts.
A new XJ Series made its debut at the Paris Motor Show in 1994, and was simultaneously launched in every Jaguar market around the world. It was available with a new range of six-cylinder engines including a 326 bhp supercharged 4.0 liter engine.
XK8
In October 1996 the XK8 was launched at the Geneva Motor show,35 years after the launch of the legendary E-type. This re-established Jaguar as one of the world's premier sports car manufacturers. Powered by the highly innovative Advanced Jaguar V8 engine coupled with a custom-developed five-speed automatic gearbox, the Jaguar XK8 delivers world-class performance with unprecedented refinement.
For 1998, Jaguar have taken the heart and spirit of the acclaimed XK8 and launched the new V8 XJ Series, redefining the luxury saloon.
The range of V8 engines has been developed to offer a 3.2 and 4.0 liter normally aspirated engines and now a 4.0 liter V8 Supercharged developing 370 bhp.
All the new engines are matched with a new electronically controlled 5-speed automatic transmission, with Jaguar's 'J-gate' manual over-ride. The combination of V8 power and flexibility with the new transmission's control, response and seamless gear change create a balance of fluid power, effortless driving and outstanding comfort, set to define Jaguar for another generation of loyal and new owners.
We manufacture or distribute reproduction Jaguar interiors, carpet sets, convertible tops, verdeck-bezug, top boots, polsterleder, leather seat kits, vinyl seat kits, seat foam pads, gummihaarauflage, coco mats, plush rugs, himmel, headliner, door panels, sunvisors, sonnenblenden, rubber seals and gurt using original materials such as feintuft velour carpet, wilton carpet, flocked carpet, Scottish and Italian leather, ICI vinyl, Happich and Stafast mohair canvas. Complete interiors or individual items are made to order usually within 10 days.