Anniversary of Lyons' retirement from Jaguar
It was 20 years ago today...
Sir William Lyons, founder of Jaguar Motors, retired as Chairman of Jaguar Cars on this day, 20 years ago.
Lyons got his start making motorcycle sidecars in Blackpool, England. In 1926, he co-founded the Swallow Sidecar and Coachbuilding Company with William Walmsley. Recognising the demand for automobiles, Lyons eventually built wooden frames for the Austin Seven Car, calling his creation the Austin Swallow.
Spurred on by the warm reception of his Austin Swallows, Lyons began building his own cars, which he called Standard Swallows. In 1934, his company, now SS Cars Ltd., released a line of cars called Jaguars. After WWII, Lyons dropped the "SS" initials for obvious reasons.
Jaguar Cars Ltd. went on to produce a number of exquisite sports cars and roadsters, among them the XK120, the D Type, and the E-Type. Perhaps Lyons' most monumental achievement, the E-Type was the fastest sports car in the world when it was released in 1961. With a top speed of 150mph and a zero to 60 of 6.5 seconds, the Jaguar made a remarkable 17 miles to the gallon and is revered as one of the most stunning looking car ever made, judging by the prices they still fetch.
In spite of Jaguar's distinguished record on the race track -- at least, until its recent Ford-hampered F1 outing -- the company is associated most with the beautiful lines of its car bodies -- appropriate considering Lyons's first offering to the automobile industry was a wooden frame bolted to another man's car.
Photo courtesy of Jaguar Cars
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