1951 Jowett Jupiter Special by Coachcraft

Jowett achieved very notable successes with the Jupiter including a record breaking class win at the 1950 Le Mans 24 Hour race and repeated the feat in 1951 and 52. Hardly surprising because Jowett had input from ERA and an ex Auto Union engineer to develop the chassis. The flat four 1486 cc engine produced good power and complimented the torsionally stiff chassis. Offered here is a Jowett Jupiter Special by Coachcraft with the most fascinating history and the distinction of being a period Goodwood saloon car winner in 1954. The continuous line of ownership reads like a "boys own annual' of adventurers, engineers and an F1 World Champion. It is also totally original and covered only 34,000 miles in its sixty-three year history. This Special Jupiter was ordered by a Mr Chaplin in 1950 for competition use and was displayed as a chassis at the Earls Court Motor Show. On November 9th it was delivered to HM Bentley & Partners of London as a rolling chassis for fitment of the FHC body by Coachcraft of Egham. It was equipped with the Series III engine, with race crankshaft, special 4:2 axle ratio and right hand floor mounted gear change. Second owner from 1952-53 was Bryan Winslett of Wade Supercharger fame. Third owner from 1953-54 was Ian Forbes test pilot for the Miles Aircraft Company. In competition use he was 2nd at Brand Hatch in 1954 but on May 1st won the BARC Saloon Car Handicap race at Goodwood. Fourth owner was Bryan Winslett again from 1954-55. Fifth owner was Bob Graves of Cosworth Engineering from 1955-1966. Sixth owner was Roger Gambell from 1966 - 1990. Seventh owner was John Surtees OBE who owned the Jupiter from 1990 - 2012, a keen Jowett fan and his first car was a Jupiter. Remarkably this Jowett Jupiter Special remains in the same conditions as its day in the "spotlight' in May 1954 at Goodwood. Surely it deserves a trip to its "spiritual' home and at todays guide offers a unique opportunity.