JENSEN CV8 CONVERTIBLE 1965 EX-LORD CARRINGTON – SOLD
Description
1965 Jensen CV8 Convertible
(Unique car originally owned by Lord Carrington)
Chassis number: JM-EXP-108
SOLD
Description: Built in 1965, this important and unique car remains with its original smoke green paint, and with its original leather trim. Supplied to the London-based distributors, Charles Follett, the car was quickly purchased by the then foreign Secretary, Lord Carrington. Since Lord Carrington disposed of the car in 1967, it has been within one family until offered for sale today. The car is particularly original, and provides an opportunity for the buyer to acquire an important part of Jensen heritage.
The Museum features the complete story of JM-EXP-108, see https://www.jensenmuseum.org//jensen-cv8-convertible-jm-exp-108/
Status: Sold
Contact us if you have a Jensen CV8 for sale
_____________________________________________________________
Background to the Jensen CV8 model
The Jensen C-V8 is a four-seater GT car produced by Jensen Motors between 1962 and 1966. Launched in October 1962, the C-V8 series had fibreglass bodywork with aluminium door skins, as did the preceding 541 series.
All C-V8s used big-block engines sourced from Chrysler; first the 361 and then, from 1964, the 330 bhp (246 kW) 383 in³. Most of the cars had three-speed Chrysler Torqueflite automatic transmission, but seven MK.II C-V8s were produced with the 6-litre engine and four-speed manual gearbox , followed by two manual Mk3s. While the great majority of C-V8s were made in right-hand drive (RHD), ten were made in left-hand drive (LHD).
The car was one of the fastest production four-seaters of its era. The MK II, capable of 136 mph (219 km/h), ran a quarter mile (~400 m) in 14.6 seconds, and accelerated from 0–60 mph (97 km/h) in 6.7 seconds.
Upgraded, the new MK II, introduced in October 1963, had Selectaride rear dampers and minor styling changes. Changes on the MK III, the final version of the series which was introduced in June 1965, included a minor reduction in overall length, deeper windscreen, equal size headlamps without chrome bezels, improved interior ventilation, wood-veneer dashboard, the addition of overriders to the bumpers, and a dual-circuit braking system.
From concept, the front of the C-V8 was styled with covered headlamps, similar to those on the Ferrari 275 GTB and Jaguar 3.8 E-type as a key element of the design. But, because of concerns that they might reduce the effectiveness of the headlamps, the covers were deleted for the production cars. As a consequence the C-V8’s front-end appearance was compromised and proved controversial for decades. The CV8 model was discontinued in 1966 after a total production run of 500.
