Marque: Jensen - Company History & Models - Cars By Brand
Jensen
The Jensen brothers Allan and Richard were involved in vehicle bodywork building from the 1920s. During the 1930s, under the name of Jensen Motors Ltd. name, they produced a wide range of car bodies for some of the major motor manufacturers of the time - including Morris, Singer, Standard and Wolseley.
Attention was then turned to building cars bearing their own name, the first (in 1935)…
Jensen 541
PRICE: £ 3000 - £ 12,000
Fast Facts
- Produced:
1953-62 - Bodywork:
Two-door fixed-head saloon - Engine:
Overhead valve, straight six-cylinder 3993cc, 130bhp (541R, 140bhp; 541S, 135bhp) - 0-60 mph:
541, 12 sec; 541R, 10.5+ sec; 541S (auto), 12+ sec - Top Speed:
541, 110+ mph; 541R, 125+ mph; 541S (auto), 110 mph - MPG:
15-20+
Revered but sadly now rarely encountered, the 541 remains a superb grand tourer and incorporat e s f e atures which advanced for the early 1950s - such as the use of glass fibre bodywork, also all round disc brakes. Jensen’s innovative new 541 saloon f e atured a tube/box section chassis, clothed in glass fibre bodywork. Under the bonnet was Austin’s reliable and lusty 4-litre engine. The de luxe version (from 1956) had more pow e r, plus disc brakes all round, and overdrive transmission.The 541R of 1957 was p owered by Austin’s twin carburettor, DS7 type 4-litre engine, and featured a rack and pinion steering system. The l ater 541S was wider than its predecessors, and provided more head room within a revamped interior.
Jensen CV8
Fast Facts
- Produced:
1962-66 - Bodywork:
Two-door fixed-head saloon - Engine:
Overhead-valve, V8 Mark I: 5916cc, 305bhp; Mark II: 6276cc, 325bhp - 0-60 mph:
Mark I, 8+ sec; Mark II, 7 sec - Top Speed:
Mark I, 130+ mph; Mark II, 135+ mph - MPG:
12-16
With individualistic styling and six-litres of Chrysler V8 motor under the bonnet, the C-V8 is a wonderful classic. The effortless, spectacular performance provided by the lightly-stressed and long-lasting V8 p ower unit has to be experienced to be appreciated. The C-V8 replaced the 541 in October 1962 and was identifiable by its stylish bodywork (by Eric Neale) and the 5916cc Chrysler V8, driving through an automatic Chrysler Torqueflite gearbox and a limited slip differential. Like the 541, the C-V8 featured a glass fibre body and disc brakes all round. The engine capacity was increased to 6276cc for the well-equipped Mark II, which arrived in 1964, and which was even faster. A revised Mark III follow e d in 1965; it was discontinued in 1966.
