Issue 263 January - February 2019
OWNERS’ CLUB
The FF was always in front..... COMPLETE 1000s BESPOKE JENSEN TRIMMING OF PARTS RESTORATION CAR SALES SERVICES IN STOCK
01962 779 556 Unit 1, Itchen Abbas Business Centre, Main Road, [email protected] www.jensenparts.co.uk Itchen Abbas, Winchester, SO21 1BQ Editorial
appy New Year to all our readers, Talking of JOC subscriptions and costs, your 2019 membership fees Hand welcome to this edition are now due; you’ll find our Membership Secretary’s article about this that’s full of news and cars. I hope on page 7, complete with you 2019 membership card temporarily you enjoy reading it; it’s certainly affixed there – so don’t lose it! got a varied collection of articles. And so, what of my FF? Well, not a lot has happened beyond an oil and My apologies for those whose cars or filter change. For once it has had to take second place to my Jaguar XF, stories are not in this edition (they will which needed some attention. For the last two years now I’ve been be in the following one), rest assured warned of rust spreading on its rear subframe, and (ominously) rust that you’ll appear in print in due course. staining appearing to come from at least one of the side sills – where the inner and outer are joined. A trawl of various websites revealed And we have some more good news too – Colin Mayes has now been that the Jaguar S-types have a severe problem in this locality, caused appointed as our magazine’s Editorial and Advertising Assistant; so by the foam rubber inserts between the inner and out sills getting welcome aboard Colin! wet, and causing RUSTING! But surely modern cars are better made now than that? Well, it’s half true – literally – as when my son Peter Big thanks too are due to Stuart Turner, who since mid-2017 has and I removed the (plastic) outer sills from the car, we found that only managed our adverts in the same efficient manner as his predecessor one side had foam rubber inserted between the inner and outer sill Steve Salway. Like Steve he has also helped with the proof reading (the other side had no foam rubber at all). Shades of JML here? And of the magazines, whilst the JOC searched for a successor. He’s got yes, the foam rubber was wet, and was indeed the cause of the water eagle eyes has Stuart (something to do with his height otherwise he dripping down onto the inner metal sill and making it rust..... At least wouldn’t see anything from up there), which is more than I can claim JML didn’t use such stuff. – for, like many people, I don’t always see my own mistakes in my own typing..... But Stu always did. So, many thanks indeed, Stu, for your Some days later, after a good rub down and the use of Bilt Hamber’s support and help, it was much appreciated. Hydrate 80 rust converter and Dynax S wax protector, all was well. The other side’s sills were of course fine, but are now protected too, We also hope to have a new Editor on board soon too, which would be just in case. Next time it’s the FF’s turn..... good (I can then retire at the AGM).
It’s worth saying here something too about our Advertisers; thanks to their generosity we are able to offset some 50% of our magazine Paul costs, which really helps the JOC balance its books (and keeps your annual membership subscription costs down). So please do support our Advertisers whenever you can. As a thank you to them for their loyalty and support to the JOC, we put their adverts in our very recent Torque 9 magazine completely free of charge. Thank you, gentlemen (and ladies).
Disclaimer to maintain the highest printing quality. The Club endeavours to take good care of all material submitted, but cannot be held responsible The ideas and opinions expressed in this publication are purely those of the contributors and should not be construed as the policies of the for loss or damage, nor can it guarantee a specific publication date. Editor, the Committee, or the Club. Whilst every care is taken to ensure Advertising is accepted on the basis that there is no guarantee of a the information in this publication is correct, no liability can be accepted specific publication date and that the Club has the right to refuse or by the authors of the Jensen Owners’ Club magazine for loss, damage withdraw advertisements at its discretion, nor does it accept liability for or injury caused by errors in, or omissions from, the information given. clerical or printer’s errors although every care is taken to avoid mistakes.
Publication Digital copies The Jensen Owners’ Club magazine is published bi-monthly on the 1st Digital copies of the magazines are available to view online of each month starting in January. The submissions deadline for the in the members’ section of the website. To get access to this March/April issue #264 is Fri 8 February and these must be sent to the please contact the club’s IT Officer, Zac Marshall – [email protected] Editor only. Articles for the magazine are welcomed for publication by – please note that these electronic magazines are restricted to Jensen the Editor, together with electronic copies of photos which are preferred Owners’ Club members only.
3 Contents Committee
Chairman* Membership Secretary Editorial 3 Shaun Winfield Darren Barnes Chairman’s Interception 5 07969 129382 07973 961640 [email protected] [email protected] Membership Matters 7 26 Foster Park Road, Denholme, Darren Barnes Bradford, W. Yorks BD13 4BE Treasurer* JOC at the Lancaster Insurance 9 Ian Roberts General Secretary* (07920) 055153 & Club Archivist Classic Motor Show at the NEC [email protected] John Lane Shaun Winfield Edwinstowe, Hambledown Road, (0151) 9249621 Denmead, Waterlooville, [email protected] Back from the brink… 18 Hampshire PO7 6EP 1 The Cloisters, Crosby, the rebuild of my Series III Interceptor Merseyside L23 3DA
Mark Case International Weekend C-V8 Registrar Way above the pay grade of us simpletons 25 Stuart Allan John Staddon (07712) 767533 (020) 8291 7464 Roel Korzaan [email protected] [email protected] JOC Spring Weekend 10th – 12th May 28 Concours Secretary Interceptor Registrar Clive & Lindsey Bishop Keith Lee Stuart Turner VACANT(0151) FOR3364562 2019 (07814) 039889 C-V8 Registrar 31 [email protected] [email protected] John Staddon Regalia Secretary Int’ceptor Variants Reg. Jensen Club of Switzerland 37 Mrs Raj Mangroo Tim Clark Tony Cope JOC 07740 142583 (01322) 333484 [email protected] [email protected] Eric Neale 39 i Tony Cope PR & Media Secretary FF Registrar Nic Cooper Dave Barnett Jensen-Healey Registrar 40 (07860) 467253 (01708) 456439 [email protected] [email protected] Helen Newby Letters to the Editor 42 IT Officer Jensen-Healey Reg. Zac Marshall Helen Newby New Members 44 (0117) 9792759 (01653) 628537 [email protected] [email protected] Area News 47 JOC Diary 49 Early Cars Registrar S-V8 Registrar Joerg Huesken Chris Watts Classifieds 50 +49 172 3543210 07973 135219 [email protected] [email protected]
541 Area Co-ordinator Registrars John Pym David & Jane 07831 777665 Turnage [email protected] (01206) 273140 [email protected]
* Executive Committee Members
MAGAZINE Editor, JOC Magazine Editorial Paul Strange & Advertising Asst. Tel (01327) 700217 TEMPORARY Stuart Turner Mob 07767 672085 07814 039889 [email protected] [email protected] 22 Cross Street, Daventry, 66 Riverside Way, Hanham, Bristol The FF always was superb in the snow..... Northants NN11 9ES BS15 3TF.
4 Chairman’s Interception
A view from the bridge
o 2019 awaits us. What does this year Shold for the JOC? Hopefully another year to move forward to show the marque at its best around the world, as many of you all did in spectacular manner last year.
This year is the 60th anniversary of the prototype 541R, PEA 541, winning its class in the 50th Anniversary Bleriot Air race between London and Paris and it is the 50th anniversary of the launch of the Interceptor and FF Mk II’s.
No doubt some form of commemoration of these events will take place during the year.
Which brings me to just how many members get involved with events, shows, meets etc. Over the course of the last year or so I have had the opportunity to talk to several officials from other classic car clubs.
It would appear that membership numbers are possibly generally solid in most clubs with members leaving, more than likely following the sale of a vehicle, to be replaced by new owners together with lapsed members who return after a while having got the bug again to get a car. Our Chairman in his flying machine (let’s hope he’s enough fuel in it this time)! However, a common theme appears to run through their clubs the same as ours: within the membership, and this does not matter if you are a club of our size or one of the big boys with over 20,000 the Committee. Currently, we will require a new General Secretary members, it would seem the active numbers out there, those that at the AGM when John Lane steps down after many, many, years of actually do something, the ‘get the car used’ brigade etc. would appear outstanding work, often behind the scenes doing “stuff” you probably to be around 10% of the membership. Is this a bad thing? I don’t know don’t realise needs doing. but you cannot make members attend events and the like. If they are happy receiving the magazine and access to technical support via a Additionally, the position of Editor will need filling as Paul Strange number of avenues, why bother trying to persuade them to do more? wishes to step down after over six years in the hot seat. The role of If there was a groundswell that members were not happy, surely this Advertising Secretary is also vacant as I write this, and I thank Stuart would be reflected in correspondence to the club in the Dear Editor Turner for stepping into the breach to maintain the status quo but section of the magazine, but it isn’t there and I can confirm that our this can’t last. Hopefully, a couple of members who have expressed editor has not got a secret store of suppressed letters! interest in taking up these roles will be temporarily co-opted onto the committee soon to hopefully be ratified at the next AGM. In a similar Where am I going with this? Well, later on this year, the club will be situation is the role of Concours Secretary; Concours appears to be inviting members to partake in a membership survey. It is a few years working towards a new arrangement to ensure the continuation of since the club undertook such a survey and times have moved on. It’s Concours alongside Show’N’Shine at the International in 2019. a case of watch this space, as it will be your chance to have your say, and possibly influence the way that the club runs in the future should That’s about it from me for now. Lots to think about but I am sure that you so wish. as the year progresses, Jensens will be out there flying the flag.
