History and Heritage
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MUSEUM CARS
Jensen Interceptor Deluxe | 1954 London Motor Show Car
Jensen Interceptor Deluxe, chassis number 63, was completed in late summer 1954. The car had a specification of ivory paint with red vinyl roof and red trim. Once finished, the car was made ready for the 1954 London Motor Show, where it shared the Jensen stand with a new Jensen 541. The Museum looks at […]
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HISTORY FEATURE
Jensen Light Passenger Coach | 1948 – 1951
One of the many little known facts about Jensen Motors, is their foray into the world of bus and coach building. Between 1948 and 1951 the Company are thought to have made as few as ten bus and coach chassis, which were then built up with coachwork by independants. Former IT engineer, David Powell, has […]
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IMPORTANT JENSEN CARS
Vignale’s Second Interceptor | HEA 1D
HEA 1D was the second Interceptor finished by Vignale, a couple of months after BEA 693C, in August 1966. This famous car, shown at the 1966 Motor Show, survives today. The Museum looks at the history that is held on HEA 1D so far, and hopes that further information on this historic vehicle might be […]
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IMPORTANT JENSEN CARS
Jensen FF Chassis Number 119/003 | Harry Ferguson Research Car
Jensen FF number ‘3’ had been designated for Harry Ferguson Research. The first two FFs had been kept back by Jensen Motors as development cars for evaluation. Both Major Rolt, and Sheldon couldn’t wait to get their hands on an FF themselves, so they could evaluate the car. Tony Sheldon, the Company’s Managing Director, came […]
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FAMOUS JENSEN CARS
The Baron’s Jensen CV8 | Chassis 104/2303
The Baron, was a much-loved television series from the 1960s. To those that have watched the series, a grey Jensen CV8 stole the show, being used copiously throughout the series, by actor Steve Forrest. He played the part of John Mannering, the antiques dealer come spy. Bearing the number plate ‘BAR 1’, the oyster grey […]
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IMPORTANT JENSEN CARS
Jensen 541S V8 | Donald Healey Special
Donald Healey’s long association with Jensen Motors is well known. Less known is the special 541S V8 owned by Healey. Purchasing a 541S from Jensen Motors without engine/transmission, Healey had a Chevrolet V8 engine along with GM transmission fitted. Healey wanted fast easy motoring between his works in Warwick, and his home in Cornwall. That […]
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HISTORY FEATURE
Aston Martin Meets Jensen Motors
Arriving at the Jensen factory in January 1968, turnaround man, Carl Duerr, took Jensen Motors by storm. Using every possible initiative to put Jensen Motors On The Map, Duerr, within months of his appointment as the new managing director, asked David Brown, the owner of Aston Martin, over for a luncheon and tour of the […]
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FAMOUS OWNERS
Jensen FF | Film Producer’s Choice
Jensen FF, chassis 119/051, was purchased new by the film producer, Elliott Kastner, famous for producing films such as, Where Eagles Dare (1968), The Long Goodbye (1973), Russian Roulette (1975), and The Missouri Breaks (1976). Kastner kept his Jensen FF until 2004, at which time it was acquired directly from him by the Museum. The […]
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MUSEUM CARS
Jimi Hendrix Jensen | Jensen FF 119/195
Known as the Hendrix Jensen at Jensen Motors, the last Jensen FF MK.I made [chassis number 119/195], had actually been purchased by Mitch Mitchell, the drummer for ‘The Hendrix Experience’. That said, Hendrix’s girlfriend, Kathy Etchingham, remembered how Hendrix would drive the FF when ever he was given the chance. The Museum has managed to […]
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MUSEUM CARS
Jensen FF Chassis 119/117 | Press Car
Jensen FF, chassis 119/117, was acquired for the Museum collection in 2007. The Jensen FF was used as a main Press Car for Jensen Motors, and was famously abused by motoring journalist, Harold Dvoretsky. With Dvoretsky in the driving seat, 119/117 was given a punishingly hard 2,500 mile jaunt around Europe and back to the […]
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FACTORY RECOLLECTIONS
Jensen Motors Paint Shop Operator | Recollections
An impromptu telephone call from Peter Stait’s brother, Tony, in 1972, led him to join Jensen Motors as a Paint Operator. Tony Stait had been employed at Jensen Motors as a paint sprayer since the late 1960s. He had often mentioned to his brother, Peter, that he should apply for a job there. With large […]
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ITALIAN RECOLLECTIONS
Recollections Of The Sincar Operation | Mike Jones
Former Chief Engineer at Jensen Motors, Mike Jones, discusses with Museum curator, Ulric Woodhams, the hitherto unrecorded month that he spent at Vignale in 1967. Jones was sent out to Vignale, to help sort out engineering and quality issues on the Sincar operation. Some 30 odd Sincar Interceptors left the Vignale factory bearing both Vignale […]
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DAY IN THE LIFE SERIES
Jensen Motors Assembly Line Finisher | Day In The Life
Clive Kendrick joined Jensen Motors as an apprentice in 1963. After working in various sections of Jensen Motors, and gaining his City & Guilds, Kendrick chose to become an Assembly Line Finisher. He initially worked on the Austin-Healey 3000 track, and then when that finished, moved to the Interceptor track. Kendrick remained at Jensen Motors […]
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IMPORTANT JENSEN CARS
Jensen P66 | Jensen’s Forgotten Interceptor
The sole surviving Jensen P66 Coupe, remains a left over dinosaur from Jensen’s pre-Italian heritage. Both the Coupe, and earlier Convertible P66 prototypes, are reminders of volatile times. It was the time when the Jensen boardroom remained divided, over the issue of Italian styling for their cars. The Museum takes up the incredible story of […]
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JENSEN FACTORY SERIES
Jensen Motors | Kelvin Way Factory
Jensen Motors’ Kelvin Way factory is one in a series of three features about the Jensen Motors factories. Swiss Jensen Car Club Secretary, Felix Kistler, has researched the three factories, and; together with various photographs and drawings; gives us a unique insight to the various areas of use within each factory. Kistler hopes that viewers […]