Walter Hassan

Walter Hassan OBE, C.Eng., M.I. Mech.E.(1905–1996) was a distinguished UK automotive engineer who took part in the design and development of three very successful engines: Jaguar XK, Coventry Climax and Jaguar V12 as well as the ERA racing car.

Walter Thomas Frederick Hassan was born in London 25 April 1905. His father, of Irish descent, owned a clothes store in Holloway, North London. His natural interest was always in mechanical things. As it was told, his uncle encouraged him to be a creator since his uncle was building model ships.

He studied at Northern Polytechnic (now the University of North London) and then Hackney Technical Institute of Engineering. The Regent Street Polytechnic (now incorporated into the University of Westminster) has also been named.

Hassan's first job was as a 15 yr-old shop boy in W. O. Bentley's newly founded Bentley Motors, employee No. 14. He was a fitter in the engine shop then in the chassis shop gaining a complete experience of the 3 litre cars then in production.

He eventually moved to road testing working under the head of experimental department (Today's R&D) Frank Clement, the company's professional racing driver, and was a riding mechanic in some races. Off-season he was part of the Bentley Motors service department.

Establishing himself as the best Bentley mechanic he was allotted to Woolf Barnato, their top driver and Bentley Motors chairman and shareholder. They established a close and lasting friendship.

After it was put into liquidation and taken over by Rolls-Royce Limited at the end of 1931 Hassan left Bentley Motors and worked for Barnato. In 1933 he started to build a racing car, it would become known as Barnato Hassan, and was one of the fastest cars ever to lap Brooklands. Later he developed a car for Bill Pacey, named Pacey Hassan. It was a success on the British racing circuits in the 1936 season. By now he had become a family man and accordingly sought out more stable employment. He had married in 1933 and they were to have four children.

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