Javelin Jupiter Seat Configuration

[Mike Allfrey]

At the recent AOMC British and European Motoring Show, with my Jupiter on display, I was approached by a Jensen fellow who (well, his tee shirt was identifying him as a Jensen owner). His first claim about incorrectness with regard to my Jupiter related to the seat. In not having a fold-down centre arm rest. I informed him that the original seat was exactly the same as the one now in the car. He was emphatic that the red Jupiter he owned in the 1960s in England, most definitely featured a centre arm rest. I could not argue with that! That episode made me wonder if the SC model did have an arm rest?

On the same day, I was questioned about the JAVELIN/Jupiter bonnet motif. Surely they were all JOWETT/JUPITER motifs? Mine is original and is of a one-piece brass casting. It has been crudely filed at its front under surface, presumably to match the curve of the bonnet. That motif and the fuel filler cap are the only two chrome plated parts of E0 SA 42R that have not been re-plated.

Australian Joe Public (Victorian version) Jowett knowledge:

1. "Jowett? . . . They copied Subaru, didn't they?"

2. "Flat four . . . it has to be air-cooled then."

3. "So, it uses a VW Boxer engine, so spare parts must be really easy."

Oh dear! Those are typical comments that we are now fielding in these times of enlightenment.

It was a hot day, 32 degrees C in the shade and second gear traffic conditions for about twelve and a half miles, but, unlike others, my Jupiter did not overheat at all.

Regards,

Mike Allfrey.

[Chris Spencer]

Mike - I have never come across a Jupiter with a fold down armrest in the seat in any location regardless of SA or SC models - I wonder if the gent making the comment was getting confused between the Javelin & Jupiter - Javelin Delux models model's do have a centre fold down armrest but on Javelin Standard models this was delated - to further clarify you could not fit the Javelin seat to the Jupiter either - the Javelin seat is way too large to fit a Jupiter along with the fact that the rear upstand of the seat is fixed and does not fold on a hinge like that of the Jupiter

I can confirm that some Jupiter's do have Javelin / Jupiter bonnet motif's (I have one and it's factory original)

[Mike Allfrey]

Hello Chris,

Regarding the seat, my thoughts exactly - but the fellow was so emphatic about the matter. Down here, there are not many Jupiters with the correct seat configuration. The favoured seats seem to be MG 'A' along with smaller steering wheels.

Re the bonnet motif, I am wondering how many single piece motifs there were. I should have looked more closely during the 2000 Pitlochry Rally!

Nice to see you have a Rover P6B, I really regret selling mine last year. On the open road it was a fantastic consumer of kilometres, at a rapid rate - especially on dawn runs through the Great Dividing Range.

Regards,

Mike A.

[dougie]

Hi Mike,
Don't we all love an armchair expert.
I have an original seat and steering wheel.
Like you I have never seen a centre arm rest.
Brian moved my steering wheel 80mm forward and shifted the gear lever to the floor for sprint events on tight circuits.
The standard wheel was retained and the seat.
The race harness lap crosses over for mounting to keep my ample arse in place when hard cornering.
I also have a Javelin Jupiter motif although I have seen Jowett Jupiter ones.
I had a guy convinced and adamant that the water pump pully was a supercharger. I has to lift the bonnet before he would believe me.
Even after telling him that I had owned the car for 30 years at that time he wouldn't believe me.
Have you ever been told that it is front wheel drive?? lol
Hope you are and stay well mate.
Doug

[114]

Ours is a very original 51, no114. Javelin Jupiter badge, & no armrest (Or bonnet louvres!)

[Mike Allfrey]

Thanks Doug and 114,

First, Doug please pass on my thanks to Elissa for all the secretarial work for JCCA, it was appreciated.

Second, I am still wondering how many one-piece bonnet motifs are out there?

Third, 114, it is understood that my Jupiter had the bonnet louvres installed at the factory when it returned from Holland. They are separate pieces that were originally counter-sunk riveted into openings cut into the bonnet top. In my youth, I drilled out the rivets to clean up some corrosion and then replaced them with slightly larger round head rivets - probably influenced by Railton and Invicta which featured 'rivets along the bonnet'. When the engine is idling on a warm day, a fair amount of heated air comes out of the vents, but on the wrong side of the glass for demisting!

Currently, down here we are under Stage IV restrictions, due to the Plague, so our Jupiter has not had much use lately. Apparently older cars are seen by our police as purely recreational vehicles and, therefore, arouse non-conforming interest with regard to the lock-down rules.

Stay well every one,

Mike A.