Jowett Jupiter - The Car That Leaped To Fame

There was a time when British motor manufacturers were perfectly capable of producing something genuinely brilliant, only to discover that commercial success required rather more than engineering ingenuity, sporting triumphs and an enthusiastic gentleman in a tweed jacket. The Jowett Jupiter was one such creation: an extraordinary little sports car that proved a modest Yorkshire manufacturer could take on the world, provided nobody asked too many awkward questions about the balance sheet.

In Jowett Jupiter – The Car That Leaped to Fame (1981), Edmund Nankivell tells the fascinating story of one of Britain’s most distinctive and unjustly overlooked post-war sports cars. Published by Batsford, this is a celebration of automotive ambition, mechanical originality and the rather touching belief that building an excellent motor car would somehow guarantee a profitable business.

Introduced in 1950 by Jowett Cars of Bradford, the Jupiter was an unlikely sporting hero. Equipped with a horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine, advanced chassis engineering and a distinctly individual appearance, it was hardly the conventional British sports car. Nevertheless, it demonstrated a remarkable talent for endurance racing, achieving class victories at Le Mans and establishing a reputation that considerably exceeded the size of its manufacturer’s advertising budget.

Here was a vehicle capable of embarrassing considerably more glamorous machinery, despite originating from a company better known for producing dependable family cars in Yorkshire. It was the automotive equivalent of a respectable provincial accountant turning up at the Monte Carlo Casino and unexpectedly winning the evening.

Nankivell explores the Jupiter’s development, competition achievements and remarkable place in British motoring history, recalling an era when manufacturers were willing to experiment with engineering ideas rather than merely install increasingly elaborate entertainment systems. The Jupiter offered individuality, performance and genuine sporting credentials, although its commercial prospects were less impressive than its ability to negotiate a racing circuit.

Sadly, Jowett’s extraordinary adventure was relatively short-lived, and production ended in the early 1950s. The Jupiter remains a fascinating reminder of what British engineering could achieve when imagination briefly outran financial caution.

Condition: Good. This is a previously owned copy dating from 1981, displaying the ordinary signs of age and handling that accompany a book with more than four decades behind it. Unlike certain classic British motor cars, it should not require a complete mechanical rebuild before providing enjoyment.

Published by Batsford in 1981. ISBN: 0713438355.

Offered by Crappy Old Books, specialists in giving interesting old books another opportunity to demonstrate their usefulness, preferably without the need for specialist tools, replacement gaskets or a sympathetic bank manager.

An appealing addition to any collection of British motoring history, obscure sports cars or splendid commercial misadventures. Particularly recommended for enthusiasts who appreciate the peculiar romance of a small Yorkshire manufacturer building a car capable of conquering Le Mans, yet somehow failing to conquer the considerably less glamorous business of staying in business.

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