JOWETT JUPITER One of the bigger surprises of the post-Second World War British motor industry was t

Called the Javelin, its potential encouraged the production of a sports version, using as many Javelin parts as possible. Initial development was undertaken in 1949 by ERA, and the prototype was called the ERA-Javelin, with Prof Ing Eberan Eber-horst (joint designer of the 1938-39 Grand Prix Auto Union), contributing the chassis. The integral structure of the Javelin could not be adapted for use in an open two-seater, so an early tubular space-type frame was built, incorporating Jowett's torsion bar springing and with the flat-four engine 'hung' at the forward end of a sturdy bridge which also supported the front suspension. A remote-control gear lever and rack-and-pinion steering were employed, the overall build was markedly lower than the Javelin, and with a weight of 940kg the new sports Jowett could approach 145kph (90mph), coupled with excellent acceleration and road-

Specification Engine: flat-four; 72.5 x 90mm, 1486cc; pushrod ohv; twin Zenith carburettors; 62.5bhp at 4500rpm. RI competition — as above, but 70bhp. Gearbox: four-speed all-synchromesh manual. Chassis: tubular frame; front suspension independent by wishbones, longitudinal torsion bars, dampers and anti-roll bar; rear suspension by rigid axle, transverse torsion bars, trailing arms, dampers and anti-roll bar; four-wheel Girling drum brakes. Dimensions: wheelbase 236cm/93in; front track 130cm/51in; rear track 124cm/49in.

The company put it into production in 1950 as the Jupiter, simultaneously embarking on a competition programme which produced success almost first time out, when one won the 1+-litre class at Le Mans. The lessons of racing were applied both to the standard Javelin and the Jupiter, which appeared in 70bhp competition form in 1951 as the R1, less comely with cycle-type wings and narrow lower-drag body, but both lighter and faster. It enjoyed a splendid season, scoring class wins in the Sebring 12-hour, Le Mans 24-hour, Dun-drod TT and Watkins Glen races, while standard Jupiters scored a one-two class victory in the Monte Carlo Rally. In 1952 the R1 scored Jowett's third successive 11-litre class victory at Le Mans. Unfortunately, the situation at Jowett deteriorated in 1953, and although at Earls Court the company showed a new fibreglass-bodied sports prototype — the Jupiter R4 —with electric fan-cooled engine, box-section frame and semi-elliptic rear springing, this car never went into production. In the following year, almost unbelievably, the courageous Bradford company had to close down after almost 50 enterprising years in the motor industry.