Jensen FF | Motor Show Mystery

It has been common belief that the first two Jensen FF cars, chassis numbers, 119/001, and 119/002 were prepared for the 1966 Motor Show, typically with one FF being left outside the motor show building for test driving by the motoring press, and the other being on the stand.

The original chassis files state that 119/001 was finished in regal red, with a mist grey painted roof, along with black trim, and 119/002 was finished in charcoal grey, with a mist grey painted roof, along with red trim.

However, recently found photographic evidence gives the initial impression that neither 119/001, or 119/002 were used on the motor show stand. Instead there was a Jensen FF with beige trim.

Interestingly, this colour scheme is sympathetic to the original Jensen FF sales brochure, which was given out at the 1966 Motor Show.

The original Jensen FF brochure for the new car with Italian bodywork. The brochure was made ready in time for the 1966 London Motor Show.

A Jensen FF with beige trim was on the Jensen Motors 1966 London Motor Show stand along with two Jensen Interceptors.

A rear view of the Jensen FF on the 1966 London Motor Show stand

Close-up image showing the beige interior of the Jensen FF on the stand at the 1966 London Motor Show.

Interior view of the Jensen FF. Note the first type Vignale seats, where the seat back is one piece. Shortly afterwards this was changed to a casement style seat back.

Can we make sense of this mystery. Possibly. Ulric Woodhams, from the Jensen Museum, puts forward this argument. Jensen FF 119/001 was trimmed by Vignale in beige, and painted in regal red with a mist grey roof.

This also falls in with the artist’s impression of the Jensen FF shown on the sales brochure, available at the 1966 London Motor Show. To which, the Jensen factory would have had advance warning of the colour scheme, or indeed would have chosen the colour scheme themselves.

However, this initial Jensen FF was going to be used for extensive testing by the Engineering Department, and at the same time given out on loan to a variety of motoring journalists – all eager to try out the world’s first production four-wheel-drive car.

Would the beige trim be the most relevant trim colour, in light of the car’s use as an evaluation and demonstrator car. Woodhams puts forward the following possibility – directly after the London Motor Show, 119/001 was retrimmed at Jensen Motors in black.

This would be a much more appropriate colour for the relatively rough and extensive use the car would be undertaking. Perhaps one day we will know for certain if this was the case. In the meantime, we can but wonder.

Interior view of 119/001 with black leather trim. Photograph taken by Michael Cooper in 1967.

119/001 undergoing extensive on-track evaluation. Photograph taken by Michael Cooper in 1967.

As much as there was on-track evaluation, there was plenty of off-track / rough terrain evaluation as well. Photograph taken by Michael Cooper in 1967.