| Having owned a collection of Jensen 541S classic | | | | The CV8 is an even more powerful car still, but not a |
| cars, winning a number awards and having been an | | | | British thoroughbred as it has a Chrysler V8 engine. |
| enthusiastic member of The Jensen Owners Club for | | | | There are certainly not many cars from the early |
| many years he now shares little known facts about | | | | '60s that can still be used as a daily car some 35 |
| the remarkable manual drive Jensen 541S. | | | | years later. |
| Values | | | | Super luxury |
| A phenomenal amount of interest in classic cars a | | | | I have not yet mentioned the luxurious interiors, but |
| few years ago, caused much to be published and | | | | both of these models provide lavish leather arm chair |
| prices to escalate beyond belief. | | | | comfort for four, but also with plenty of head room |
| This was at a time when an Aston Martin Zagato, | | | | and leg space even in the back. A lockable glove |
| racing car (that never won a race), sold for over a | | | | compartment, a useful container under the central |
| million and a half pounds. An 'E' type Jaguar | | | | arm rest, a deep pocket either side of the rear seats |
| commanded as much as £90,000 for what was | | | | for rolled up newspapers, as well as large pleated |
| a mass produced car (and so many were made in | | | | pockets, in the back of the front seats. The 541S |
| the 12 years of production). It is not so surprising | | | | front passenger seat folds completely up to allow far |
| that many enthusiasts were unable to afford an | | | | easier access into the rear than most other two |
| interesting classic. Since those heady days the | | | | door cars - even modern ones. |
| situation has changed dramatically, the recession, | | | | Both the 541S and the CV8, unlike many more |
| resulted in more sensible prices for most classic cars. | | | | modern fast cars, sensibly provide a very large boot |
| However, even when prices were rather ridiculous, | | | | space for luggage. I do feel that a lot of the modern |
| there was a remarkable, distinctive, car of the early | | | | fast car designs, fail to provide the head room and |
| '60s that was overlooked, available at a very | | | | leg space for taller drivers, and completely fail to |
| reasonable cost, and still is undervalued. | | | | provide useful luggage space. As a family man these |
| Hand built, with very few maintenance problems, and | | | | are some of the reasons why I favour the CV8. |
| best of all no body rust to worry about! It is one, of | | | | An overwhelming amount of standard equipment, at |
| very few classic cars, that can actually be used as a | | | | a time when so many items were charged as |
| daily form of transport - I had been driving one for | | | | optional extras, such as:- a Motorola radio (lights up |
| well over 25 years and now my son still uses it. | | | | with the name Jensen); the heater; a fog and a spot |
| I am referring to Jensen cars of the early '60s, | | | | light; a fire extinguisher; a first aid kit; a cigar lighter; a |
| designed by Eric Neale, and made at the time when | | | | clock; rear window heater and all the instruments one |
| Richard and Alan Jensen owned the company. | | | | could wish for. Plus a very generous tool kit in a |
| Particularly, the Jensen CV8 (this is the model before | | | | fitted tray, under the 541S dashboard, consisting of |
| the Interceptor) with the huge 6 litre V8 engine and | | | | (apart from screwdrivers and spanners) pliers, an |
| the 541S. | | | | adjustable spanner, even a tyre pressure gauge, |
| The CV8 was the fastest four-seater car of all in | | | | spare bulbs, tyre valve and cap. |
| 1965, and I drove my special one off version, | | | | Out of all the Jensen cars of this period, the 541S |
| commissioned by Hardy Amies, every day until I | | | | has been the least sought after, and the most |
| emigrated from the UK a few years ago. The other | | | | difficult to sell. There is a reason for this, although it is |
| favourite is the classic British thoroughbred the 541. | | | | an impressive car and beautiful, it has a reputation for |
| Especially, the last model made prior to the CV8, with | | | | lacking acceleration as a sports car. It has a good top |
| the 4 litre straight six Austin Princes engine, | | | | speed and is capable of travelling at over 100 mph all |
| particularly the manual drive version of the Jensen | | | | day long. |
| 541S. | | | | The fabulous manual 541S |
| Classic car show awards | | | | But all the original road test reports were based on |
| For so many years these Jensen cars have not been | | | | the automatic version (this automatic gearbox |
