Jaguar

The company founders William Lyons and William Walmsey lived in the same street in Blackpool (GB). Their company is called 'Jaguar' since the time after the Second World War. The original name since the foundation in 1922 was Swallow Sidecars Company and it had decorated many noble vehicles. However, it could easily be mistaken with the character of Hitler's SS and wasn`t used any more after the Second World War. Instead, the name of one of their cars became the company name, the swallow turned into a South - American predator.

Both Walmsey and Lyons had different talents. The first ran a small company which altered German Army Triumph motorcycles for civil use and built awsome little aluminium bodies for side car frames, one per week. Since Lyons joined the company production grew to 10 per week. However, by that time they had already moved to a considerably bigger workshop and had founded their company using borrowed money.

The design of the sidecars was outstanding and so were the sales figures. Another move was due in 1926. Between the world wars people were better off again somehow and rather asked for 4 wheel vehicles instead of tricycles. Sure enough, styling had to be thrilling as well. Meanwhile the company name had changed slightly by adding the words" Car body construction". As a basis for their 4 wheel vehicle they used the Austin 8 like half of Europe did. Anyway, not every customer wanted his car to be mixed up with that low-cost model and so from 1927 onwards the sale of 2 - and four seated special editions was secured.