THE ORIGINS OF AN ICON

Jaguar has always been famous for delivering a unique combination of sportiness, luxury and style.

From its great motorsport triumphs across the years, highlighted by its wins at Le Mans, and one of the great motoring icons of all time, the legendary E-Type, through to the outstanding cars of today, including the F-PACE SVR 575 EDITION and the all-electric I- PACE, Jaguar continues to offer outstanding driving pleasure in a compelling package.

To trace the birth of Jaguar, we go back to the northern English seaside town of Blackpool, where a young motorcycle enthusiast by the name of Bill Lyons, not yet 21 years of age, met William Walmsley, who was building a stylish sidecar which he was attaching to reconditioned motorcycles. 

Young Lyons immediately displayed the two traits that would be his greatest qualities for the next 50 years or so. His business acumen shrewdly spotted a good commercial opportunity and his eye for style appreciated the attractive appearance of these normally mundane creations.

In September 1922, shortly after Lyons' 21st birthday, the Swallow Sidecar Company was formed by Lyons and Walmsley with a bank overdraft of £1,000. 

As the business grew, the company expanded, adding car body repairs to the sidecar business, before expanding into building car bodies. The name of the business was changed to Swallow Sidecar and Coachbuilding Company.

Lyons saw a great business opportunity when he created a stylish two-seater body which was mounted on the chassis of the Austin Seven, which had been released in 1927. An order for 500 was obtained from one of the main London garages, Henlys, and production commenced. At £175, or £185 with a hinged hardtop, the splendid little Austin Seven Swallow proved highly popular, and the company also introduced a Swallow body for the larger Morris Cowley chassis. 

The range increased significantly with the introduction of the Austin Seven Swallow Saloon in late 1928. Priced at £187, the Saloon was not expensive, but it looked it! With sales of the cars and sidecars continuing to increase, it was decided to move to the Midlands, traditional heartland of the British motor industry. Thus, the young company was moved ‘lock, stock and barrel’ to Coventry.

In 1931, Swallow (with Sidecars having been dropped from the name) launched two new models, the SS I and SS II, built on a chassis made by The Standard Motor Company, with competitive pricing, despite their premium styling – something which would become synonymous with Jaguar throughout its history.