This doesn’t mean that the Committee is not receptive to ideas and suggestions at any time. One way of possibly influencing or guiding how the club works would be to take up one of the vacancies on Shaun
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phase4_a4_half.indd 1 03/02/2015 16:22:53 CCHH AutosAutos
Unit 1 - Berwick Hall Farm Berwick Lane - Abbess Roading Over 30 years experience Ongar - Essex - CM5 OJS specialising in body and paint Phone 01279 876669 restoration of all Jensen Marques. [email protected] We mix and match our own colours. www.jensenrestoration.co.uk
6 Membership Matters
10829 T Tucker Great Yarmouth Int MkIII *9692 J Glew Longfield Int MkII The latest news 10831 J Lowe Horsham JH MkI *8232 J Argo Cirencester FF MkIII on membership 10832 J Lewis USA JH MkII 10833 S Bevan Haverfordwest figures, the 10834 D Pritchard USA JH MkII 10835 J Paige Welney Int MkIII new owners and 10836 M Howes Attleborough 10837 J Reynders Belgium JH MkI their cars 10838 D Scriven Brierley Hill 10839 S Upton Salisbury *10840 T Stove Shetland Int MkIII Happy and Healthy New Year to you all, and as always, 10841 B Carroll Guernsey Athe New Year is also the Jensen Owners’ Club membership 10842 I Batty Moreton-in-Marsh Int MkIII renewal time. If you haven’t seen it yet your new membership 10843 B Singh Huddersfield Int MkI card is attached to the bottom of this page sporting a very well- 10844 P Hamer Grange over Sands Int MkII known multi concours-winning 541S. This membership card (as 10845 R Andrews Ware Int MkIII always) in NOT proof of payment: they are sent out in bulk to the 10846 R Andrews Essex Int MkIII whole membership to save on postage costs. 10847 P Hogan Nottingham 10848 K Loveday Kent FF MkI I have however received a lot of renewals during November and 10849 G Patey Newham JH MkII December from PayPal, Bank transfers and good old cheques. If you 10850 B Jhheen Birmingham JH MkII have signed up for the Direct Debit method of payment you need do 10851 L Michelin France Int MkI nothing as the funds will be deducted from your account and paid 10852 R Lyne Kettering C-V8 MkIII directly to the JOC on the 2nd of January. But if you have not signed *9566 S Webster Poulton Le Fylde 541R up for Direct Debit and you would like to, please drop Zac Marshall *4410 D Hope Winchester JH MkII or me a line and we will set it up for you; failing that, unless you paid in November or December, your subs are now overdue, so please * Denotes a returning member after a lapsed period make every effort to pay by whatever method suits you best. On that As always the JOC extends a warm welcome to all new and returning note I must thank our new Regalia Secretary Raj Mangroo, for all the members. hard work she put into getting us back in a position to process card payments either by phone, email or in person. If you would prefer to pay by credit or debit card please phone or send me an email. Darren Barnes Membership this year is slightly down again to the 1400 level with Membership Secretary the same ratio of 24% overseas members, This years has shown an Email: [email protected] Tel: 07973 961640 increase in multi-car ownership, so that could account for some of the shortfall. We do seem to get more requests to join the Forum than the JOC; and for many new owners, the Forum is the club! Maybe this is the way things are going, and dinosaurs like me need to realise that social media is far more prevalent than we like to acknowledge. I just can’t see how anyone would rather read an article on their phone when Please remove your new 2019 membership card they can sit back and read this fantastic magazine, but that’s just me. Talking of dinosaurs there are some committee posts becoming vacant shortly, and it would be nice to get some new faces in the meetings, with a more up to date view of the club and where we need to be heading before we all turn into fossils......
The old lass (my early Interceptor) has her dress back on for a first fitting and she looks like a car again for the first time in many years!
New and rejoining members since last issue:-
10827 J Shiner Rochester Int MkIII HAVE YOU PAID? 10828 G Martin Stourbridge
7 JOC Technical Advisors The following members have volunteered to try and solve any BRAKES problems that you may have with your Jensen. Do take advantage 541 · CV-8 · Interceptor · Healey of this service but remember to call at a reasonable time of day. You can of course, write to them if the problem is not urgent. Professional remanufacturing service BRAKESfor all Jensen brake calipers Jensen Interceptor In house541 service, · CV-8 every caliper· Interceptor has full zinc plated · finish,Healey new caliper Alan Smith...... 01380 726876 pistons, seals, bleedscrews and pad fittings. Rears are complete with Tony Davies...... 01270 761444 reworkedProfessional hand brake assemblies. remanufacturing All are fluid pressure service tested and carry 12 months warranty.for all Available Jensen off thebrake shelf forcalipers exchange or your own Jensen FF units re-manufactured exclusively for you. Dunlop piston and cylinder assembliesIn house also service, remanufactured every caliper hasusing full stainless zinc plated steel finish, inserts new caliper Dave Barnett...... 01708 456439 pistons, seals, bleedscrews and pad fittings. Rears are complete with ...... [email protected] reworkedCalipers hand brake assemblies. All are Servofluid pressure assemblies tested and carry 12 months warranty. Available off the shelf for exchange or your own Prices are per single unit Jensen C-V8 units re-manufactured exclusively forPrices you. Dunlopshown forpiston reconditioned and cylinder unit - Ex 541 Dunlopassemblies also remanufacturedF £168 using stainless steel inserts Chris Walton...... 0121 3547441 541/CV-8 lockheed remote £215 541 Dunlop CalipersR £185 Servo assemblies Interceptor girling direct £200 541R/S/CV-8 F £168 Jensen 541 Prices are per single unit Prices shown for reconditioned unit - Ex 541R/S/CV-8541 Dunlop R F £185£168 Dunlop FF servo £250 David & Jane Turnage...... 01206 273140 541/CV-8 lockheed remote £215 Interceptor541 Dunlop MKI F R £168£185 Healey servo £135 ...... [email protected] Interceptor girling direct £200 Interceptor541R/S/CV-8 MKI R F £185£168 Ron Smith...... 01283 760535 Dunlop FF servo £250 Interceptor541R/S/CV-8 MKII/III F R £74£185 Master cylinders Interceptor MKI F £168 Interceptor MKII/III R £185 HealeyReconditioned servo master cylinders£135 - Dunlop Jensen-Healey Interceptor MKI R £185 Healey F £44 cylinderMaster single linecylinders as fitted to 541 and Martin Shirley...... 02476 385535 Interceptor MKII/III F £74 CV-8 to 1965, reconditioned with stainless ...... [email protected] Piston/cylinderInterceptor MKII/III R £185 Reconditionedsteel sleeve, masternew seals cylinders etc - Dunlop £155 cylinder single line as fitted to 541 and PricesHealey are per single assemblyF £44 CV-8Dunlop to 1965, cylinder reconditioned tandem with as stainlessfitted to CV-8 541 early Piston/cylindertype F £72 steeland sleeve,Interceptor new seals to 1968etc reconditioned £155 541 earlyPrices type are per single assemblyR £72 Dunlopwith stainless cylinder tandem steel sleeve. as fitted to CV-8 £155 541 early type F £72 541R/S/CV-8 F £72 andGirling Interceptor replacement to 1968 cylinder reconditioned to replace the 541 early type R £72 with stainless steel sleeve. £155 541R/S/CV-8 R £72 original Dunlop tandem cylinder £155 541R/S/CV-8 F £72 Interceptor MKI F £72 Girling replacement cylinder to replace the 541R/S/CV-8 R £72 originalInterceptor Dunlop MKI/II tandem Girling cylinder 7/8” £155 £155 Interceptor MKI R £72 Interceptor MKI F £72 InterceptorInterceptor MKI/II MKIII Girling Girling 7/8” 1” £155 £155 Interceptor MKI R £72 Caliper seal kits InterceptorInterceptor MKIII MKIII Girling FAG 1” £155 £125 Prices areCaliper shown for axleseal set ofkits seal InterceptorHealey sports MKIII GirlingFAG original £125 £155 All DunlopPrices are shown for axleF set of seal£35 Healey sports Girling original £155 All DunlopAll Dunlop R F £28£35 Master cylinder InterceptorAll Dunlop MKII/III F R £28£28 Masterseal cylinder kits Interceptor MKII/III F £28 seal kits Interceptor MKII/III R £28 CV-8/Interceptor MKI to 1968 £28 Interceptor MKII/III R £28 Healey sports F £16 CV-8/Interceptor MKI to 1968 £28 Healey sports F £16 Interceptor MKII 7/8” £22 Caliper pistons Interceptor MKII 7/8” £22 Caliper pistons InterceptorInterceptor MKIII MKIII Girling Girling 1” 1” £22 £22 PricesPrices shown shown per per single single piston piston HealeyHealey sports sports £22 £22 InterceptorInterceptor MKII/III MKII/III smallsmall FF £18£18 InterceptorInterceptor MKII/III MKII/III largelarge FF £18£18 PricesPrices plus plus VAT VAT and and carriage carriage Interceptor MKII/III small R £18 Interceptor MKII/III small R £18 MailMail order order service service - export - export InterceptorInterceptor MKII/III MKII/III largelarge RR £18£18 AllAll major major credit credit and and debit debit cards cards Healey sports F £14 accepted Healey sports F £14 accepted CLASSICAR AUTOMOTIVE CLASSICARUnit A · Alderley · Chelford AUTOMOTIVE · Cheshire · SK11 9AP UnitTelephone A · Alderley 01625 · Chelford 860910 · ·Fax Cheshire 01625 860925 · SK11 9AP Telephone [email protected] 860910 · Fax 01625 860925 [email protected]
8 Jensen Event
JOC at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show - NEC he JOC have been long-term supporters of Britain’s premier classic car show Tdisplaying a whole range of vehicles representing the marque throughout the years. This year though, the display was unique and will never be repeated in the way the cars were displayed. The NEC’s theme for 2018 was “Built to last.”
