Jensen

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Jensen | Pre War British Sports Cars


The Jensen concern can truthfully be said to have been started as a direct result of two brothers building a special body on a 1928 short-chassis Standard Nine. This body was eventually built by the Avon firm of coachbuilders, and began a long series of handsome Avon-Standard cars, from 9-h.p. to 20-h.p. Jensen bodies became very popular also on Wolseley, Morris, Ford and other makes, and it was not surprising that a more specialised vehicle was produced in 1936. This car, called simply the Jensen, was powered by a modified 30-h.p. Ford V8 engine, and had an exceptionally good performance.

Both 3.5-litre and 2.5-litre types were built, and continued in production right up till 1939. The smaller-engined car was of 2227-c.c. (66 x 81.28-mm.), whilst the other had a 3622-c.c. (77.9 x 95.25-mm.) power unit. Transverse springing was adopted, front and rear, and, in addition to possessing fine road- holding, the Jensens had a most striking appearance. A straight-eight car was shown at Earl's Court in 1938, and was the first overhead-valve Jensen. The engine was a modified version of the Nash unit, having a capacity of 4205-c.c. (79.3 x 107.9-mm.), developing 120 b.h.p. at 3500 r.p.m., with a 6 to 1 compression ratio. Dual ignition was a feature, whilst the trans­mission included a dual-ratio back axle, giving the car six forward speeds. This drive was pre-selected, and with a 2.9 to 1 top, 90 m.p.h. represented a mere 3,000 r.p.m.

Bodywork was of the class always associated with Jensen, the open-sports four-seater being one of the handsomest open cars at the Show. For their post-war car the Jensens produced a stylish saloon featuring an entirely new straight-eight o.h.v. engine designed by Henry Meadows, Ltd.
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