Jowett Jupiter
| Jowett Jupiter | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Jowett Cars Ltd |
| Production | 1950–1954. about 900 made |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style | 2-seater drophead coupé wind-up windows |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Jowett flat four, 1486 cc |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 93 in (2,400 mm) |
| Length | Series 1 163 in (4,100 mm) Series 1a 168 in (4,300 mm) |
| Width | 62 in (1,600 mm) |
| Height | 56 in (1,400 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2,100 lb (953 kg) |
The Jowett Jupiter is a British car which was produced by Jowett Cars Ltd of Idle, near Bradford.
Following the launch of the all new Jowett Javelin and its successes in competition, Jowett decided to use its power train in a sports car for export in the hope of increasing their inadequate steel allocation.
The chassis only was displayed in October at the London Motor Show which opened 28 September 1949 and the complete car for the first time in New York in April 1950. Again the chassis only was given its continental launch at the Geneva Motor Show which opened 16 March 1950. It continued in production until 1954.
Jowett through Lawrence Pomeroy of The Motor joined forces with ERA and they persuaded Eberan von Eberhorst, formerly with Auto Union, to come to England. He joined ERA in Dunstable and, amongst other projected development and chassis work, designed and developed what became the Jupiter's tubular steel chassis. The suspension used soft torsion bars and anti-roll bars front and rear with independent suspension at the front. The engine was mounted very far forward ahead of the front axle line with the radiator low behind it over the gearbox. Adjustment of the anti-roll bars easily influenced oversteer and understeer to provide fine suspension tuning. On this torsionally stiff frame Reg Korner of Jowett put a steel framed aluminium drophead coupé body with a bench seat for three people. Eberan's chassis had been designed for a closed coupé and it proved to require strengthening. The anti-roll bars were abandoned. There was no external access to the boot (trunk) and the bonnet (hood) was rear hinged and opened complete with the wings. These cars were only for export, it was hoped coachbuilders would supply the local market.
An initial 75 chassis were supplied to external coachbuilders such as Stabilimenti Farina, Ghia Suisse, Abbott of Farnham and others in Britain. The high cost of these, mostly handsome, bodies for what was only a 1500 c.c. car obliged Jowett to build their own complete cars. The Jowett factory made 731 Mk1 and 94 Mk1a cars. The Mk 1a came out in late 1952 with a little more power (63 bhp) and an opening lid to a boot of larger capacity.
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