1952 Jowett Jupiter – Chris Spencer

Jupiters were built in Bradford, West Yorkshire – built on spaceframe tubular chassis designed by Robert Eberan von Eberhorst of ERA fame (English Racing Automobiles).

They were powered by Jowett’s own 1500cc water cooled boxer / flat 4 engine which achieved 63 brake horse power through a 4-speed column change gearbox to a Sailsbury 3HA rear axle.

Both front and rear suspension was achieved through torsion bars. The body is largely alloy skinned over a steel superstructure with the bulkhead being the only steel outer panel. A number of rolling chassis were supplied to various coachbuilding companies who in turn designed and built their own bodies.

Jupiters in period were highly competitive with class wins at Le Mans in 1950, 1951 and 1952 along with an outright win in the 1951 Lisburn International Rally, Class win in the 1951 Monte Carlo Rally and many other domestic / international competition successes.

Chris purchased this example in a stripped condition in 2018 after many years of storage from the estate of a late Oxford based Jowett Car Club member. This is a factory bodied Jupiter which despite its appearance, is largely complete.

Jupiters are rare with only 904 built of which approximately half survive today. This particular car is destined for restoration over the coming years with most of the parts required now sourced and to hand.

Luckily the vehicle is now owned by Europe’s only Jupiter restoration specialist and we can’t want to see the results of Chris’ hard work when the restoration is complete.