Jowett Car Books - History and Models (2/2)

The Jowett Bradford : Jowett's Unsung Hero

The Jowett Bradford was rushed into production in 1946 as a stop-gap model pending the launch of the all-new Javelin saloon, which its young designer, Gerald Palmer, had been working on since 1942. It was based on the 1938 8 hp commercial and was basically a pre-war design in every respect.
It was, however, very popular with farmers and small businesses such as bakers, greengrocers, fishmongers and drapers etc., as it was economical, cheap, rugged and simple to work on.

It was powered by the flat-twin horizontally-opposed 1005 cc engine, which was basically the same as the one fitted to the first prototype Jowett in 1906 with minor improvements, it was so antiquated when compared to the new Javelin saloon Jupiter sports car.
The Bradford was expected to be dropped from the range in 1951 but this never happened and it remained in production right up to the closure of the factory in 1954 when Jowett's ceased trading.
Ironically, it was the largest selling model that Jowett's ever produced with almost 40,000 being built.

The Jowett Jupiter - The Car That Leaped to Fame (New edition)

From the Jupiter's inception and development, to its sporting successes, and its current status as a sought-after classic, 'Jowett Jupiter - the Car that Leaped to Fame' is a unique book by Edmund Nankivell, the world authority on the Jupiter, and is a complete study of the model.

With its advanced chassis designed by Dr Eberan-Eberhorst, the noted Austrian engineer who was also responsible for designing the Auto Union Type D Grand Prix car, the Jowett Jupiter was an instant hit. Its responsive handling and lively engine made the Jupiter a great sporting success from the off, with a record-breaking win at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1950, and a class 1-2 win at the 1951 Monte Carlo International Rally.

This book covers the Jupiter's success across the board, revealing the full chronology of the model, its racing derivatives, and the special-bodied Jupiters from the likes of Stabilimenti Farina and Abbott of Farnham.
With chapters detailing Jupiters in current use, historic racing, and concours events, this new edition includes more images and updated information, and provides a comprehensive record of this fantastic, historic car.

Features:
- Covers the full Jupiter history, from inception to the present day
- This new edition includes brand new material and updated information
- Includes a full chronology of the Jupiter
- Examines the car's design features, and the designers who created them
- Includes details and photos of coach-bodied Jupiters
- Reveals the many interesting and important activities indulged in by Jupiter owners over the decades
- Full competition results, including many not recorded in the previous edition
- Lists every Jupiter built, along with its current status, where known.

Sporting Jowetts

In this compelling book looking at the sporting history of the Jowett company, Noel Stokoe has compiled an absorbing selection of thoroughly entertaining personal accounts by Jowett drivers in competition from 1906-1954, including the mammoth treks across Africa to the Le Mans class wins of the 1950s Jupiters and the rally successes of Javelins.

The beauty of this period was that in the early years after the war private individuals could enter prestigious events and stand a chance of doing reasonably well. Big business and corporate backers had not moved into the sport at that time, although sadly this situation did not last for long.
By the late 1950s the private entrant no longer stood any realistic chance against the 'big boys' and their corporate backers. However, the reminiscences of these local enthusiasts deciding to 'have a go' in pre-war trials and record attempts provides an engaging record of a time now past.

The Jowetts That Got Away

Jowett Cars were built in Bradford from 1906 to 1954. All pre-war cars up to 1935 were powered by a twin-cylinder horizontally-opposed 7-hp engine.
In 1935, a new four-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine was introduced with a 10-hp rating running alongside the original twin-cylinder model, which had been increased to an 8-hp rating.
Little changed during the pre-war period; many of the models were made in very small numbers, and sadly, there are no survivors today.

The Jowett brothers experimented in the mid-1930s with a new inline power unit, but it did not go into production. The post-war period saw massive changes in the Jowett company with both brothers retiring before the war.
The first all-new model was the Javelin saloon that was launched in 1947 and the Jupiter sportscar in 1950. By 1951, a new range of cars, vans, pick-up and estate cars, known as the Bradford CD range, was proposed, but only reached the prototype stage.

In 1953, a new Jupiter known at the R4 was launched just in time for the Motor Show, which was hoped to save the ailing company, but sadly, it was not to be with only three prototypes being built.
Unfortunately, none of these models materialised. Jowett's history could have been so different had fate been kinder to them.

• This is the first book to exclusively cover the various Jowett prototypes and proposed new models, which never found their way into full production.
• Several of the post-war proposed designs could have been Jowett's saviour had fate been kinder to them. If the company had more cash to invest in these designs, their fate could have been different.
• Profusely illustrated with high-quality photographs, many of which have not been published before.