Benjamin and William Jowett founded the business in Bradford in 1901 with Arthur Lamb, moving from the cycle trade into engines and cars. Their small flat-twin engine, with plenty of low-speed pulling power for the steep Yorkshire hills, became the company’s trademark and was used for decades. In 1919 Jowett bought a new works at Springfield, Bradford Road, in Idle, just outside Bradford.
Jowett cars and vans had a reputation for toughness and economy, and the Bradford van and utility, built until 1953, were familiar workhorses. After the Second World War Jowett launched the Javelin of 1947, a modern, streamlined saloon designed by Gerald Palmer’s team with a flat-four engine, and the Jupiter sports car of 1950, which won its class at Le Mans at its first attempt in 1950 and again in 1951 and 1952.
Problems with gearbox supplies and the cost of the new models left the company in difficulty, and car manufacture ended in 1954, when Jowett sold its Idle factory to International Harvester. The company then made aircraft parts before being taken over by Blackburn in 1956.
