Following two seasons of Formula Two competition using Cooper T43 and T45 chassis, Brian Naylor elected to enter Formula One for the 1959 season. To facilitate this transition, Fred Wilkinson constructed the JBW Type 1. The design was heavily influenced by contemporary Cooper machinery, featuring a mid-engine layout with the powerplant situated behind the driver.
The car was initially fitted with a naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter Maserati four-cylinder engine. Power was delivered to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission. The JBW-Maserati made its competitive debut on 2 May 1959, at the non-championship BRDC International Trophy at Silverstone. Naylor arrived too late to set a qualifying time and subsequently retired from the race on lap 41 due to a gearbox failure.
The JBW-Maserati entered the World Championship stage at the 1959 British Grand Prix held at Aintree. During qualifying, Naylor outperformed established drivers including Tony Brooks, Jack Fairman, and Ivor Bueb. However, the car's mechanical reliability proved a recurring issue, and the transmission failed after 18 laps. The 1959 season concluded with a failure to qualify for the Gold Cup at Oulton Park following a practice accident.
In 1960, the car achieved its first full-distance finish at the International Trophy on 14 May. Despite qualifying in 25th and last position, Naylor progressed through the field to finish 11th. This momentum did not immediately translate to the World Championship, as the team failed to qualify for the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix.
The 1960 British Grand Prix marked the high point for the chassis. After qualifying 18th, Naylor drove the JBW-Maserati to a 13th-place finish, the best Championship result in the car's history. This was followed by an 11th-place finish at the non-championship Silver City Trophy at Brands Hatch. At the 1960 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the car demonstrated significant pace, with Naylor qualifying in 7th position. The race ended in disappointment, however, when the gearbox failed on lap 42. The remainder of the 1960 season, including the United States Grand Prix and two non-championship events, resulted in early retirements.
The mechanical fragility of the JBW-Maserati, particularly regarding its transmission, defined much of its competitive life. While the car showed flashes of qualifying speed—notably outperforming factory-supported entries at Aintree in 1959 and securing a third-row start at Monza in 1960—it rarely possessed the durability to capitalize on these positions. The gearbox failure at the 1960 Italian Grand Prix remains the most significant instance of a high-grid start being neutralized by mechanical attrition.
The JBW-Maserati's record is characterized by a high rate of retirement. In its four World Championship starts, it failed to score points, with its 13th place at the 1960 British Grand Prix standing as its statistical peak. In 1961, the car was adapted for Intercontinental Formula events and occasionally fitted with a downscaled 1.5-liter Maserati engine for specific non-championship races. These outings did not yield improved results, as Naylor failed to finish in every Intercontinental appearance.
While primarily recognized for its Formula One and Formula Libre participation, the JBW Type 1 was designed with versatility in mind, appearing in both open-wheel and closed-wheel configurations during its operational life. Its participation outside the World Championship included various non-championship Grands Prix and Intercontinental Formula events across the 1959–1961 period.
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