Rare example of a coachbuilt Jowett Jupiter.
One of only six made with Richard Mead bodywork.
Long-term ownership with known history from new.
Offered at No Reserve.

One of the rarest and most attractive of the coachbuilt Jowett Jupiters came from Richard Mead of Dorridge, Warwickshire. Mead’s father F W Mead was the co-founder of the Rhode Motor Company in Birmingham, who manufactured cars between 1921 and 1931. Richard Mead bodied various different chassis, including Bristol, Allard and Lea Francis and ultimately made six Jowett Jupiters, of which four are understood to survive and just three (one in England, one in New Zealand and the car offered here) are thought to remain on the road.

Thanks to the help of the Jowett club, the Jupiter has known history from new; produced on July 5, 1951 the chassis delivered to a customer of Mead’s, there was a description of the car published in The Autocar on June 20, 1952. First registered in the UK on August 1 the following year as ‘MBM 305’, a replacement logbook was issued in the name of the first owner Allen Raymond Neale of Acton, W3 in 1959. The next owner was John Neil James of Epping, Essex in 1966, followed shortly afterwards by Dr William Hampson of Derbyshire, who reportedly bought the Jowett in early 1967 as a stopgap while his MG T-series received an overhaul. Dr Hampson became so attached to the car he sold the MG and kept it until 1975. Passing to someone in the Bristol area, the Jupiter fell into disuse and was apparently damaged by vandals in 1994. An article published in The Automobile magazine in May 2009 features the car in rough state. Subsequently owned by Allan Sparrow and Graham Berry, the latter undertook the initial restoration and had the car back on the road by 2010.

The current owner’s father purchased the Jowett in 2012 and shipped it to Australia, whereupon he carried out extensive refurbishment to bring the car up to the present standard. Attractively presented in light metallic blue with contrasting red leather upholstery, the Mead body has particularly attractive lines compared with a production Jupiter. At some stage the original engine was lost and replacement unit from a Javelin has been fitted. Garaged in South Australia since the vendor’s father passed away, the car starts easily and runs well but could use a little mechanical fettling due to the lack of use.

The Jowett comes with good history file including the aforementioned logbook, an original Instruction Book and a large quantity of receipts and correspondence dating back to Dr Hampson’s ownership. Previously registered in South Australia, the car will be sold unregistered and with No Reserve.