Jowett Bradford

Motor vehicle

Jowett Bradford

Overview
Manufacturer	Jowett Cars Ltd
Production	1946–1953. 38,241 made ^[1]
Body and chassis
Body style	van, estate
Layout	FR
Related	Jowett 8^[2]
Powertrain
Engine	Jowett side-valve flat twin, 1005 cc^[3]
Transmission	3-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,286 mm (90 in) ^[3]^[4]
Length	3,658 mm (144 in) ^[4]
Width	1,524 mm (60 in) ^[3]^[4]
Height	1,753 mm (69 in) ^[4]

The Jowett Bradford was a British light van produced from 1946 to 1953 by Jowett Cars Ltd of Idle, near Bradford, England. It was also available as an estate car from 1947 to 1953.

The vehicle was based on the pre-war Jowett Eight^[2] and was the first Jowett to be re-introduced after the Second World War. Although it was very basic, the Bradford's economy and availability appealed to the post-war market.

Design features

The chassis featured half-elliptic leaf springs front and rear with beam axles. The front-mounted flat-twin engine produced 19 bhp (14 kW) and drove the rear wheels through a three-speed non-synchromesh gearbox. In 1950 the engine was updated to give 25 bhp (19 kW)^[4] and synchromesh was fitted to the top ratio. This improved the top speed to 53 mph (85 km/h). The 10 in (254 mm) drum brakes were operated mechanically using a Girling system.

Body variants

Initially only a 10 cwt van version was made but in 1947 it was joined by an estate car, the Utility.^{[citation needed]} This was little more than the van with side windows and rear seats. By 1951 the Utility was offered in two versions: Utility and Utility De Luxe, with the latter having better trim, including a rear bumper and side footsteps.^[5] Both utilities were also offered as a '4-light van', with windows but no rear seats, to avoid the high purchase tax on private cars.^[5] The Bradford was also manufactured as a light lorry,^[5] as would later be described as a pickup truck.

Driveaway-chassis and cab-chassis versions were made for outside coachbuilders, in which form it sold in large numbers at home and abroad.^{[citation needed]}

Performance

A Utility de-luxe tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1952 had a top speed of 53.4 mph (85.9 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–50 mph (80 km/h) in 47.6 seconds. A fuel consumption of 34.5 miles per imperial gallon (8.2 L/100 km; 28.7 mpg_‑US) was recorded. The test car cost £740 including taxes. The de-luxe specification, which included trafficators, dual windscreen wipers, running boards, a rear bumper and some chromium plating, added £38 to the total cost.^[4]

Development

A saloon and a pickup with inlet-over-exhaust cylinder heads was being developed when Jowett stopped making cars and vans.^[3]

Gallery

1951 10 cwt (½ ton) lorry
10 cwt (½ ton) van registered October 1948
van to "station wagon" private conversion registered March 1952
standard 6-light van or Utility Car either 2 or 4 seats registered March 1948 Stondon Museum
de luxe Utility Car with three rows of two seats and like the standard model 8 cwt springs
Rolling chassis of a 1948 van
ice cream van in Liverpool
badge
badge
1952 Bradford By Jowett van

References

^ Sedgwick, M.; Gillies, M. (1986). A-Z of Cars 1945–1970. Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-39-7.
^ ^a ^b Culshaw, David; Horrobin, Peter (2013) [1974]. "Jowett". The Complete Catalogue of British Cars 1895–1975 (e-book ed.). Veloce Publishing. pp. 188–189. ISBN 978-1-845845-83-4.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Culshaw & Horrobin, The Complete Catalogue of British Cars 1895–1975, "Bradford", p. 373
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "The Bradford Utility de-luxe". The Motor. 23 June 1952.
^ ^a ^b ^c 4 famous Bradfords, Jowett sales leaflet (1951)