West Bromwich · 1934–1976 · Austin, Chrysler and Vauxhall underneath · sold in Auckland from 1955
Alan and Richard Jensen took over a West Bromwich lorry-body builder in 1934 and renamed it Jensen Motors. They built coachwork for Morris, Singer, Standard and Wolseley, lorries and the Jen-Tug, and bodies for other people’s cars — the Austin A40 Sports, the big Austin-Healeys until 1967, the Volvo P1800 and the Sunbeam Tiger. Their own cars borrowed engines: the 1950 Interceptor and the 541 used the Austin 4-litre six, the C-V8, the 1966 Interceptor and the four-wheel-drive FF used Chrysler V8s, and the Jensen-Healey a Lotus twin-cam with Vauxhall running gear. The company stopped trading in 1976.
In New Zealand, Jensen meant Jensen Motors in Auckland — run by Ross Jensen, a racing driver and no relation to the brothers, who represented the marque from 1955 and was its oldest overseas agent by 1968. Import restrictions meant very few 541s arrived, and Interceptors were sold new from the Newmarket showroom for a short time. Some of our Jensen listings are spelled “Jenson” and may not show in the search — if you cannot find a part, ask us.
Jensen — the models, and whose parts they use
- Interceptor — 1950 to 1957
- 88 built. Austin Sheerline 3,993cc six and gearbox on a lengthened Austin A70 chassis; Laycock overdrive from 1952. Girling brakes, 11in drums, hydro-mechanical at first then fully hydraulic.
- 541 family — 1954 to 1963
- Glassfibre body on a steel chassis, Austin 4-litre six (DS4, DS7, DS5). The original 541 has servo drums; the 541 De Luxe of 1956 had Dunlop discs on all four wheels. 541R (1957) has rack-and-pinion steering; 541S (1960) is 4in wider and mostly automatic.
- C-V8 — 1962 to 1966
- About 500 built. Glassfibre body, Chrysler 361 then 383 V8, almost all TorqueFlite automatics. Mk III (1965): dual-circuit brakes.
- Interceptor & FF — 1966 to 1976
- All-steel Touring body, Chrysler 383 then 440 V8, TorqueFlite A727. Mid-1969: Dunlop twin-piston calipers replaced by Girling three-piston, king pins by ball-jointed wishbones, lever-arm by telescopic dampers. Mk II October 1969; Mk III 1971. FF (320 built): Ferguson four-wheel drive and Dunlop Maxaret anti-lock brakes.
- Jensen-Healey & GT — 1972 to 1976
- 10,503 built. Lotus 907 2-litre twin-cam. Vauxhall front cross-member, wishbones, hubs, disc brakes and steering rack; Vauxhall Victor rear axle. Rapier H120 four-speed, Getrag five-speed on the Mk II from 1975. Girling calipers, rear drums. The GT shooting brake (1975–76) uses the same running gear.
- Earth polarity
-
We cannot tell you for certain, and we will not guess. We could not find a source we trust for any Jensen. Check the car before you order a coil, a regulator or a radio.