Eighty years ago, Jensen Motors Limited attended their first Earl’s Court Motor Show in London. This event was at the time the premier motoring event in Britain, attracting huge attendances. It had taken the company a lot of lobbying of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (the show’s organisers) to get a stand to display the company’s current wares.
On that stand were two S-types (a drophead and a hard-top) and an H-type saloon.
2018 saw one of the cars that was on that actual stand (the S-type tourer) reunited with an H-type, (which whilst not the actual car on display in 1938 was at the show as a press demonstrator) shown again on our JOC stand at the NEC. The last time these cars were in each other’s presence being 80 years ago......
The current owner of the S-type, David Davies, obtained the car at auction two years ago. He has seen the car have a full body respray and restoration to suspension and engine, to look just as it would have done back at Earl’s Court in October 1938. David brought a fantastic folder of the car’s history with him to the NEC, showing the car through the years. David has known this particular car for a good few years and is now rightly proud to be the owner of a lovely looking and sounding machine.
The H-type on our JOC stand looked a bit different. H-1 was the car used for Alan Jensen’s wedding, but after Jensen Motors ceased to have use for it, it ended up in a lorry/coachbuilding works in South Wales. Apparently, it was intended to rebuild/restore the car but little work was undertaken apart from some significant dismantling - leaving the remains as a roundabout in The actual 1938 Earl’s Court catalogue the middle of the works......
The JOC stand at the NEC 2018, S-type in the foreground
9 The task now faced by H-1’s current owner, Bill Smith, is immense, and the car was displayed on our NEC stand as an example of work in progress. The hand built bodywork (consisting of aluminium panels tacked to an ash frame supported on a rebuilt/restored steel chassis) demonstrated what true coachbuilding used to be like.
At the NEC the car ran for the first time under its own power; reversing off its transporter prior to the show and then back onto it again afterwards.
Jumping forward to 1971 and the launch of the most powerful Jensen ever to come out of Kelvin Way, the SP. Easily recognisable with its fully louvered bonnet and distinctive orange air filter above the three twin barrel Holley carburettors.
The SP on the JOC stand had lain dormant for nearly 30 years before being rescued by JOC member Paul Tootill and co-owner Ken Symonds. The car made a very untidy appearance at the 2015 NEC Restoration Show in the Barn Finds section looking very sorry for itself. Move on three years to our stand at the NEC, and the vehicle has been subject to a full nut and bolt restoration, and was looking magnificent sat on its possibly controversial new 17 inch black wheels.
All three photos – the lovely S-type of David Davies
10 Both photos – Bill Smith’s H-type – work in progress
11 The wheels have been refurbished already – gaffer tape is non-standard......
The fourth car on the stand was the White Lady, the car considered work. It still is. The car changed hands in Canada with its new owners by many to be the first true Jensen. The prototype S-type dates from intending to restore it. However, the owners made the decision to sell 1935, and had not seen on British soil for over 60 years. The car’s the car before undertaking the work. story goes that it had been run by Jensen Motors, but had passed into private ownership after the war, and was purchased from a used car Through fortunate circumstances the car will now be restored (in dealer in Bristol in 1958 for £30 (paid in instalments!) by a Canadian Germany) by its new owner and JOC Early Cars’ Registrar Joerg dentist. He subsequently shipped the car back to Canada, where it Huesken. Its display at the NEC in totally unrestored condition was stayed until this year. its only public appearance in this state, as the next time it is seen it will hopefully be fully restored back to as near as possible original The car was put away in 1968 awaiting a repaint and some electrical condition.
The unrestored White Lady – a very elegantly styled car – and the first attempt at building a car by Jensen Motors Ltd.
12 Rear view of the White Lady
Joerg Huesken (JOC Early Cars’ Registrar) sitting in his White Lady
13 The SP of Paul Tootill and Ken Symonds
14 So those were the cars, ranging from a fully restored 1970’s flagship of Chairman Shaun with the White Lady Jensen Motors, a work in progress on an 80-year old four door saloon, a beautiful three door S-type tourer and the yet to be touched White Lady.
Raj Mangroo and her JOC Regalia stand
What about the people then who worked the stand, and those who came to see what it was all about? According to the organisers’ email 71,216 persons visited the show over the three days.
It felt like all of these passed through our stand! It was very busy throughout with the over-riding comment being “I didn’t know Jensens built cars like these. Aren’t they magnificent?”
A massive thanks to all those who helped out on the stand over the four days. Zac, Zac 2, Helen, Lewi, Chris and Alan, Alistair, Bill, David, Paul, Ken, Dave, Raj and Karan, Joerg, Jens, and not to forget Nic for the photos.
Further thanks to all the members who came onto the stand over the weekend to lend support and see the cars for themselves.
Finally, JOC Regalia made an appearance for the first time at a show in a number of years.
Thanks also to Raj and to Zac 2 for signing new, returning and renewing members up for their efforts over the weekend.
So for 2019, the JOC application for the NEC has already been submitted. A few different ideas in the pipeline......
Shaun Winfield
15 Appleyard parts, servicing & Sales
Cars always arriving - call for details TOO MANY PARTS TO LIST! C-V8 MKI & MKII new rear bumpers; NEW MKI & FF MKI cotton reel head rests now available in choice of colours; NEW bumpers for MKIII; NEW chrome eyeball vents; Now taking orders for S/S Interceptor door handles; NEW remote adjustable OPENING HOURS door mirrors; Wide range of quality Monday - Friday 9-6pm performance 383/440 Performer manifolds; Full range of Saturday 9am-1pm carpet sets Interceptor, FF, Healey. CALL FOR DETAILS T +44 (0)115 932 5320 F +44(0)115 932 3809 R Appleyard Parts Ltd CALL ANDY Plot 6b Unit 1A · Quarry Hill Industrial Park · Ilkeston · Derbyshire · DE7 4RB · England FOR DETAILS M 07917 671 116 W www.jensen.co.uk E [email protected]
16 Cherished Vehicle Insurance
Classic Jensen Insurance for JOC members
20% discount for Jensen Owners Club members.* Multi-vehicle and limited mileage policies available. Free DNA+ protection kit with each policy. Simple and free agreed value service. *Subject to minimum premium and normal underwriting criteria. Terms and conditions may apply. Please ask for details.
0333 003 8162 Facebook “f” Logo RGB / .ai Facebook “f” Logo RGB / .ai www.cherishedvehicleinsurance.co.uk Calls to 0333 numbers are charged at ‘normal’ rates from landlines. Cherished Vehicle Insurance Services is a trading name of A-Plan Holdings who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Offi ce: 2 Des Roches Square, Witney, OX28 4LE. Registered in England. Registration Number 750484 CVI 083 01/17 Owner Stories
Back from the brink - the rebuild of my Series III Interceptor
elfast-based Ad Man and JOC member Mark Case recounts the Ideally located for an Englishman now living in Belfast, I set off to Bslow and painful rebuild of his mid-life crisis car. Was it worth Dublin with a fully loaded chequebook and high hopes. I took my it? We’ll let you, our readers decide..... local mech, Mervyn (who has since rebuilt the car) with me for moral support and to stop me doing anything crazy; despite him pointing Apparently 136/8990 rolled off the Jensen assembly line in Kelvin Way, out numerous amounts of filler and a questionable resistance to a West Bromwich sometime in mid-October 1973. Around that same magnet run over its flanks, the car’s seductive Brienz Blue paint job time, not that many miles away in Nottingham, a spotty ten year old tipped me over the edge into insanity. A cheque for £8,000 later, and oik (me) saw a vision of beauty rolling past him one day, with a huge 136/8990 was mine. glass fishbowl hatchback making it look to all the world like Thunderbird 2 flying backwards. I was smitten. Fast forward past a year of dreamy swanning around, and autumn 2005 saw a series of strange boils starting to appear over most of Fast forward 31 years to 2004, and a now 41 year old middle-aged guy the lower surface of my glamorous rustbucket. A heated debate with found himself in ‘that’ place - a certain degree of financial stability, a Mervyn ensued, along the lines of ‘spend a few quid, bodge it up, sell little too much free time - and not quite sure what would suit him best it on and get a better one’. Coming to terms with the classic Jensen for a mid-life-crisis statement. Cue the wife’s helpful suggestion to ‘get paradox (a cheap car is actually very expensive in the long run) I made the car that you always wanted since you were a kid’. In the ensuing the foolish decision to actually do right by the old girl and commence years 136/8990 had clocked up just over 56,000 miles and changed a proper rebuild. hands a few times, ending up just north of Dublin, sporting a new coat of paint which hid a wheelbarrow’s worth of filler and a whole lot of Having started out my Jensen journey ill-informed, over-optimistic other hidden sins..... and under-funded, I thought I may as well carry on in the same way, and thus started a decade-long process, taking me through a global economic crash, the failure of my wife’s business and her struggle with (and triumph over) breast cancer, as well as two children through and out of school and into marriage and university. Needless to say, progress was cripplingly slow.....
