The Jupiter's rear-hinged bonnet opened together with the front wings, and its class win at Le Mans in 1950 set a record.
Lead trim: Jupiter Mk1 1486 cc flat-four (60 bhp) · up to 63 hp
Jowett JupiterMk1/Mk1a · 1950–1954
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FactThe Jupiter's rear-hinged bonnet opened together with the front wings, and its class win at Le Mans in 1950 set a record.
The Jowett Jupiter is a British sports car produced by Jowett Cars Ltd of Idle from 1950 to 1954 (about 900 made), using the Javelin's power train in a sports car for export in the hope of increasing Jowett's inadequate steel allocation; the chassis was shown at the London Motor Show in September 1949 and the complete car in New York in April 1950 (initially the Javelin Jupiter, the Javelin part of the name dropped in February 1951). Designer Eberan von Eberhorst, formerly of Auto Union, developed at ERA the tubular steel chassis (which proved to need strengthening), with soft torsion bars, independent front suspension and the engine mounted far forward; Reg Korner of Jowett fitted a steel-framed aluminium drophead coupé body seating three on a bench, with no external boot access and a rear-hinged bonnet that opened with the wings. An initial 75 chassis went to external coachbuilders (Farina, Ghia Suisse, Abbott of Farnham and others) before Jowett built its own complete cars: 731 Mk1 and 94 Mk1a, the Mk1a of late 1952 having a little more power (63 bhp) and a larger boot. The 1486 cc flat-four was more highly tuned than the Javelin's, with compression raised from 7.2:1 to 8.0:1 and 60 bhp at 4500 rpm, for 85 mph and 0-50 mph in 11.7 seconds. It won its class at Le Mans in 1950 (record-breaking), 1951 and 1952, took a class one-two in the 1951 Monte Carlo Rally and won the 1951 Lisbon Rally outright. Wheelbase 93 in (2,400 mm), length 163 in (Series 1) or 168 in (Series 1a), width 62 in (1,600 mm), height 56 in (1,400 mm), curb weight 2,100 lb (953 kg).
Collectors Spotted in the Jowett Jupiter Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Jowett Jupiter yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
2 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jupiter Mk1 1486 cc flat-four (60 bhp) | 1950–1952 | 1.5 L Flat-4 | 60 hp | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jupiter Mk1a 1486 cc flat-four (63 bhp) | 1952–1954 | 1.5 L Flat-4 | 63 hp | — | — | — | — | — |
Owning one
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Owners’ builds
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Photographs
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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