1953 Jowett Jupiter

Work in progress…

The backstory to this Jowett is a little sad, but we’re committed to bringing it full circle and being one of the best Jupiters out there.

This car was owned by a well known member of one of the Jowett car clubs and was known to the club for a long time. The previous owner was trying to get it back on the road and unfortunately passed away before finishing. The current owner purchased it form his estate with the goal to have it fully restored in his memory.

Once we collected — or should I say we dug it out of a garage, greenhouse and shed — and got it back to 70s Car Restoration HQ, it was completely stripped and catalogued for a full restoration. This revealed a number of major issues including a badly damaged chassis and bent rotten panels throughout.

Our project would be to not only fully restore the car but to also replace the original soft top with a fast back hard top. This entails making a wireframe and using our English wheel to craft the new fast back roof in aluminium, Superleggera style!

More information coming as the project progresses.

As we convert the 1953 Jowett Jupiter into a sleek fastback, we encountered a challenge with the fuel tank. But worry not, our skilled team swiftly found a solution! We’ve established a new ideal location (above the rear axle) and are now crafting a new fuel tank to fit this tight area perfectly.

The 1953 Jowett Jupiter roof merging into the back is taking shape, gracefully bringing together the stylish fastback silhouette.

The top of the 1953 Jowett Jupiter’s roof is now one seamless piece!

We’re carefully placing the centre of the roof and expertly joining it onto the sides of the 1953 Jowett Jupiter.

With precision, we work on flat aluminium sheets, marking out the double compound curve, skilfully using the English Wheel to form the desired shape for the 1953 Jowett Jupiter. It’s a challenging process, but the end result speaks volumes.

Behold the nearside and offside of the 1953 Jowett Jupiter taking shape, as we meticulously check for symmetry.

Once one side of the 1953 Jowett Jupiter is nearing completion, it’s time to duplicate it on the other side, but in reverse.

One side of the 1953 Jowett Jupiter restoration is well underway, and the mesmerising flowing fastback shape is starting to take shape and become a reality.

Watch as the 1953 Jowett Jupiter body builds and builds, forming the bigger picture of this classic beauty. Stay tuned for the stunning transformation.

We’ve created a simple wooden buck to ensure precision as we craft new panels in the correct form and size for the 1953 Jowett Jupiter. It’s all about the details.

On the 1953 Jowett Jupiter we start by hammering the metal into a rough shape, before our skilled team uses a planishing hammer and English wheel to meticulously remove indentations and shape it flawlessly.

The journey of restoring the 1953 Jowett Jupiter at 70s Car Restoration presses on, building up and shaping towards perfection. Every step takes us closer to achieving the desired form.

Multiple pieces are expertly welded together in place on the 1953 Jowett Jupiter fastback to skilfully become one seamless masterpiece. The magic of craftsmanship is unfolding as we shape this classic beauty into a cohesive design.

We’re trial fitting our newly created body panels on the 1953 Jowett Jupiter, meticulously checking progress and transitions. Each step brings this classic beauty closer to its former glory.

Creating panels for the 1953 Jowett Jupiter often starts with a card prototype to achieve the desired form, then transfer it to aluminium for the English Wheel. This enables us to transform flat metal sheets into stunning compound curves.

With the 1953 Jowett Jupiter we’re using Superleggera methods to shape the metal, ensuring perfect form and consistency. Once satisfied with the wire frame, we’re moving on to the next stage: crafting the additional body using flat sheet aluminium.

Another example of our metal working abilities going towards the finished 1953 Jowett Jupiter fastback. Starting from nothing and creating something like this is a talent that not all restoration companies have.

We’re applying traditional techniques in the 21st century on the 1953 Jowett Jupiter fastback project. There’s something special about restoring classic cars using time-honoured method.

We’ve started the aluminium sheet work on the 1953 Jowett Jupiter, which involves cutting flat sheet, English wheeling, welding and finishing it off. It’s amazing to see the skill that goes into this process!

Test fitting the original dash with the front apron/top shuttle and bulkhead we re-manufactured for the 1953 Jowett Jupiter fastback.

We’re on with the re-manufacture of the front apron/top shuttle and bulkhead on the 1953 Jowett Jupiter fastback.

The windscreen and roof of the 1953 Jowett Jupiter are slowly coming together. It is important for the client and ourselves that everything is done not only to a very high standard, but as though it was a special originally crafted in the 1950s.

We’re working on altering the front windscreen of the 1953 Jowett Jupiter to work beautifully with the new solid fastback roof. It’s amazing to see how even the smallest details can have a big impact on the overall look and feel of a classic car.

Testing out shapes for the 1953 Jowett Jupiter fastback. We think the shape is looking pretty good and can’t wait to see how it turns out when the aluminium body is crafted.

Exciting update on our 1953 Jowett Jupiter restoration! We’re bending bar/wire into shape, covering it w/ English wheeled aluminium sheets, and fitting and butt welding it together to achieve a superlight, or Superleggera, construction.

1953 Jowett Jupiter update! Our team is crafting new driver/passenger seat panels w/ swage strengthens to the original specs.

