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ALOHA, CHAPS

An early Swallow Sidecar

Swallow Sidecar Company

was formed in Blackpool England

by William Lyons on his 21st Birthday,

 4th September, 1922.

 William Walmsley, nine year older,

was his equal partner.

The company was formed

 to produce

sidecars for motorcycles.

  Walmsley previously

  had a business
reconditioning WWI-surplus 

Triumph motorcycles

& fitting sidecars.

In spite of the economic stagnation

of the early 20's

the company bloomed 

after showing at

  the 1923 Motorcycle Show.

  By 1926 growth was sufficient

to enable the company to move 

into larger premises 

and to change their name

to Swallow Sidecar and

Coachbuilding Company.

In 1927 the company announced

the Austin Swallow Two-Seater 
an
automobile!

Lyons quickly gained orders

for close to 500 of the cars.

By 1934,  the newly formed
SS Cars Ltd

was an automobile manufacturer 

and subsidiary of Swallow.

One car that William Lyons

was not fond of was

the Airline Saloon - 

regarding it as a passing fashion.

He was correct.

Streamlining wasn't in fashion
in the UK

so the more modern
Airline Saloon

kept flowing wings

and separate headlamps

but had a rounded tail 

usually referred to as a fastback.

The windows also extended

towards the rear

and it had a boot
(or "trunk" in America).

Maximum speed was 80 mph.

 This car was only produced 
for two years.

Today
it is a sought after model

by collectors.

Have you guessed 

the familiar name 

of the cars

that we are talking about?

( ! )

Jaguar XF

Historic information courtesy of Jag-Lovers

Thank YOU for motoring by!

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                                                                                                 Warmly, cloudia