Most Jaguar and British classic motor car aficionados and enthusiasts will insist in a doggedly determined fashion and manner that the Jaguar automobile lineage started with the most famous founder of Jaguar itself Sir William Lyons. This is true in classic automotive history mythology yet not 100 % fully accurate. The real honest truth is that the person who provided the inspiration & impetus for Lyon’s drive into automotive & automobile manufacturing was yet another British subject as named “Bill”. Bill number 2 was a close geographic neighbor of the Lyon’s family in Blackpool, the popular seaside resort on England’s northwest coast. His name was in actuality was William Walmsley and a year or two before he met the later Sir. William Lyons, he had been involved with the making of and manufacturing of side cars for motorcycles.

These were very different to the wicker basket contraptions most often seen in early 1920s – the bullet shaped motorized basket side contraptions. What was unique about Walmey’s cyclist carrying devices is that they were made of highly polished aluminum metal in construction and on top of that were most stylish indeed. When the Walmsleys moved from Stockport of King Edward Ave, Blackpool, the young Lyons, living on the same road, could not fail to note and take notice when a fully completed example was parked outside on the road side. Bill Lyons was already a most keen motorcycle enthusiast and solid motorcyclist. At that point in time apparently American brands were considered on par and up to snuff with good British machines. Bill Lyons the future progenitor of Jaguar had in his stable of vehicles with a Harley Davidson “Daytona Special” and an “Indian” US made product among his favorites. Read the rest of this entry »