History and Heritage
-
HISTORY FEATURE
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
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
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 […]
-
LIFE & TIMES OF A JENSEN EMPLOYEE
Jensen’s Chief Production Engineer | Life & Times Of Stan Sharman
West Bromwich born, Stan Sharman, was de-mobbed from the RAF just after World War II, and along with the multitude of military personnel being de-mobbed, he needed to find employment, and quickly. Initially finding employment with the West Bromwich-based Ford dealers, Frank Guest, he quickly moved to Jensen Motors – doubling his wages in […]
-
HISTORY FEATURE
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
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 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’ | 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, 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 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 […]
-
MUSEUM FEATURE
Sincar Jensen Interceptor 117/2605 | A long Sleep
In early 2020, the Museum was contacted by Jean-Louis Van Marcke, he had inherited his father’s Sincar Interceptor. A car that his father had stored away from 1973, until awoken from its slumbers in 2010. This is the story of the Vignale-built Sincar Interceptor, chassis number 117/2605. Sincar Jensen Interceptor 115/2605 | A long […]
-
FAMOUS JENSEN OWNERS
John Bonham & His Beloved Jensens
Back in 1976, Jensen Parts & Service was formed, with former Jensen Motors manager, Ron Freckleton, being brought in to run the Company. Incredibly, this small new company managed to court the interest of celebrities, just as Jensen Motors had done over its time as a car manufacturer. One such celebrity was Led Zeppelin’s drummer, […]