William Lyons Founder of Jaguar Cars Limited Date of Birth: 04.09.1901 Country: Great Britain

Biography of William Lyons

William Lyons, often referred to as Mr. Jaguar, was the founder of Jaguar Cars Limited. Born in Blackpool, England in 1901, Lyons grew up in a family that owned a music store. Despite being surrounded by music from a young age, Lyons developed a passion for motorcycles. One of his friends, William Walmsley, shared the same interest and repaired motorcycles.

After finishing school, Lyons went to study at Crossley Motors in Manchester to pursue an engineering education. However, he never completed his studies and instead started working at an automobile salon in Blackpool. During this time, Walmsley began experimenting with creating his own sidecars for motorcycles. When Lyons purchased one of Walmsley's sidecars and was impressed with the idea, he proposed a partnership. With the support and blessing of their fathers, the two friends took a £500 loan from a bank and founded the Swallow Sidecars company.

The business started off successfully, with the friends finding a sales manager and enthusiastically producing motorcycle sidecars made from the revolutionary material of the time – aluminum. By the late 1920s, they had designed a car body for Austin. Lyons and Walmsley eventually owned a significant car body manufacturing enterprise, and as demand for their products continued to grow, they began considering the construction of their own automobile brand, not just the production of car bodies.

In 1931, on the wave of their success, the friends moved their production to Coventry and established the Standard Motors Company. Their first own models were named SS-I and SS-II, but the real triumph was yet to come. In 1935, the famous Jaguar was unveiled to the world, with Lyons choosing the animal as the company's logo due to its strength, speed, and grace. During the war, the company received military orders mainly for motorcycles and sidecars. Their pre-war development was the 1938 Jaguar model. Only in 1948 did Lyons and Walmsley present the world with a new Jaguar, which was soon recognized as the best sports car.

Originally, the company's name included the letters 'SS' from Swallow Sidecars, but Lyons later decided that they had negative connotations associated with fascists and renamed the company Jaguar Cars Limited. Lyons served as the managing director of the company for many years, and those who worked under him described him as authoritarian, strong-willed, and not allowing any liberties among employees. However, the company thrived under his leadership.

By the 1960s, British Jaguar cars had conquered the American market. These cars were not cheap but were renowned for their quality, reliability, and speed. In 1956, Lyons, known as Mr. Jaguar, was knighted for his contributions to the British industry. He retired in 1967 when his company merged with the British Motor Corporation to form the British Motor Holdings, which later merged with British Leyland.

Jaguar cars continued to be renowned as the epitome of British automotive engineering. They were purchased by celebrities, politicians, and even royalty. Lyons had to fight with the new management, particularly defending the interests of the technical department of his brainchild. In the early 1970s, he completely stepped away from the company and began to enjoy his retirement. He took up golf, traveled, and started breeding sheep and gardening.

William Lyons passed away in 1985 at his home in Worcestershire. His wife, Lady Greta Lyons, whom he married in 1924, survived him by only a year. They had three children – a son and two daughters.