From 2005 to 2013 progress was primarily defined by things that came out of the car - mostly a huge amount of rusted metal, along with the entire cabin, engine, drivetrain etc. The end result of that process was a motley collection of rotten panels holding on for grim death to a surprisingly solid and strong chassis (apparently the Jensen’s secret weapon in any fight with a brick wall). The next year I refer to as ‘the Swiss Cheese Era’ on account of the car’s similarity to said comestible, and at various points throughout 2014 I would visit Brienz Blue looks wonderful – but note the rust...... Merv with whatever payment I could muster at the time to keep the project on track.
At this time various transformative stages were crossed over, including the removal of the entire rear end, the appearance of various entirely new flanks and panels, a serious amount of welding and, at one point, the sight of large amounts of molten lead being poured over the front wings and then attacked with various rasps and files, as slowly, through stages akin to mediaeval torture, the car was brought back from the brink
As described by Merv, the project was essentially a case of bringing And the rust was also behind the outer shell..... a dead thing back to life, and after an eye-watering amount of old
18 Oh oh...... After sandblasting and etch priming – more old metal to replace
Merv with boot removed to treat rot and facilitate installing new metal metal was replaced by new (much of which was transformed through Local paint wizard Adrian McKay (mid-Ulster seems to be awash some form of sorcery from flat sheets to intricate compound-curved with craftsmen such as Adrian) set to with my chosen new colour shapes), we arrived at a point at which the only thing we were looking - BMW Mini Spice Orange Metallic. Chosen for its suitably groovy at was pure steel. Time for painting! 70s-tastic appearance, it trumped both the Brienz Blue from 2004 and the original solid Sage Green the car apparently sported when Or it would be, if we didn’t first have to go through soda blasting, it came off the assembly line back in ’73. At the same time I hauled acid etch priming and various other arcane fettles to ensure that the cabin interior off for re-upholstery, courtesy of Arek Car Interiors, no trace of tinworm remained. Cavity injection with Waxoyl was Ballymena (Alfa Romeo Tan - blame it on my last car, an Alfa 159), the last step before the car departed to its new temporary home and the gearbox was overhauled by McMullen Transmission Services. for painting. (Note to self - if I ever do anything like this again, Merv fabricated a new stainless steel fuel tank and then with the make sure all the grit is cleaned out of all the AC / ventilation car back with its new coat on, we started replacing, renovating, and pipes before rebuild, to avoid being blasted by grit once the car is rebuilding pretty much everything, with a constant stream of spare recommissioned). parts arriving courtesy of Andy Brooks at Appleyards.
19 The old seats...... and the new upholstery
Trim completed Bodywork under way
Inside of passenger door nearly completed Next on the list as soon as Mervyn gets his finger out!
20 2015-17 was marked largely by a steady supply of cash to various parts suppliers, as the car gradually regained a recognisable form.
Pistons being sorted..... New air con from Fen-Air
Engine sorted
Late 2017 saw the engine and gearbox dropped back into the car to get horses that had escaped over the last three decades. Having said that acquainted with the fully overhauled brakes, suspension, transmission it certainly seems to have perked the old gal up - see further on for and electrics. The rebuilt engine had been accompanied by new more details on this. alternator, starter motor, water pump etc, and various other new or rebuilt ancillaries. At this stage, there were very few concessions to Incremental fettling took place throughout autumn /winter 2017, ‘new’ technology, with the exception of a new aircon system (Fen with Merv’s frequent promises of the car being ready for MOT. Air) and the replacement of the old Carter carb with a Holley Sniper Spring 2018’s promises were accompanied by large pinches of salt. self-learning EFI. Nevertheless, it was finally trailered off to the local MOT centre for testing, and praise be, passed. Various incremental and halting ‘road The intention with the last item was to improve starting, reliability tests’ happened after that, mainly involving me pulling over to the and (moderately) economy, as opposed to outright performance, and side of the road and reaching for a well-thumbed notepad (kept in while the purists may not approve, I was happy with my choice. It also the central glovebox) followed by furious scribbling. Slowly, the bugs gives me a more than fighting chance of reclaiming some of the 330 were chased out.
21 A client’s desire to feature a retro-tastic 70s GT in an ad for her From then on until now (November 2018, at the time of writing), we new perfume brand launch precipitated a scramble to get the continued to chase out the remaining gremlins, and I’ve now had the car roadworthy for at least a week, and July 2018 (notable for an car back for a week. Superficially amazing, beautiful and glamorous, unseasonable heatwave in Northern Ireland) saw the car filmed in a everywhere I go the car draws admiring glances and comments. wide variety of locations, culminating in some very elegant high speed Heading into winter isn’t a great time to be road-testing or showing runs around Spelga Dam, County Down, the results of which included off a car like this, but I’m hopeful that I’m finally coming to the end a complete loss of all the power steering fluid, a dead alternator and of a long road. a strange unwillingness to switch off even after the removal of the ignition key. Back to Merv the Mech we went..... t Restored rear axle, petrol tank, leaf springs, shockers etc. in place
Overhauled steering rack
22 Ready for some serious road testing.....
Lesson learned? Don’t buy a cheap Jensen. The £8k The costs to date:- purchase price has inflated to over £80k of cold hard cash spent, but I’d like to think that continued TLC Car purchase 8,000 and improvements will be more than repaid if I ever Adrian McKay (bodyshell repaint) 4,200 decide to sell her in the future. For now, I genuinely Mervyn (labour) 51,619.65 can’t wait for summer 2019 so I can get the car out Appleyards (parts) 13,270.87 and about around all the classic car shows in Ireland. TJ Plating (rechrome bumpers) 924 For the future, I’m considering a Fosseway brake Summit Racing (fuel injection kit) 1,076.02 kit - which apparently you can now get for each McMullen Transmission Services 1,000 corner, with handbrake calipers for the rear. I think (gearbox rebuild) the bigger brakes will fill out the space better (you Arek Car Design (retrim and refit leather) 4,100 can see a lot more through the slots on the old- pattern but enlarged 17” wheels over the original Fen Air (supply and fit new Air con) 1,169.4 GKN 15”s). Audio Visual World 139.98 PowerMax Engineering (cams etc) 738 I may also eventually try and go for a higher output Halfords (speakers) 66 from the engine, but I’m aware that, following the law of unintended consequences, improvements in TOTAL £86,303.92 the ‘go’ will add new and additional strain on ‘stop’, so bigger and better brakes will definitely need to be a part of that equation. Having said that, for a bit of fun, I did some cold-start sprints on a local private road, and was pleasantly surprised to record a 0-60 time of 6.07 sec, which I’m guessing is not too bad?
Other than that, I’m not too sure. I’ve heard there’s a coil-over-shock rear suspension upgrade available, but I’m not sure how better a ride that will deliver to what is still a solid ‘live’ rear axle. I wouldn’t really be into the Jag independent suspension swap some people have gone for - a bit of a step too far, I think.