Using a combination of English wheeling and trusted hammer and dolly, the rear wings of the Jowett Jupiter are getting there.

Here’s where the Jowett Jupiter gets interesting! The customer, not being a fan of the shape of hood, decided to make a one-off fastback coupé with inspiration from period Le Mans racers. 🏁

The Jowett Jupiter’s new fuel tank straps during fabrication and installation.

Some of the original factory welding on the Jowett Jupiter looked a little rushed. We gave it a little attention without spoiling the originality.

A number of brackets needed attention on the Jowett Jupiter due to rust. Not a problem as we simply fabricated the new parts and welded into place — All completed in-house.

We replaced the Jowett Jupiter with new, correct CDS which included fabricating each section to the original specification.

The first job with the Jowett Jupiter chassis is to attach it to a jig. This lets us keep everything straight and square when working to remove the damage.

The Jowett Jupiter chassis was made worse by the previous owner attempts at welding and repairs in the past. All extra work we need to correct and make good.

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The Jowett Jupiter chassis was made worse by the previous owner attempts at welding and repairs in the past. All extra work we need to correct and make good.

The amazing 1950s classic of the Jowett Jupiter was designed by Robert Eberan-Eberhorst of #AutoUnion, who later ERA. Amazing credentials! As you can see, the back end is badly and rusty and needed a lot of work.

Good to see a big chunk of the #Jowett #Jupiter after a quick coat of epoxy for protection.

Good to see a big chunk of the #Jowett #Jupiter after a quick coat of epoxy for protection.

The back end of the #Jowett #Jupiter has some beautiful lines. Seen here fitting the original back end to ensure new panels are correct.

Here is the #Jowett #Jupiter so far. We’re constantly checking fitment of new and original panels on the chassis at every stage.

These door catch areas on the #Jowett #Jupiter were a tricky but satisfying part to fabricate.

These door catch areas on the #Jowett #Jupiter were a tricky but satisfying part to fabricate.

More new panels for the #Jowett #Jupiter. This time for the rear of the seat area and as always, fabricated in-house!

More new panels for the #Jowett #Jupiter. This time for the rear of the seat area and as always, fabricated in-house!

More new panels for the #Jowett #Jupiter. This time for the rear of the seat area and as always, fabricated in-house!

More new panels for the #Jowett #Jupiter. This time for the rear of the seat area and as always, fabricated in-house!

The engine block of the #Jowett #Jupiter was found to be porous. Not to worry as it is all part of getting the project done properly.

How many different types of piston can you fit into one #Jowett #Jupiter engine? 🤨 Of course one was broken.

How many different types of piston can you fit into one #Jowett #Jupiter engine? 🤨 Of course one was broken.

Another fabrication on the #Jowett #Jupiter! This time new bottom adjustable hinge plates. Better than new! 🤩

Another fabrication on the #Jowett #Jupiter! This time new bottom adjustable hinge plates. Better than new! 🤩

New foot and side boards coming together on the #Jowett #Jupiter. Next up will be the rest of the bulkhead.

This was an interesting fabrication. 🤓 These are the newly fabricated sections around the front edges of the doors on the #Jowett #Jupiter.

This was an interesting fabrication. 🤓 These are the newly fabricated sections around the front edges of the doors on the #Jowett #Jupiter.

This was an interesting fabrication. 🤓 These are the newly fabricated sections around the front edges of the doors on the #Jowett #Jupiter.

The original basket on the #Jowett #Jupiter had long gone, so we manufactured one for this build and a spare for the owners club as this part is very tricky to source.

The original basket on the #Jowett #Jupiter had long gone, so we manufactured one for this build and a spare for the owners club as this part is very tricky to source.

When the #Jowett #Jupiter body came back from the blaster it was very battered, corroded and oxidised. See if you can find all the welded in plates (which we’ll be removing!) 🔎

When the #Jowett #Jupiter body came back from the blaster it was very battered, corroded and oxidised. See if you can find all the welded in plates (which we’ll be removing!) 🔎

When the #Jowett #Jupiter body came back from the blaster it was very battered, corroded and oxidised. See if you can find all the welded in plates (which we’ll be removing!) 🔎

The #Jowett #Jupiter chassis came back to from the blaster in okay condition. The rear end was badly damaged and required a new section before checking alignment.

The #Jowett #Jupiter chassis came back to from the blaster in okay condition. The rear end was badly damaged and required a new section before checking alignment.

To get it ready for our trusted blaster, we removed many years of grime from the #Jowett #Jupiter.

Once we separated the body and chassis of the #Jowett #Jupiter we could see just how many tubed sections needed replacing with the correct quality cold drawn seamless tubing.

The body of our #Jowett #Jupiter was in poor condition and will require major work to all the panels. The original wooden floor? It was entirely missing… 🙄

Our new #Jowett #Jupiter project was fairly complete including the original engine and gearbox which we will fully recondition to original spec.

Time to reveal a new project! 🥳 We’re working on this 1953 #Jowett #Jupiter which was retrieved from the garage of a respected Jowett owner after they passed away. What do you think? 🧐