Jensen C-V8 MkII

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"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 ‘Golden Commando’ 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.

First registered in February 1964, the car you see today is a MkII model, one of just 250 made, which has had just five owners from new and has been in the current ownership for 22 years. It was bought new by GF Thompstone of Macclesfield, ownership transferring to Melvyn Roberts of Deganwy in late 1979 and then to Derek Brayford of Sheffield and by December 1988 it was in the care of Ray Ashford, also of Sheffield, from whom the vendor acquired it in early 1993.

Still on its original Staffordshire number plates, it also retains its original colour scheme of Boticelli Blue with a Mushroom hide interior, the vendor getting the car resprayed shortly after he acquired it due to microblistering (the Achilles heel of many GRP-bodied cars).

Although the V5C records the engine capacity as 5,916cc this is almost certainly a mistake and we believe (as do the Jensen Owner’s Club) that it is in fact still fitted with its original 6,276cc engine, 132/4V, and it certainly has the correct 6-bolt rocker covers (the smaller engine being a 4-bolt design). Curiously this error seems to date back to when the car was new, correspondence held on file by the JOC showing that the first owner queried the capacity with Jensen Motors Ltd in April 1965 and was reassured by the company that it was in fact 6,276cc.

The car has only covered some 2,000 miles in the current 22-year ownership but has been regularly maintained and is said to be in good running order and in very good condition throughout with an excellent chassis. Indeed it has won a few prizes at car shows in Ireland where it currently resides. Due to have a fresh MOT in time for the sale, it is only reluctantly being offered for sale due to the advancing years of the long-term owner who would like to see it go to someone who can give it the more regular exercise it deserves.

Of the 500 Jensen C-V8 models produced in total, only 248 are known to survive worldwide and we can’t help feeling that this rarity, along with their striking looks and prodigious performance, makes them somewhat undervalued in the current market.

AMENDMENT: This car was not submitted for an MOT prior to the sale and has come from Ireland where an MOT is not required so it will be sold with no MOT.