It’s a trade-off between retaining as much authenticity as possible versus ‘improving’ usability and performance. Added into that contentious equation is also the need for reliability and ensuring the car remains well-preserved for as long as I keep it. Merv (the car restorer) pictured with the author
23 Finished!
The journey for me so far has been a mix of highs and lows. Family, world (and the JOC International!) see it and letting me know if it’s all financial and health issues have been offset by the thrill of seeing a been worthwhile..... disastrously rotten car restored to, I think, better condition than when it left the factory. Along the way I’ve spent a fortune (over £86k to date), seen some amazing skills on display, wept over the monstrous invoices, and marvelled at seeing this old gentleman’s express being Mark Case slowly restored to its former glory. I’m looking forward to letting the JOC member no. 8365
Sussex Interceptors Jensen cars bought for dismantling anywhere within the UK New and second-hand parts always available
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24 French Connection
Way above the pay grade of us simpletons
nless you’ve lived under a rock or engine block for the past older vehicles within their city limits. Though some towns confine Udecade or two, you’ll know that there’s a whole bunch of their condemnation to older diesel powered cars, major French cities, developments threatening the way of life we’re used to. Plastic for example, simply restrict entrance on workdays between 08:00 and soup covering oceans, trade wars left and right, the mightiest 20:00 only to cars produced after 2000 for diesels and petrol engined man in the world’s hairdo, Nutella changing their recipe, Britain’s ones younger than 23 years. Which is a tad strange if you think about desperation to forget what the capital of Belgium is called – it. I would be slapped with a €68 fine (for now; prices are on the up) you get the picture. So don’t get me wrong if I kindly ask your when entering Paris with our petrol absorbing 1991 Mercedes – even attention for a slightly more inconsequential issue here. though it is kitted out with a catalytic converter in perfect working order. But the owner of a brand new Jeep, Dacia or Renault diesel, I know there are more important and worrisome concerns to address the most NOx polluting cars money can currently buy, will have no but, as policy makers keep telling us, these simply are way above problems finding his way to the Champs Elysées. Weird, but that’s the pay grade and intellectual ability of us simpletons. So I’ll leave how it is. safeguarding the future of our species in the capable hands of those not in the know either – but at least they get paid for thinking about Original dynamos it. So I’ll confine myself to something more down to my level of So, if you’re planning a nifty trip to one of the continent’s megalopolis’ comprehension: the developments threatening us classifionados. in your beloved Interceptor, C-V8, J-H or 541, just forget it. And this Because I tell you; our passion for driving our beloved Jensens is in peril. is only the beginning. Countries like Norway, Costa Rica and others And it’s not the likely risk of unexpectedly breaking down on some already have decided in favour of a total ban on petrol powered cars forlorn country road I’m talking about; it’s much more fundamental altogether. You may be allowed to drive your classic wheels into your than that. Because it could very well be the moment is nigh that we local town at night for another couple of years, maybe, but having won’t be allowed to put down our foot in our West Brommer at all. personally experienced the quality of the dynamos originally installed in most Jensens at Kelvin Way I’d think twice before embarking on any Greenhouse warming such adventure. And then there’s the minor issue of petrol prices… If you’ve read my earlier stories you know that a couple of friends and I annually embark on a pilgrimage to the Techno Classica Essen Simpleton rambling on motor show in an old banger or occasionally, like last year, in a nicely When we bought our first Jensen, somewhere in the early ”80s of restored oldtimer. We could opt for a modern driver, of course, but another century, you’d pay 36p for a litre Shell’s or BP’s finest in the where’s the fun in that, eh? Well, not breaking down on some forlorn UK, including some 55% tax. Now, in 2019, the same litre will set German country road for one, I guess. Anyway, planning this year’s you back about £1.31 with no less than 63% of it being levied by HM trip to the world’s largest indoor gathering of the automotive world’s Treasury. That’s all great fun when you’re trying to balance out a state finest creations, we stumbled upon Essen city council’s decision to budget, but not so nice if you’re the one paying for it. Which is what pull their weight in the battle against the greenhouse warming effect. Chief Macron, the boss of the continental French tribe, found out when he decided to increase fuel taxation by 10% with another 30% The way to the Champs Elysées hike expected to be implemented over the next couple of years. It’ll Like London, Paris, Rotterdam, Berlin, Rome and so many others happen, though, despite strong protests and blockades by a growing around the globe, major cities like Essen are imposing a ban on driving number of his Gallic fellow tribesmen dressed in their traditional Gilets
The yellow vests’ blockade near Paris
And an empty petrol station.....
25 Jaunes. Add to this mix the insatiable need of the Middle Eastern clans Don’t let ‘em get to you to keep their wallets filled to the brim despite their decreasing stock of I’ll bet you that a total interdiction on using our industrial heritage, black gold, well, we all know what that means for us guzzler owners. and that’s what our cars are, will never happen either. In the end, You’ll have to save up even to drive down to the petrol station. even those not in the know, operating somewhere up there in the pyramid of power, will be clever enough to understand that preserving and driving our automotive legacy is just as valid as the conservation, and the use, of windmills or steam engines. Yes, we’re continuously bombarded with politically correct messages that paint a not so bright future for our classics. Well, don’t let ‘em get to you. Because I’m convinced that in the end the automotive patrimony of this world, including our Jensens, will withstand the attacks by those not in the know. No, the real question here is whether our species, as their patrons, is able to survive. Unfortunately, that’s a question above my pay grade and intellectual ability.
The Forbidden City In the meantime, I’m happy to inform you that I’m seriously considering the acquisition of a Nissan Leaf. Or a Tesla. You know, one with a socket underneath the filler cap. Not only out of conviction, I should add. But also for the very earthly reason that my passport is expiring. And the Dutch Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from Holland, in this new home country of ours, happens to be based just off the Champs Elysées. Which is in the Forbidden City of Paris.
On a personal note, I can’t for the life of me understand why consumer fuel is so heavily taxed while airplane kerosene is not levied at all, even though the climate impact of aircraft emissions is calculated at no less than 5% of all the bad stuff we human beings throw at the atmosphere. But that’s just the simpleton in me rambling again. Sorry about that.
Not city vehicles Anyway, to cut a long story short: in the not so distant future you will no longer be allowed to drive your Jensen whenever you want. And even if they permit you to take it for a spin, it’ll cost you an arm and a leg complemented by your life savings. Doom and gloom for us petrol heads, then? Nah. On average, owners of classic cars take their contraptions out on the road for no more than about 1000 miles per annum. With a little financial planning, a cheap second mortgage and a tad more consideration when using the right foot, fuel prices won’t keep our West Bromwich creations in the garage.
How about the restrictions to enter major cities, then? Well, Jensens were designed as, and still are, Grand Tourers. Not city vehicles, that’s for sure. And let’s be honest: who in their right mind would want to take their Jensen down to Trafalgar Square anyway? Your car will overheat thrice before even getting close and once there you’ll be hard pressed to find any parking spots at all, let alone a covered one to prevent the rain from wreaking havoc on your carefully conserved leather interior. Roel Korzaan
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JOC Spring Weekend 10th - 12th May 2019
elcome to the JOC Spring Break weekend, visiting locations choice is yours; it is a self-guided tour with Google Map instructions Wsuch as the west coast of Wales, Snowdonia National Park for the full route. and Portmeirion plus the Brecon Beacons - depending on your route or number of days staying - 2 or 3 night weekend. Sunday we will head across the Mid Wales Hills towards the coast and then travel down the coast towards Aberaeron then a route back Based out of Llandrindod Wells at the Metropole Hotel. across the hills towards the hotel and then from there head off back home OR for those that choose to stay the Sunday night a night to The Hotel Metropole relax before heading home on Monday.
The days out are purely optional.
The hotel is the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells which has been used by many car groups including Mercedes, Aston Martin, Morgan, BMW and of course the JOC some 10 years ago and is a great base for us.
They are providing the driving routes and allocated parking for the JOC in the hotel car park. They also have on hand locally a classic car garage should things go the wrong/not to plan. Arrival on the Friday at your leisure with any southern route options that can include the Brecon Beacons. At the hotel you will also get the use of the leisure facilities including. swimming pool, the spa is chargeable. The meals will be a full English Saturday we will take a long day trip out that will head north from breakfast plus a three course dinner (5 choice menu) with tea and the hotel and via the Snowdonia National Park to include a stop at coffee afterwards. Portmeirion before heading back to the hotel. This day will be a good 200 miles and will be an all day trip with an early start for those You can book in for two or three nights (Friday to Sunday / Monday) that want to include the “Evo Triangle” detour from Lake Bala. Other and choose which grade of room you prefer for a minimum two night places can be stopped on the way such as the Snowdonia Railway, the stay.
Bala lake and the Aran hills
28 All Half board prices:- Double / Twin Share: – Classic room £152.00/night; Superior room £172.00/night, Tower room £212.00/night Single Room – These are on request (or you can book a double room for sole use, which the hotel will advise the rate). Classic room £86.00/night; Superior room £96.00/night; Tower room £116.00/night Family Rooms – (Double plus Bunk Beds):- 2 adults & 1 child – £167.00/night - Adults on half board, children on bed and breakfast. 2 adults & 2 children – £172.00/night - Adults on half board, children on bed and breakfast.
I have questioned the family room rate and they have said from deposit. We look forward to seeing you there and hope that the experience very few children want a full three course adult style meal weather gods are kind to us, even if only dry and looking forward to in the evening and so menus will be provided for the children to choose some spectacular driving, especially on the Saturday! from and this is paid for directly to the hotel on check out. There will be extras arranged with respective costs (Entrance to The hotel is dog friendly but there may be complications as they do Portmeirion for example) and these will be advised in due course; not allow dogs in their restaurant and so I advise anyone wishing to when you have booked please email [email protected] to notify take their dog with them, that they check with the hotel as to their us and then we can send you details of the places you can go to. Then arrangements. (subject to numbers) we can arrange a group entrance at extra cost.
