Jensen heritage for the next generation

History and Heritage

History and Heritage
  • HISTORY FEATURE

    CV8 FF

    Jensen CV8 FF | A Revolutionary Car

    To this day , the CV8 FF remains shrouded in mystery. In part this is due to  a 1990s failed scam to build, and pass-off a CV8 FF, using a later FF chassis. The story of the events leading up to the creation of the CV8 FF is something of motoring legend, but the mystery […]

  • LIFE & TIMES OF A JENSEN EMPLOYEE

    Jensen Motors Rectification Manager | Life & Times Of John Baker

    Jensen Motors Rectification Manager | Life & Times Of John Baker

      John Baker joined Jensen Motors as an Inspector, and was given the title, Rectification Manager. It was a job he quickly bored of, leading him in 1972 to take a position as a mechanic in the new enlarged Service Department. After the demise of Jensen Motors, Baker moved across to Jensen Parts & Service, […]

  • HISTORY FEATURE

    Jensen At War | Jensen Motors 1939-1945

    Jensen At War | Jensen Motors 1939-1945

    The world changed in 1939, with Britain declaring war on Germany in September 1939. Most car production in Great Britain stopped in its tracks, and very quickly the government was issuing out contracts for a huge variety of war-driven vehicles and materials. Veiled in secrecy  was the wartime exploits of Jensen Motors. Incredibly, this small […]

  • HISTORY FEATURE

    Jensen - Lotus Engine Nightmare

    Jensen – Lotus Engine Nightmare

      Back at the end of the 1960s, it was clear the Austin Healey contract was coming to an end. Donald Healey had already started working on a successor as early as 1968/69. The successor would later become the Jensen-Healey. But bringing this successor to market was going to be far from easy.     […]

  • HISTORY FEATURE

    Topic Interceptor | Jensen Employees

    Topic Interceptor | Jensen Employees

    The 1960s businessman, John Ball had created the Nottingham-based glossy magazine, TOPIC. It was a Tatleresque style magazine, but rather than feeding the egos of the gentry, this magazine fed the egos of the the young upwardly mobile. Ball had  previously owned a Jensen CV8, but now fancied the Italian-designed Interceptor. In late 1967, beginning […]

  • HISTORY FEATURE

    Geneva Motor Show 1967 | Jensen Interceptor 117/2501

    Geneva Motor Show 1967 | Jensen Interceptor 117/2501

      As soon as Carl Dusio signed the Agreement between Sincar and Jensen Motors in January 1967, he ordered a left-hand-drive Interceptor. But, he needed the car as a matter of urgency, since the hot-headed Italian had also booked a stand for Sincar at the Geneva Motor Show of March 1967. The Museum looks at […]

  • HISTORY FEATURE

    Jensen's Austrian Press Launch 1969 | Marshall's Memories

    Jensen’s Austrian Press Launch 1969 | Marshall’s Memories

    When the Museum acquired a group of press photos showing two left-hand-drive Interceptors, we wanted to find out more. Amongst various people photographed around the cars, one was none other than the former Jensen Motors Sales Manager, Tony Marshall. A telephone call later, brought the story behind the photographs to life. Marshall’s ‘razor-sharp’ memories of […]

  • HISTORY FEATURE

    1965 Earl’s Court Motor Show | Jensen Brochures & Photography

    Amidst a backdrop of boardroom chaos, the 1965 Earl’s Court Motor Show was just over a couple of months away. This was an important motor show for Jensen Motors, it would be the official launch of the ground-breaking four-wheel-drive Jensen FF. Then there was the launch of Eric Neale’s (less than ground breaking) ‘vision of […]

  • RECOLLECTIONS

    Austin Healey Track | Kendrick’s Recollections

    Clive Kendrick joined Jensen Motors in 1963 as an apprentice, and after spending time in various departments, including the trim shop, he was placed with a sub-assembly ‘gang’ on the Austin Healey track. Kendrick gives the Museum his recollections of the various procedures, and ‘gangs’ that led an Austin Healey to become a completed shell […]

  • HISTORY FEATURE

    Austin Healey - Jensen Motors Contract

    Austin Healey – Jensen Motors Contract

    Of all the contract work undertaken by Jensen Motors, it was the alliance with Austin that stands out in terms of the duration of the multiple Austin  contracts, and the sheer quantities of completed bodies that were rolling out of the Jensen factory. It is no exaggeration to say that Jensen Motors might have ceased […]

  • Museum A-Z Lexicon

    Jensen Motors Employees A - Z

    Jensen Motors Personnel A-Z

    Who were the Jensen Motors employees, involved in producing the must have cars of the time. From the colourful Carl Duerr, to Richard Graves, gentleman personified. It was a dedicated workforce from shop floor to managing directors office, and everyone loved the product they were producing. Not that this was an easy ride, as service […]

  • HISTORY FEATURE

    Sincar Interceptor Number '1'

    Sincar Interceptor Number ‘1’ | Jensen Chassis 117/2582

    The Sincar Interceptor operation was set up by Carlo Dusio, after a successful licensing  agreement between Sincar and Jensen. This led to Jensen sending motorised chassis to Vignale. They in turn would build them for sale by Sincar in Europe. The agreement was for an initial 50 motorised chassis to be supplied direct to Vignale […]

  • HISTORY FEATURE

    Jensen SP | The Inside Story

      The  new Jensen SP, with its Six-Pack carburettor system, was launched to market in 1971, as the Company’s new flagship car. The car was plagued with carburation problems from the outset, leaving many loyal Jensen owners frustrated and disenchanted. With help from various former employees, the Museum looks at the inside story of the […]

  • HISTORY FEATURE

    Jensen Interceptor | 1969 Geneva Motor Show Press Car

    Jensen Interceptor | 1969 Geneva Motor Show Press Car

    Jensen Interceptor, chassis number 117/3139, was built as a left-hand-drive demonstration vehicle, and was the first Jensen painted in tangerine. The car had a rather outrageous specification of tangerine paint, with a mocha coloured leather interior.  With the help of the car’s current custodian, Jan Isnenghi, and former Jensen Motors Sales Manager, Tony Marshall,  the […]

  • HISTORY FEATURE

    Jensen SP | 1972 Geneva Motor Show Car

    Jensen SP | 1972 Geneva Motor Show Car

    Jensen SP 132/5577 was one of only thirteen left-hand-drive SP cars to be built. This stunning flag red Jensen SP was destined for the Jensen stand at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show. The Museum looks at the history that is presently known of this car, and hopes that further information might become available.   Jensen […]