History and Heritage
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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, […]
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FAMOUS JENSEN OWNERS
Ginger Baker’s Wild Jensen Days
Ginger Baker died in October 2019, at the ripe old age of 80. No one thought the wild-man of Rock would live that long – including Baker himself. We all know the expression ‘Sex, Drugs & Rock & Roll’, but one could counter this in Baker’s case, as ‘Jensens, Drugs & Rock & Roll’. With […]
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THEN & NOW FEATURE
Jensen FF Press Car 119/117 | Then & Now
Jensen FF, chassis 119/117, was acquired for the Museum collection in 2007. This famous Jensen FF press car had languished in a garage since the 1970s, and had never been restored. As such it is one of the most original Jensen FF cars surviving today. Now fifty years old, the Museum has assembled a photographic […]
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HISTORY FEATURE
Alfredo Vignale | Life & Times
The story of Vignale and his relationship with Jensen is understood well enough today. But, who was Alfredo Vignale, and what were the true circumstances of his death. Museum curator, Ulric Woodhams, has researched the life, and untimely death of Vignale. The true circumstances of his death are completely at odds with what is generally […]
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HISTORY FEATURE
FFF 100 | GKN’s Four-Wheel-Drive Titan
On a rainy day in September 1972, GKN’s Hemi-powered four-wheel-drive FFF 100 created an astounding new world record, when the car accelerated from a standing start, up to 100 mph, and back to rest in just 12.2. seconds – and that was in the rain. An incredible 8 seconds less than the world record at […]
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HISTORY FEATURE
Jensen GT | Jensen’s Last Hope
The Jensen GT was the last ditch attempt by Qvale to keep Jensen Motors in operation. The idea of a shooting brake Jensen Healey, with close to Interceptor levels of refinement had merit, but it wasn’t going to save the Company. Incredibly, just over 500 Jensen GT cars left the factory between September 1975, and […]
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HISTORY FEATURE
Jensen CV8 | From Drawing Board To Reality
By 1960, Jensen Motors were looking at a future replacement to the 541S. The replacement car would require a much more powerful engine to take over from the ageing Austin engine, and the new engine would require changes to the chassis. With plans a foot for a new centre tubed chassis, it seemed fitting to […]
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MUSEUM FEATURE
Vignale Interceptors | Tale Of Two Vignales
In September 2017, Laurent and Fabrice Michelin from France, purchased two Vignale manufactured Sincar Interceptors. The two cars were just three chassis numbers apart, 117/2603 and 117/2606. The two Interceptors were built by Vignale for sale in Europe by Sincar. This is the story of two Vignale made Sincar Interceptors, the Museum hopes that more […]
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HISTORY FEATURE
Jensen FF 119/029 | History & Mystery
Jensen FF 119/029 was originally sold to the merchant banker, Peter Samuel. By the early 1980s, the car had fallen into disrepair, and was believed to have been scrapped. When Museum curator, Ulric Woodhams, was told 119/029 was still in existence, there was concern this was a case of switched identity. The Museum unravels the […]
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HISTORY FEATURE
Jensen Convertible | Extreme Cold Testing Norway
In January 1975, Alan Vincent, Technical Director at Jensen Motors, accompanied with fellow Development man, Martyn Davies, left the gates of Jensen’s Kelvin Way factory in a Jensen Convertible. The two men would be heading to the coldest spot in Norway, the town of Tynset. Vincent tells the Museum about this remarkable adventure. While working […]
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FAMOUS JENSEN CARS
Benjamin Britten’s Jensen | Interceptor Chassis Number 84
It remains a little known fact that the famous British composer and conductor , Benjamin Britten, was smitten by the Jensen Interceptor. Obviously, we are talking here of the original Jensen Interceptor of the 1950s. Britten purchased his black Interceptor Cabriolet in June 1957, and it is believed kept the car until 1963. The Museum looks […]