UFO Info Week-End

A car for the world” claimed the advertisements in 1946 though it

“A car for the world,” claimed the advertisements in 1946, though it was 1948 before production really got into its stride.Palmer kept to the horizontally-opposed design with which Jowett had such consistent success, in this case a flat four of 1,486cc developing 50bhp at 4,100rpm – high figures for the day. He set it in a long wheelbase with high ground-clearance for the rough roads of the British Empire, and designed a monocoque body that deliberately aped that great American car, the Lincoln Zephyr.With a curved windscreen, a single-panel roof that swept from this to the rear bumper, headlamps faired into wings that themselves faired into doors that were not only tall but wide, and a radiator grille that spread as wide as any grinning Oldsmobile, this was a car to astonish the drivers of sedate new Rovers. Palmer’s brief was to design “a universal car,” and, to a very great extent, he succeeded with the Javelin. Yet the man in charge of it, Charles Calcott-Reilly, had the wit, in 1941, to think of post-war years.He recruited Gerald Palmer, a 30-year old Rhodesian who had been in charge of MG’s drawing office since 1938.

The war came just in time for the firm as it became a manufacturer of arms and ammunition and its workforce quadrupled. From July 1942 the streets were empty of all but “official” cars and a few taxis for the three full years until June 1945. But, in spite of the war and the seeming hopelessness of it, some manufacturers had nevertheless dreamt of sparkling new models fit for a brave post-war new world, and one of these, perhaps the most improbable, was Jowett, a Yorkshire firm with a steadfast local following but hardly known beyond the Ridings.
The Brothers Jowett, Benjamin and William, made their first car in 1906, a light two-seater powered by an engine of two cylinders horizontally opposed; their first production model came in 1910, much improved in steering and braking, but with the engine retained. After 11 years in production its capacity was increased from 815 to 907cc and in 1936 capacity rose to 1,005cc and power to 19bhp at 3,500rpm. There it stayed until even Yorkshiremen grew tired of it, and Jowett’s closed in 1954.In 1935 they had ventured into the four-cylinder market with what was, to all intents and purposes, a pair of these engines bolted together, but with a combined capacity of only 1,146cc.

It cost, in a family saloon, £30 more than the old twin, and canny Yorkshiremen saw no point in spending £197 when £167 bought them something as solid and capacious as a Wolseley.When the Jowetts retired in the late Thirties, the firm was in decline – the total of production all vehicles in 1939 was only 1,661. This year, 2006, marks the 60th anniversary of the Jowett Javelin’s appearance.A few had dribbled on to the market after the outbreak of the Second World War, and some over-confident manufacturers had announced new models for 1940 (and made a handful), but when petrol was rationed, then reduced to one low grade, and finally made unobtainable without a very special permit, cars of all ages simply faded away. It’s trial and error but I think he can get two buggies in the back diagonally.CAR CHOICEPlease write to Car Choice, Features, Independent House, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS, or e-mail James Ruppert at carchoice independent.co.uk, giving your age, address and contact number, and details of the type of vehicle in which you are interested.. The three individual rear seats flip and fold, which means James’s children can sit there with a table between them. For those reasons then I’ll go for a compact MPV.I would thus recommend to James the Renault Scenic.

It is a question of whether he can afford the latest version or is happy with the old shape model. The load areas are a decent size and the older model is becoming great value now. Some, though, hate the looks, the security is not always as sophisticated as with conventional cars and at speed they can be boomy and unrefined. With rear sliding doors and a flat rear load bay and relatively high ceiling they are very practical for a family of four or five.The specifications can be more than basic van, though, with optional air conditioning and electric windows.

It is good value and there are some good economical and refined engines.A CAR FOR THE HEARTFor a vehicle the family might fall in love with, I am tempted to suggest an adapted van like a Citro?Berlingo Multispace, the closely related Peugeot Partner Combi or a Renault Kangoo. This has a good-sized boot of 540 litres and is very practical with easy-fold rear seats Best of all, though, it is a very comfy drive. It is refined with good seats and excellent levels of standard equipment including cruise control, air conditioning and a CD player. Also the boot sill is quite high.In the medium estate class I would also like to direct James towards the Vauxhall Vectra. One criticism is that all but the Elegance models have a load bay, which has a step in the middle of it, so it is not completely flat. There is certainly no shortage of options for James and he should take the family and luggage with him before deciding.A CAR FOR THE HEADJames suggested the Skoda Octavia to me, which is not only great value, but even before folding the seat there are a considerable 560 litres of load area space which makes it one of the largest in this class of estate.He can also go for the powerful and effective and economical diesel engines that make longer runs easier.