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 and Selectaride adjustable suspension, 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 and could launch the car to 60mph in just 7 seconds. 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.

First registered in May 1964, the car you see today is a MkII model, one of just 250 made, that has been in the current ownership since 1988 with just five keepers before that. Dark green with a nicely preserved green leather interior, this car was in good running order when it was driven into storage in 1988 but it has not been started or driven since. Still rolling freely, the car will now need to be fully recommissioned / restored before it can be returned to the road. The exhaust system is stainless steel so this is still in excellent condition.

It comes with a V5C, an old V5, various invoices for past maintenance and an expired MOT from 1986. With top examples of this long under-rated model now fetching in excess of £30,000 this looks like a most worthwhile project at the modest guide price suggested today.