Automotive Trivia

Jaguar

1.     Originator of Jaguar was William Walmsley and William Lyons starting with the “Swallow” motorcycle sidecar in 1922.

2.     “Swallow”, later made auto bodies to fit Austin , Fiat and Standard chassis and running gear.

3.     “Swallow” later made its own chassis and body naming it, “SS Swallow”. Then dropping “Swallow” to call it just “SS”.

4.     In 1935 the name “Jaguar” was added to the “SS” calling it “SS Jaguar 100”. The name “Jaguar” was already in use so permission had to be obtained from the aircraft engine manufacture that had it. The engine for the car was a 2.7 liter Westlake OHV from the “Standard Co.”

5.     The “SS” was soon dropped due to the stigma associated with the Nazi SS.

6.     By 1937 a 3.5, 2.7 and a 1.8 liter OHV engines had been available in the Jaguar. Also in 1937 the first all steel body on Jaguar was produced.

7.     After WW II Jaguar designed their own engine, purchasing two Pratt & Whitney borers to cut the cam bores in the head of their new DOHC six cylinder engine.

8.     The only four cylinder engine Jaguar ever made was a proto-type DOHC 2.0 liter with 146 BHP @ 6000 RPM. The car was tested at a track in Belgium at 176 MPH.  The car was designated, “XK 100” (September, 1948)

9.     In 1948 the “Mk-5” was first Jaguar produced with independent front suspension and all hydraulic brakes.

10.                        In 1953, the “Mk-7” was the first Jaguar with an automatic transmission.

11.                        The “C-Type” Jaguar was a race car and the “C” was for “Competition”,   The “D-Type” was the next race car and “D” was just the next letter in the alphabet.

12.                        “XK-120” Jaguar (“XK” was the engine designation and “120” referred to it would run 120 MPH.

13.                        “XK-140” Jaguar again the “XK” was the engine designation and “140” referred to 140 MPH.