Sir William Lyons

Co-founder and chairman of Jaguar Cars who decided on 14 January 1957 to convert the remaining D-types into road-going XKSS cars.

Born in Blackpool on 4 September 1901, Lyons entered an apprenticeship at Crossley Motors in Manchester before working for Jackson Brothers, later Brown and Mallalieu, in Blackpool. With William Walmsley he signed the Swallow Sidecar partnership agreement on 21 November 1922, backdated to 11 September. Lyons handled paperwork, publicity and administration; Swallow moved to Cocker Street in 1926 and Holbrook Lane, Coventry, in 1928.

S.S. Cars Limited was registered on 26 October 1933; its shares opened on 11 January 1934, when Lyons became chairman and managing director. Walmsley gave notice on 28 November 1934. Lyons appointed William Heynes chief engineer on 1 April 1935. The SS Jaguar 2½-litre saloon was shown to the trade at London's Mayfair Hotel on 21 September 1935. On 23 March 1945, Lyons proposed changing S.S. Cars to Jaguar Cars Limited.

Lyons was knighted in the 1956 New Year Honours while chairman and managing director of Jaguar Cars. Jaguar announced its withdrawal from racing in 1956; on 14 January 1957 Lyons decided to convert the remaining 25 D-types into road-going XKSS cars for the United States. Sixteen were completed and nine chassis were destroyed in the Browns Lane fire of 12 February. Lyons retired from Jaguar Cars in March 1972 and died at Wappenbury Hall on 8 February 1985.