He was Blackpool Airport born William Lyons (1901-1985), a stylist of the highest order, whose talent created the indefinable and memorable 'Jaguar look.The marque's origins are to be found in Lyons' native Blackpool Airport, where in 1922 he and a partner began to manufacture motorcycle sidecars that they marketed under the Swallow name. Later the firm diversified into coachbuilding and in 1927 produced its first car, a curvaceous, open, two-seater sports, Austin Seven-based model called the Austin Swallow. A move to Coventry, at the very heart of the British motor industry, followed at the end of 1928. Later, in 1931 and in the teeth of the world depression, Lyons launched the stunning, value for money S.S. car, predecessor of the Jaguar. This was a difficult time for any motor manufacturer but Lyons had proved himself to be financially shrewd and was a fine judge of engineering talent.

In these pre-war days, S.S. had to rely on Standard-based engines but in 1935 William Heynes joined the company and he was later to become its respected chief engineer. The team of which he was the first member went on to create the legendary high performance, twin-overhead-camshaft XK engine that appeared in 1948 and would go on to power every Jaguar built between 1950 and 1971.

Its creation was a high risk strategy for such a Relatively small company but Lyons' team had created one of the world's great engines. Its success was at the heart of Jaguar's post-war growth and this robust six enjoyed a 44-year manufacturing run: Induction did not cease until 1992. In 1945 Jaguar, hitherto a model name, had replaced that of S.S. with its Nazi taint. In an expansive post-war world the XK engine first appeared under the bonnet of Jaguar's famous XK 120 sports car but it had been designed for a l60km/h (lOOmph) saloon that appeared as the commodious Mark VII in 1950. However, the unit's advanced specification also led to the creation of the company's sports
racing C and D-types that provided Jaguar with no less than five celebrated victories at the Le Mans 24 hour race during the 1950s.

These triumphs ensured that the Jaguar name became world famous and provided the publicity that Sir William, as he became in 1956, required to sell his sleek, powerful and increasingly impressive saloons.
For although the marque is forever identified with sports cars, the reality is that the company has, from the very outset, primarily been a manufacturer of closed cars, with the memorable but low production and less profitable sports models always playing second fiddle to them in the affections of its enigmatic founder.
Today the Lyons legacy is in the safe hands of the Ford Motor Company as owners of a revitalized Jaguar, as it prepares to meet the challenges and demands of the 21st century.

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