Swallow Sidecars started when William Lyons saw potential in the motorcycle sidecars built by his friend William Walmsley. Production geared up, and in 1926 they branched into coachbuilding with a body on the Austin seven chassis. The Austin Seven Swallow body was designed by Cyril Holland, and the two seater was followed by a saloon. From 1927 the company was known as 'Swallow Coachbuilding Company' and as sales increased production moved to Coventry to be closer to the suplliers. Swallow bodies could be ordered for Standard, Swift and Fiat, and then commissioned the Standard Motor Company to suplly him with a chassis and engine which he turned into the SS 1 for the 1931 London Motor Show. In 1934 the company became 'SS Cars Ltd' and then renamed as 'Jaguar Cars Ltd' in the aftermath of the second World war. Swallow Coachbuilding continued to build sidecars and were sold off in 1945. Tube Investments bought up Swallow in 1946 and in 1954-55 they marketed their own Doretti sports car built on Triumph TR2 components.