JowettTalk

I have received an e-mail from a solicitous computer wondering where I am and generally seeming concerned for my welfare since nothing has been heard from me recently.

Well, that's because I have had nothing of any consequence to say. I am not one of those sad creatures passing what they consider to be life on the proliferation of social networking sites, determined to inflict the vacuity of their existence upon equally pathetic others.

I have long admired the products of Gerald Palmer's fertile mind but the only Jowett model I have owned (nearly 60 years ago) was a 6-volt, oval-windowed, 3-speed Bradford which long anteceded Mr Palmer. At one time I knew Donald Bastow very well. But I have fond memories of first exceeding (as a passenger) the magical 60mph in a Javelin. This was in 1949. I also remember the queries in the contemporary technical press about accelerated bore wear due to the horizontal nature of the cylinder axis. I'm not able to contribute much but I do enjoy the site.

But I would be grateful if someone could post the rather clever and certainly funny joke which used to be part of the show - this related to people in numerically modeled cars trying to get through an Italian border control. Having this would make the old git less grumpy!

Best wishes to you all,

Wumps.

Italian customs officers

Five Englishmen in an Audi Quattro arrive at the Italian border. The Italian customer agent stops them and tells them: "Itsa illegal to putta fiva people ina Quattro." "What do you mean it's illegal?" asked the Englishmen.

"Quattro means four," replies the Italian official. "Quattro is just the name of the automobile," the Englishman says, not believing what he is hearing. "Look at the papers: this car is designed to carry 5 persons."

"You can'ta pulla thata one ona me," replies the Italian customs agent. "Quattro means four. You hava fiva people ina your car and you are therefore breakin'a the law". The Englishman replies angrily, "You idiot! Call your supervisor over We want to speak to someone with more intelligence!"

"Sorry," responds the Italian official, "he can'ta come". "He's a busy with two guys in a Uno".

Thanks Leo, that's the one I remember.

Not many Jupiters about, particularly in NZ. Did your's ever belong to a "Pup" Barker who I remember driving one in Christchurch in, I think, 1956?

Wumps.

Hello Wumps.

No. My car was imported into NZ in October 1956. The importer was a newly qualified Medical Doctor who immigrated from the UK and who took up practice in a central North Island town of Te Awamutu where he used it as his Practice vehicle . . . so it's fairly unlikely that it would have been driven around Christchurch in 1956. Dr Forbes used it for a number of years, until marriage and children came on the scene . . .

There would be a remarkable survival rate of Jupiters that came to NZ . . . just as a guess I'd say about 80 - 85% are still about and accounted for (Edmund would know!) and the number imported is probably quite high in comparison to the population of the country at the time. Maybe NZ was comparatively wealthy in those days! Sheep farmers would have done well out of the supply of wool for woollen clothing for the troops involved in the Korean War (New Zealand was involved militarily in Korea from 1950 to 1957).

"Pup" Barker, may be remembered (or seen on a vehicle's ownership papers) by Southern Branch members of the JCC of NZ. Hopefully someone down there may be reading this . . .

Regards.
Leo.

It is good to see that 'the computer' has awakened our toad from his hibernation to deliver an interesting topic. Wumps you may now go back to sleep for a few months.

Ribbettt ..

Zzzzzz . .. . .