To book please contact the hotel (http://www.metropole.co.uk) directly by email on [email protected] or telephone to book your chosen room by phoning the main switchboard on 01597823700 and Clive & Lindsey Bishop asking for reservations. After quoting “Jensen Owners Club” guests JOC Wessex Representatives. can secure their booking with a £20 per person non-refundable Phone Clive – 0789 1049169 Lindsey – 0797 1798595
Portmeirion village
29 30 Jensen Stories
C -V8 Registrar Money Can’t Buy Me Love: Eagle Squadrons and the C-V8 Owner who sank a U-Boat. Robert Sweeney: 104/2170. Charles Sweeney: 104/2199
rom the Daily Express, 27th January 1955: “A private detective a socialite, a champion golfer, a financier, and, during the war, an Fsaid that he and Mr. Wade and other private investigators RAF squadron leader who won the DFC and whose brother, Charles, knocked on Sweeney’s door, and Sweeney appeared, dressed in founded the Eagle Squadrons of American flyers fighting with the pyjamas. The detective said there was a scuffle between Sweeney RAF. and Wade as the detectives pushed their way in. At that moment Mrs. Wade came out of a bedroom to see what the disturbance was The story of Robert ‘Bobby’ Sweeney is worth telling, the story about. ‘She was wearing no clothes at all’.” of Bobby and Charles Sweeney is worth telling twice over. So was Charles Sweeney of 70 South Audley Street the same Charles If the Jensen Interceptor was the car of the jet set, the C-V8 seems Sweeney, brother of Robert? The fact that both cars were sold on to be belong to a different age, the ‘not so swinging ‘60s’, when men the same date and in London suggests he was, but I needed proof, wore Brylcreem and dressed for dinner, and women were debutantes a connection, before I could tell this story. That proof came from and dressed in furs, and when the rich and famous didn’t leave on a Miss Arden Sneed, a beautiful model and socialite from New York. In jet plane but sailed on a great ocean liner; it is the records kept by 1958 Charles Sweeney, Robert’s brother, married Miss Sneed, and in those great ocean liners that unlocked this story. February of 1960 Mrs Arden Sweeney, travelling to New York on the Queen Mary, is recorded in the passenger list for the voyage: her address is given as 70 South Audley Street, London.
Charles, the eldest brother, was born in America in 1909 to Robert Sweeney, a businessman from Wisconsin, and his wife Teresa; their younger son Robert was born in 1911. Robert the elder was a wealthy man, the families’ fortunes had been made in mining, and the brothers’ later life suggests they inherited his business sense. In the late 1920s Robert Sweeney moved the family to London where he founded the company that his sons later ran, but perhaps the greatest influence on their early life was their uncle, Colonel Charles Sweeney. 104/2170 at the Athens Motor Museum Colonel Charles, always C-V8 104/2170 was bought by Charles Sweeney of 70 South Audley known as Colonel to distinguish him from his nephew, was a soldier: Street, London. C-V8 104/2199 was bought by Robert Sweeney of he went to West Point in the early 1900s, but was kicked out twice. the Federated Finance Corporation of Copthall Avenue in the City of Undaunted, he became a ‘soldier of fortune’ fighting in revolutions London. Both cars were sold on the 30th June 1964. Finding out who in Mexico, Venezuela and Nicaragua. In 1914 he joined the French Robert Sweeney was wasn’t difficult, his connection to the Federated Foreign Legion, with which he won the Croix de Guerre and the Finance Corporation is given in the newspapers time and time Legion of Honour, before transferring to the American Expeditionary again; an American-born millionaire, an anglophile living in London, Force in France, ending the war as a Lieutenant Colonel.
31 Robert Sweeney in RAF uniform Charles Sweeney with Margaret, his first wife
In 1920 he was a temporary Brigadier with the Polish Army fighting 1939 and the advent of WWII saw both brothers in London. Charles, the Russians, and in 1925 he fought with the Spanish against the eager to do his bit for his adopted country and following in the Riffs in Morocco, and as late as 1937 he was in Spain to report on the footsteps of his Uncle, quickly set up his own ‘home defence’ unit, civil war. In France Colonel Charles would have seen the Lafayette the American Mechanized Home Defence Corp, recruited entirely Escadrille, a squadron of American volunteer pilots fighting with the from the American community in London. French before America’s formal involvement in the Great War (Eddie Rickenbacker, the racing driver, was perhaps the most famous of Colonel Charles meanwhile, back in the USA, now too old to fight the pilots). Colonel Charles’ nephews must have heard all about his himself, had begun recruiting American flyers to fight in Europe, adventures as they grew up. first for the Finns and then, after the capitulation of Finland to the Russians, for the French. It wasn’t easy, America’s strict neutrality Prior to WW2 the Sweeney brothers lived the life of the archetypal laws meant that any American fighting for a foreign country would rich Americans abroad, both brothers were educated at Oxford, be stripped of his citizenship; nevertheless at least half a dozen young Charles won three golfing blues and was Captain of the Oxford Americans did make it to France, just in time for the collapse of that golfing team. country in 1940.
They divided their time between London, the USA and their father’s holiday home in Le Touquet, where young Robert also learned to play golf. Both were blessed with movie star good looks: Charles the square-jawed all American movie hero; Bobby, the ‘curly haired Adonis’, the pensive matinee idol.
They moved in high society, always with a beautiful girl on their arm - they were friends with the Kennedy family, film stars, royalty and nobility.
In 1933, in London, Charles married Margaret Whigham, the year’s most beautiful debutante, and in 1937 Bobby won the British Amateur golf championship and was engaged to Barbara Hutton, the ‘Poor Little Rich Girl’ and the heir to the Woolworth’s fortune. Robert Sweeney with Barbara Hutton
32 It was Charles Sweeney who first suggested that his Uncle’s recruits lothario’ whose manhood was said to be so impressive that pepper should be brought to England and formed into an adjunct to his pots in posh Parisian restaurants are still known as ‘Rubirosas’). Mechanized Home Defence Corp to be known as the American Air Defence Corp.
Charles lobbied the Air Ministry, met Lord Beaverbrook (Minister for Aircraft Production) and Brendan Bracken, personal assistant to Winston Churchill. The British government, desperate to make up for the loss of trained pilots incurred during the battle for France, agreed to his proposal, though the recruits were to join the RAF rather than a private air force.
Charles Sweeney meets Winston Churchill
Though he is credited as the founder of what became the Eagle Squadrons, Charles Sweeney was never part of them, he eventually joined the United States Army Air Force when America entered the Joanne Connelley war in 1942; he served with the SHAEF Mission to France in 1944 and ended the war as Air Officer, London Munitions Assignment Board. Colonel Charles, though nearly 60 years old, was made an Honorary Group Captain; but it was Bobby Sweeney who actually went to war.
He joined the RAFVR and became the Adjutant to the first Eagle Squadron, No 71 Squadron RAF. Wanting to fly, he transferred to RAF Coastal Command as a bomber pilot.
In July 1943, flying a Consolidated Liberator, he and his crew sank U-404 off the coast of Spain, though not before the sub’ had put a cannon shell through an engine. Struggling on the three remaining engines and surviving an encounter with a Ju 88 on the way home, Bobby and his crew only just made it back to base. For his actions Bobby Sweeney was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was presented to him by King George VI at Buckingham Palace. Robert Sweeney is, as far as I know, the only C-V8 owner to sink a U-Boat.
After the war the Sweeney brothers went back into business and into high society, Bobby introduced the Duke of Windsor to golf, and in 1946 was runner up in the British Amateur golf championship. In 1954 he narrowly lost the US Amateur golf championship to a young Arnold Palmer. In 1949 he married New York society ’golden girl’ and debutante, Joanne Connelley: she was 18 and he was 38. They had two children but the marriage didn’t last, and in 1954 a divorce was granted on the grounds of her adultery with a Dominican diplomat, Porfirio ‘Rubi’ Ruberosa (an international playboy and ‘career- Pamela Curran
33 Undaunted, in 1957 Robert married Pamela Curran, another debutante Bobby Sweeney died of cancer in London in 1983, he was a British and budding Hollywood starlet. Curran was her stage name, she was, citizen by then, though he spent much of his post war life in the USA. prior to her marriage to Robert, Mrs Wade, the nude enquirer from Charles Sweeney lived in Mayfair for 63 years, dying in 1993 of a the Daily Express article (and a friend of Joanne Connelley). heart attack in Miami, Florida, while on holiday. Both brothers are buried in England. Charles Sweeney’s marriage to Margaret Whigham only lasted eight years before he married Arden Sneed in 1958. By 1964 Charles Margaret Sweeney, nee Whigham, went on to marry the 11th Duke Sweeney was Chairman of the Federated Finance Corporation and of Argyll; she famously became “sexually voracious” after hitting her many other companies besides. Bobby Sweeney is simply described head in a fall and the divorce that ended that marriage is celebrated as a partner in the firm (it is interesting to speculate as to why one as “the case of the headless man”, after the Duke produced a series C-V8 was apparently sold to the company but not the other, perhaps of Polaroid photos of a naked Duchess fellating a man whose head is they were both private sales but Bobby Sweeney preferred the out of shot (later believed to be Douglas Fairbanks Jnr and you could company address for correspondence). argue his head was very much in shot).
Arden Sweeney deserted Charles after only four years of marriage; she went back to the USA and died in Indianapolis after spending much of the latter years of her life caring for stray dogs. Charles’ daughter by his first marriage married the 10th Duke of Rutland and became a Duchess.
