Norman Dewis
| Norman Dewis OBE | |
|---|---|
|
Norman Dewis at the 2012 Millie Miglia. | |
| Born |
3 August 1920 Coventry, U.K. |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Chief test driver and development engineer |
| Children | 1 son |
Norman Dewis (OBE) (born 3 August 1920) was chief test driver and development engineer for Jaguar Cars from 1952 to 1985.[1]
Car development
Dewis participated in the development of the following cars:
- Jaguar XK140
- Jaguar XK150
- Jaguar C-type
- Jaguar D-type
- Jaguar Mark VIII
- Jaguar Mark IX
- Jaguar Mark II
- Jaguar E-type
- Jaguar XJ13
- Jaguar Mark X
- Jaguar XJ6
- Jaguar XJ-S
- Jaguar XJ40
Racing career
Dewis drove a Jaguar D-Type in the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Don Beauman. The car failed to finish the race, retiring 106 laps into the race.
Jabbeke XK120 record
Dewis was the test driver who, on 20 October 1953 at Jabbeke, Belgium, drove a Jaguar XK120 to 172.412 mph, a record for production cars. The car had several aerodynamic modifications, including a distinctive bubble-shaped, air-tight canopy from a glider aircraft. After the record run the Jaguar XK120 was converted back to a road car and sold by the company.
XJ13 crash
On 21 January 1971 at the MIRA high-speed circuit Dewis drove the only Jaguar XJ13 for a film promotiing the new V12 Jaguar E-type. Despite a damaged tyre, and against the instructions of Jaguar Director, Lofty England, the car was driven by Dewis at high speed. The tyre failed and the car crashed heavily, almost destroying it. Dewis was unharmed. The wreck of the car was put back into storage.[2]
Work for Jaguar in retirement
In 2014 Dewis was still attending events related to Jaguar and giving talks about his work for the company. In June 2016 he appeared on the BBC's Top Gear TV show with the Jaguar F-type SVR.
Honours
In the 2015 New Year Honours Dewis was invested as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Motor Industry.[3][4]
References
- ↑ "Jaguar legend to give talk at cancer event". Isle of Man Today. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
- ↑ "David Hobbs - Jaguar XJ13's Test Driver". UK. 2013.
- ↑ "New Year Honours: Ex-Jaguar test driver, 94, appointed OBE". BBC News. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/391413/New_Year_Honours_List_2015.pdf
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Norman Dewis. |