The fate of the CD Bradfords

Sir,

I note the reference to the CD Bradford vehicles which Jowett Cars Ltd. were running in prototype form when car production ceased at Idle in 1954.

I visited the Jowett works on many occasions during the last six years or so prior to the closing of the Batley factory at the end of 1963, and the prototype private-car version of the CD Bradford was in fact in use there by the staff up till about eighteen months before the closure at Batley.

About five examples of the “CD” were being used at one time by Jowett Engineering Ltd., as the firm then was—three pick-up trucks, a station-wagon and the saloon car.

By this time all of these had been fitted with Javelin engine and gearboxes, all the i.o.e. engines having disappeared. Being prototypes, body parts and some of the running gear were presumably non-existent as spare parts, and one by one each of these vehicles was dismantled to supply parts for the remainder.

When the closure came at Batley late in 1963 only one, a pick-up, remained and this was in poor condition, having been sadly neglected. This example I eventually managed to purchase and intend, when time permits, to restore it to good health. At this time, also, the body shell of the saloon car was still lying around outside the factory, and this I tried to obtain also. Unhappily the distance involved in transporting it delayed any decision, and next thing I knew it had been cut up for scrap. A great pity.

About 15 or so CD Models were actually produced, and a number of them were sold new to New Zealand. Two examples are registered with the Jowett Club of New Zealand, one of them— a station-wagon—being fitted from new with an R4 Jupiter engine! It is also rumoured that an example exists in New Zealand still fitted with the i.o.e. engine. Should this be so it will almost certainly be the only example of this unit in existence.

As far as I know the pick-up mentioned above is the only example surviving in Britain.

Kinross.
George M. Mitchell.