Joanne Connelley, the 18 year old first wife of Robert Sweeney, married again a week after her divorce from Robert in 1954, but not to Porfirio Ruberosa: her new husband was Jamie Patino- Ortiz, the Parisian son of a wealthy Bolivian tin- mining family. She was, briefly, known in the gossip columns as ‘the Patino Beauty’. Two months later she left a Rome clinic with $50,000 worth of jewellery and $50,000 in Swiss Francs (together worth perhaps $550,000 in today’s money), and disappeared. When found, her husband accused her of being a drug addict - she accused him of cruelty. She died in 1957 of a heart attack brought about by an addiction to sleeping pills, just before another divorce was granted; she was only 27 years old.
Pamela Curran was divorced from Bobby Sweeney in 1964 and went back to Hollywood, and a career in film and TV (including an appearance in two episodes of The Man from U.N.C.L.E). Though she was never a big movie star, she is still living.
Barbara Hutton never married Robert Sweeney, she married Cary Grant instead: he was her second husband, her fourth was Porfirio Ruberosa (who died in 1965 at the wheel of his Ferrari (after drink- driving) crashed into a tree in to a tree following an all-night celebration of his team’s victory in a polo tournament).
Colonel Charles died in 1963. By the end of his life he was credited with founding the Lafayette Squadrons in France in 1917 (he was there but he didn’t) and leading an American squadron against the Riffs in Morocco (he suggested it, but it didn’t happen), advising the Loyalists in the Spanish Civil War (he was only a war correspondent, though no Arden Sweeney, Charles Sweeney’s second wife doubt he had his views), spying for the French in
34 High Performance Jensen Brake Kits Classic Car Batteries
WW2 and founding the Eagle Squadrons (he did neither though he High Output Alternators was involved). Whether Colonel Charles himself took credit for any Dynator Conversions of this we don’t know, but his life was colourful enough without the embellishments! High Torque Starter Motors Charles Sweeney’s C-V8, 104/2170, was still in London in 1967 when the last addition was made to the service file, but we don’t know Engineered in the Heart of England 01386 426 249 if it still belonged to Charles. The next known owner was David Blockley | Glos. | England Prowse in 1983; David Prowse is better known as The Green Cross Code Man and as the actor who played Darth Vader in Star Wars. WWW.F OSSEWAYP ERFORMANCE.CO.UK The car currently resides in the Hellenic Motor Museum in Athens, looking rather splendid. Bobby Sweeney’s C-V8, 104/2199, was also still in London in 1967, intriguingly both 2170 and 2199 were initially serviced by Charles Follet Ltd, but for both cars the later correspondence is addressed to Brook Coachworks, High Street, Harlesden, London - suggesting the brothers did still own their NO MORE CAR cars and were still doing things together. Robert Sweeney’s C-V8, 104/2199, had many owners over the years but, again, a second DRYING - EVER! owner isn’t recorded until the early 1980s, more or less coincident Filter out all dissolved with Robert’s death. Could both of the brothers have kept their cars minerals for NO water spots for nearly 20 years? We don’t know. 104/2199 also survives and the current owner has started a ground up restoration. � 0ppm pure filtered water leaves no ugly watermarks even when your car is left to dry in bright sunlight Charles Sweeney’s involvement with the Eagle Squadrons was short, � 7 litre filter produces 400 litres, the route to Europe from the USA had always been through Canada, 14 litre filter produces 1100 litres and the Royal Canadian Air Force soon took over the business of of pure water � recruiting American flyers, around 7000 in all, who were eventually Eliminate drying swirls, save time for driving formed into the three Eagle Squadrons that fought as part of the � Refillable & reusable filter RAF from October 1940 to 1942. They became part of the US Army saves money long term Airforce when the US joined the war. Nevertheless seven Americans � Standard 7 litre filter will recruited by the Sweeneys flew with the RAF during the Battle of typically last a year Britain - they are known as ‘The Few of the Few’; only one survived The best car cleaning product I have bought the war. in my life. Wish I’d bought one years ago J. Longden, Huddersfield There is a memorial to the Eagle Squadrons in London’s Grosvenor Can’t recommend this product enough! J Weaver, Bristol Square in the form of an obelisk, an inscription on the base names Charles Sweeney as the founder of the Eagle Squadrons. ���� AutoExpress & EVO reviews
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jensen Advert AIB A4.indd 1 03/02/2018 19:49 Jensen Event
Jensen Club of Switzerland Mulhouse – Morges – Grimsel Rally – October 2018
hilst living in the UK I had the privilege of attending the This Jensen Club of Switzerland rally was based around the annual WJOC Turin Run in 2016 (retracing the exact route of the British Car Show at Morges near Lausanne on the shores of Lac Leman first Vignale built Interceptor from Turin to the UK exactly 50 but hey – what else is there to do in the area? And the answer is - years ago to the day), and the German/Czech Rally in 2017 heaps! The rally started across the French border in Mulhouse with a where the organisers had to cut off entrants at 90 Jensens – I dinner, and the next day was the visit to the famous Schlumpf Museum have never seen so many Jensens in one place – including plenty of 500 top of the range cars all in perfect working order – including of 541’s and C-V8’s! 120 Bugattis. As Laura and I were on the last part of a cruise along the Croatian coast we missed this day, and flew from Dubrovnik to Geneva These major Jensen events have created a camaraderie amongst the the following day to catch the tail end of the Morges show. For some UK and European-based owners, and it is fair to say that the success reason the hotel booking was mixed up and the only room they had of these events has resulted in more international events being run – left was the junior suite overlooking the car show, marina, Lac Leman and the perfect example of this was the Jensen Club of Switzerland and the Alps in the distance – a very nice welcome to Switzerland! Rally held in early October this year. At dinner that night we sat at a table with Andy Best, who let me Switzerland was a major export destination for Jensen and in recent occupy the co-pilots seat in his Interceptor Mk1 on the Turin Run, times, many LHD US Interceptors have found their way back to and a number of German members who were planning to join some Europe, and the Jensen Club of Switzerland is one of the most active UK events in 2019 so I could connect them with the organisers. The Jensen clubs in Europe. For the Turin 2016 Run they hosted a fabulous guest speaker was Peter Neale, the son of Eric Neale who designed the drinks and dinner reception in Lausanne overlooking Lac Leman for original 1950’s Interceptor, 541, C-V8 and the P66. It was a fascinating the convoy from the UK, Norway, Germany, and France, and where talk and full of childhood memories of the various cars his father many Swiss members then joined us for the run over the St Bernard brought home from time to time. Peter and his wife Jackie attended pass to Turin. in an immaculate red 541, and his brother also owns a 541 – great to have such a connections with the Jensen Company being actively involved in the Jensen Owners’ Club.
The next day was another bright and clear day and we set off in loose convoy to the south west of Switzerland. A few of us stopped at the base of the Furka Pass for lunch and a number of hotted-up cars (not Jensens) passed us: you could hear them having fun climbing the pass. But our fun was in a slightly different direction as we had to drive over the Grimsel Pass to our hotel for the next two nights. Whilst we were in a rental Renault it was fun blatting up and down all the switchbacks following a number of Jensens and a Mini. After checking in it was natural to wander around to inspect all the cars in the carpark, and to my very pleasant surprise, a Swiss member, Felix Kistler, (who I got to know on the Turin Run), handed me the keys to his C-V8 and told me At the hydropower station to go and have fun back on the Grimsel Pass.....
37 Felix Kistler hands me the keys to his C-V8 MkIII Some more Grimsel cars
His car is also a Mk3 and in the identical silver duco/red leather colour Hydroelectricity has been generated in Switzerland since the 1800’s, scheme as mine, so we refer to them as twins. And fun was had – and as most of the stations are in mountainous areas where the his C-V8 has a rortier exhaust than mine and booting it through the roads are closed over winter there is an extensive system of cable tunnels along the way was petrolhead music. Peddling a fast C-V8 cars to provide access to the stations. through stunning Swiss scenery and over the Alps is something to remember! And the rumour floating around the JOC is that the next international rally could be based on Poland in 2020 hosted by the Eastern Europe The next day we visited a large hydroelectric station halfway back up JOC Rep Szymon Rajwa. I had a good chat to Szymon over a late the Grimsel Pass, and it was a very technical and hence fascinating night schnapps or two – he used to be a banker, and now runs a tour –this particular station has four large turbines that can either Jensen restoration business near Krakow benefitting from skilled generate electricity or turn into pumps within a few minutes tradespeople at lower costs than Western Europe. Should be a great depending on the load and capacity in central Europe at the time. rally!
