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 Healey/GT
Fast Facts
- Produced:
Jensen-Healey, 1972-76; Jensen GT, 1975-76 - Bodywork:
Two-door open sports; two-door fixed head (GT) - Engine:
Twin overhead camshaft, 16 valve in-line four-cylinder (Lotus) 1973cc, 144bhp - 0-60 mph:
8.5 sec - Top Speed:
120 mph - MPG:
20-25
Looking like a giant Triumph Spitfire it’s arguably better-looking than an MGB or a Triumph TR, it is more ‘ exclusive’ than either and offers strong performance. Yet… It’s also true that the model earned a reputation for frag i l i t y and shoddy build; certainly diligent, maintenance is required to keep the Lotus engine running at its best. Designed by Donald Healey, the Jensen- Healey was powered by a then all new 2-litre e, twin-cam 16 v Lotus engine. The open sports version was joined by the new, fixedhead Jensen GT in lat e 1975 featuring ‘2+2’ seat i n g , rear hatch and a high level of equipment. Sadly, production of both cars was halted in 1976, when the famous Jensen company went into liquidat i o n . Now they make fine value classics - better than an MGB!
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.
