Jensen C-V8 MkII

"The impression that emerged was of a car superbly suited to Grand Touring in the true sense. A very smooth silent 6-litre engine and transmission gave it a performance so effortless as to be entirely deceptive. It comes as a shock to find that the figures (136mph and 0-100mph in 20.9 sec) make it one of the fastest cars we have ever tested and certainly the fastest four seater." As this Motor review attests, the Jensen C-V8, introduced at the October 1962 Earls Court Motor Show, was truly a startlingly rapid machine.

Penned by Eric Neale in consultation with the Jensen brothers, its dramatic glassfibre bodywork clothed an advanced tubular chassis designed by Kevin Beattie. Equipped with independent coil-sprung front suspension, a 'live' rear axle, four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes, a limited slip differential and rack and pinion steering, the new Jensen was powered by a Chrysler 5.9-litre V8 engine allied to Torqueflite automatic transmission. Boasting some 305bhp and 395lbft of torque in MkI guise, it was capable of over 132mph.

Not content to sit on their laurels, the Bromwich concern released an updated MkII version in October 1963. Distinguished by various minor body modifications, it remained in production until July 1965 and featured an even larger 6.3-litre powerplant with a four barrel Carter carb that gave 330bhp and 425lbft. Besides having more grunt than a pig farm, the car also boasted one of the finest interiors of its time, sumptuously trimmed in top quality hide.

Dating from 1964, the car you see today is a MkII model, one of just 250 made, that is in exceptionally fine and original condition throughout. It was originally purchased by Eric Tate of Surrey from Guy Salmon Ltd in Thames Ditton and was registered 3 WPA. He kept the car for many years until it was inherited by his daughter, Susan Walker of Torquay, who eventually sold it to Vincent O’Reilly of County Neath in Ireland in 1999. He used the car enthusiastically, taking part in the 2005 MSA Euroclassic Tour around Denmark and Sweden.

The car returned to Surrey in 2005 when it was acquired by David Sillitto who in turn passed it on to his business partner, the current vendor, in December 2008. Apart from a good quality respray and a new set of carpets, the car is said to be in excellent original and unrestored condition throughout. The mileage reading of 79,000 is believed to be genuine and is partially borne out by a number of old MOT certificates back to 1988. The car is said to drive very well with an impressive turn of speed and is MOTd until May 2011 and taxed until next June.

Rare and idiosyncratic, these C-V8s really are fantastically underrated machines with road manners and performance that would humble many an Aston Martin or Jaguar from the same era. We can’t believe that they will stay at their current modest values for long – buy now while you can still afford to!