| expensive by comparison with any other classics of | | | | although developed by Rolls Royce lost an awful lot |
| the period. Very strange really when one considers | | | | of performance) - it is such a pity that the manual |
| that, at most of the important classic car shows in | | | | version was never tested! |
| the past, Jensen won all the best awards. | | | | Between 1960 and 1962 Jensen built 127, in total of |
| Up against all the well known prestigious makes, the | | | | 541S cars, out of these only 22 were manual drive. |
| Jensen Owners Club, together with Dave Horton's | | | | The manual is a gem of a car! The most luxurious car |
| famous CV8, have won; 'Car of the show', or 'Best | | | | of all the 541 range, and what is not generally known, |
| of the master class' and 'Best club stand' and so on. | | | | these manual drive cars with the |
| There can hardly be a worthwhile classic car award | | | | Lacock-de-Normanville overdrive are very fast cars |
| that has not been won by a Jensen! | | | | indeed. They would have earned a much better |
| Pioneers | | | | reputation from a road test than the one they have |
| These awards are not really so surprising as the | | | | from the automatic version. |
| Jensen brothers based at West Bromwich made | | | | Extra design features |
| extremely fine hand built cars. They were also | | | | The 541S has certain unusual design features, |
| pioneers; the first to provide disc brakes all round; | | | | adjustable front seat arm rests fitted to each door, |
| first with four wheel drive (on a CV8); one of the | | | | the Bevelift jack, kept in the boot, was designed for |
| first to use the wind tunnel for body design. | | | | use through the floor of the car in front of each |
| They were also well known and respected for their | | | | front seat. So it was possible to lift front and rear |
| advanced ideas on safety. The 541S was the first | | | | wheels together whilst protected from the rain. |
| car with seat belts, as standard, they also provided | | | | When the boot lid is open the driver can still see, |
| very soft padded areas above and below the | | | | without any restriction, out of the rear window. Very |
| dashboard. Door handles, and window winders, were | | | | sensibly the spare wheel valve is accessible, through |
| all in recessed panels out of harms way. | | | | a fitting in the rear of the boot floor, thus allowing |
| They won the silver medal for coach work at Earls | | | | the air pressure to be checked easily without having |
| Court, and with the 541R, in 1957 according to tests | | | | to remove the wheel. |
| by 'The Autocar' they had produced the fastest four | | | | Sexy |
| seater car of the day. | | | | The look of these cars when viewed from the side |
| Over the years their glass fibre and polyester resin | | | | could be said to be reminiscent of early Jaguar cars, |
| coach work has stood up to the test of time | | | | head on possibly Aston Martin, and from the rear one |
| remarkably well. | | | | thinks of Porsche. However Jensen developed with |
| Maintenance | | | | the 541S quite an original and distinctive aero dynamic |
| Service and maintenance of these cars proves a lot | | | | design without any sacrifice to space or comfort. |
| easier, than with many other classics, and this | | | | I still consider it to be one of the most attractive |
| statement applies to some of the more modern cars. | | | | four seater cars of that era that still attracts |
| There is a very enthusiastic owners club that | | | | admiration today. Readers will by now realise that I |
| provides valuable technical information. Most spare | | | | rather like these cars, that is certainly true, and we |
| parts are also not too difficult to find through the | | | | owned 5 out of the 22 made. It will not be easy to |
| Jensen Owners Club. | | | | buy a good manual 541S as only 15 more at most |
| The chassis is built like a tank and the glass fibre | | | | exist. |
| body cuts out all those rust problems. | | | | They are identified by the chassis number prefix of |
| High power | | | | 102 (there were two prototypes made with the |
| The well proven straight six 4 litre engine is in a class | | | | chassis number JM EXP 100 and JM EXP 102). |
| of it's own, set with triple SU large carburettors and | | | | The hunt would be worthwhile, if one could be found, |
| linked to the Jaguar Moss 4 speed synchromesh | | | | as such a car would cost less than an ordinary 'E' |
| gearbox, with overdrive, add to this, servo assisted | | | | type Jaguar in reasonable condition. |
| Dunlop disc brakes all round. - Provides one hell of a | | | | My bet is that this situation will change. |
| lot of motor car! | | | | |