If there is too much capacity in the system the unit electricity price drops - so the turbines turn into pumps which also load balances the network. When there is not enough capacity and the price rises, the Tony C ope turbines turn into generators. Those clever Swiss engineers seem to JOC Rep Australia make as much money as Swiss bankers! Andi Kreis and his MkI FF – he is the Chairman Post script:- of JCOS and was the I would like to give my thanks to Andi, Felix and Michi for the amazing job rally organiser they did organising this rally in Switzerland. These guys took a comment that I made two years ago on the JOC Forum and ‘ran with it’ and what an amazing job they did. My thanks to these chaps are a bit more personal as on the Sunday at the Hotel Handeck at Guttannen’s dinner it was my birthday. Andi stood and thanked us all for attending. Then he produced a birthday card which somehow everybody had signed - then a chorus of “Happy Birthday to you” rang around the room. I went very red! It was also Peter Neale’s birthday too, so another chorus of “Happy Birthday” rang out, then after a few more words of thanks to us all, Andi, Felix and Michi got a well-deserved standing ovation. Our personal thanks to them all. Colin and Dine Mayes
38 Jensen Event
Eric Neale An after dinner talk at Grimsel during the Jensen Club of Switzerland Rally
ne of the great benefits of the JOC are the number of brakes and overdrives, and for the 541S the body was widened by 4” Omembers with connections to the Jensen Company and also and the Rolls Royce automatic was fitted to most 541S cars. businesses supplying Jensen parts and services. Volvo originally were negotiating with Karmann in Germany to make At the dinner after the British Car Meeting in the P1800 but VW dictated that should Karmann Morges, the after dinner speaker was none other accept the Volvo work they would cancel all the than Peter Neale, son of Eric Neale who designed VW contracts. Volvo then contacted other body Jensens from the original Interceptor to the P66. manufacturing companies and Richard Jensen and Eric negotiated a deal with Volvo directors at the Peter gave a very interesting talk about how his Savoy Hotel in London. The Linwood body plant in grandfather worked for Austin in the bodyshop, and Scotland of manufacturer Pressed Steel was in turn this encouraged his father to follow in his footsteps. sub-contracted by Jensen to create the unibody Eric was born in 1910, and after school Eric joined shells, which were then railed to be assembled at Mulliners in 1927. There he was involved in custom Jensen. In 1960, the first production P1800 (for the designs upon Rolls Royce and other chassis, and 1961 model year) left Jensen for an eager public. won a design competition in 1928. In 1929 he joined Holbrook Bodies, working on Armstrong Siddeley, The next challenge was to update the 541S to suit Triumph and Alvis bodies before moving to Singer, the Chrysler V8 engine for what was to become the Daimler, Austin and Wolseley before the war. C-V8, launched in 1962. While the styling of the Eric Neale C-V8 can be polarising it was originally designed to Eric joined the RAF in 1940 for five years and served in the Middle East have perspex fairings over the headlights, but these were dropped at a and Italy, and then worked in Intelligence at Bletchley Park. very late stage following the bad publicity that E Types were receiving for the problems with their similar fairings misting up. After the war he returned to Wolseley, however a mutual friend introduced Eric to the Jensen brothers Alan and Richard. He joined Another project that Eric was then involved in was converting the Jensen in 1946, where he was initially involved Sunbeam Alpine to accept a Ford V8 to create in the production of the PW, but took on the Sunbeam Tiger. designing the Austin A40 Sports. The Jensen brothers were keen to launch their first post By the mid-sixties the C-V8, which was only war design car, and Eric also then designed selling about 125 cars per year, was becoming the original Interceptor using the Austin 4 litre dated, and the lucrative Austin Healey contract engine – it is no surprise that the A40 Sports was also at risk as the Austin Healey would not and the Interceptor had similar styling cues. be able to meet future US safety legislation, so The early Interceptors had aluminium bodies the focus turned to the next big Jensen. and a boot made out of the new material ‘glass Eric Neale with P66 fibre’. Eric looked to the continent and designed an elegant model called the P66. However there were tensions as to Eric’s initial role at Jensen was Body Design and Development whether this car was the right car, and Deputy Chief Engineer Kevin Engineer, and he was then promoted to the new role of Director of Beattie together with the MD Brian Owen then approached a number Engineering. In this role he developed the original Austin Healey, and of Italian styling houses to develop the next Interceptor – and the then handled all subsequent design changes including the hardtops rest is history. While Eric was involved in the productionising of the and racing bodies. Vignale design, the Jensen brothers had both resigned in 1966.
The new challenge was to design a smaller, lighter car again based Eric then joined the firm that made Widney automotive aftermarket on the Austin 4 litre engine, and Eric designed what was to become products for the last chapter of his long and successful career. Eric the 541, the name being derived from 1954, Model 1 which was first passed away peacefully in Norfolk in 1997. shown at the 1953 Earls Court Motor Show where 1954 models were launched. This car, with its lightweight glass fibre streamlined body (and aluminium doors) with a low CD of 0.39, was a true four seater 100+mph tourer. The 541s were upgraded over the years with disc Tony C ope
39 Registrar’s Report
Jensen-Healey Registrar
s I write this Father Christmas is touring the village on his There were 51 Jensens altogether at the meeting and we had a lovely Asleigh accompanied by the local Lions Club and the Christmas spot by Lake Geneva looking across to the French Alps. The Swiss cake is in the oven so a belated Merry Christmas and Happy New roads were fantastic and I really enjoyed having the opportunity to Year! In contrast to the great summer it is pouring with rain..... drive on the mountain roads (David always kept this to himself!).
2018 was certainly a good year for Jensen-Healeys with more cars out The view from the top of the Grimsel Pass was incredible with amazing and about. The finale for me was a wonderful European Tour in late rock formations. It was a great trip covering six countries and 1950 September/early October. I travelled in the company of Stuart and miles of almost trouble-free motoring. Gill Allan and David and Jane Turnage (in their 541). After arriving in Rotterdam we drove to Het Jensen Genootschap weekend in Varel, Reality hit a couple of weeks later with a failed MOT. The passenger North Germany. As you will see from the photo there were 14 door latch needed fixing and the differential and prop shaft needed Jensen-Healeys and 1 GT in all colours of the rainbow! I think it was attention. also one of the rare occasions when we outnumbered Interceptors and other Jensen models. It really was good to meet you all and the It has really cheered me up to see so many Healeys on the road over aim is to get at least 20 to next year’s International Weekend in Hull the last year and, of course, talking to owners from all over Europe. I - so you have been informed! have been asked for valuations by several members whose cars have undergone extensive restoration so I am hoping to see more Jensen- Healeys entering Concours this year.
Concours Update There will be a full Concours Competition in 2019 and all the details will appear in the March/April magazine. It will be run on the same lines as last year and the Show’n’Shine will continue.
Jensen Healeys at Varel The post of Concours Secretary is still vacant so if you are interested in the post or would like to help please contact me. I would like to The weather was fantastic and we had some nice driving round the recruit some more judges and we do need some willing helpers to north German coast (unfortunately a jammed passenger door latch marshal car parking - although the car park in Hull is huge! meant I couldn’t get the hood down until Stuart managed to free the press stud inside the door).
We carried on to join the JCC of Switzerland in Mulhouse. Again there were several Jensen-Healeys in attendance at the British Car Meeting in Morges. Helen Newby
40 Morges with the JCC of Switzerland Austin DS5 Engine Performance Parts Direct from the manufacturer
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Dear Paul, This is WNP 710M, my 1973 Jensen Healey owned for 42 years and totally rebuilt over the past 9 years.
I started to take it apart in April 2009, I think in a moment of madness. I did the bodywork, mechanics, and electrics - everything. The only professional help I had was the final paint by my friend Mike (no room to spray a car at home); the carbs were rebuilt and tuned by Mr. Martin Shirley. A fine man Martin! The rest I did totally on my own. Looking back now, I must have been crazy. I have done a couple of rebuilds in the past but not to this extent.
Now as I am 76 years old my wife says I should be proud, I don't know about that, maybe the word used should be as I said before crazy…..
The point is, how good is it compared to the rest of the Jensen Healeys left out there? I suppose we will have to wait and see and maybe take it to a show, which I have never done before.
Alan Gater Member no.2235
Editor’s note:- Alan, take it to the 2019 JOC International, and either enter the Concours or ‘Show n’ Shine, to let the judges tell you officially!.
42 The interiro of Alan Gater’s Healey
Dear Paul, it will settle at the bottom. Put a bung in the cylinder and shake it I am a commissioning editor at Amberley Publishing in Stroud and I for 10-20 seconds. Allow the mixture to settle. If you still have 10ml am looking for authors to write books for our new classic cars series. of water at the bottom of the cylinder the fuel is ethanol-free. If The series consists of paperback books which may be between you now have approx 15ml of liquid at the bottom of the cylinder 8,000 and 18,000 words and with between 70 and 200 illustrations, the fuel contains 5% ethanol. Shaking the mixture has allowed the depending on the content. water to pull the ethanol out of suspension in the fuel.
If you or any of your contacts would like to discuss a book about A word of caution. I understand that in some parts of the UK even Jensen cars I would be delighted to hear from you. I will be happy Esso 97 has ethanol. Devon and Cornwall have been mentioned. to send you further information on the series and the publishing Also, I guess that at any time Esso could decide to add ethanol arrangements. across the board and fall in with the other suppliers. That’s why I test a sample almost every time I put fuel in the 541. Alexander Stilwell https://www.amberley-books.com/the-jaguar-xks.html Brian Philpott Amberley Publishing | The Hill | Stroud | Gloucestershire | GL5 4EP | Tel: (+44) (0)1453 847 800 | www.amberley-books.com Dear Paul, I think one way of getting young members (into the JOC) is to lower the membership fees if they are say aged 20 just as an example. Dear Paul, Because £38 seems a lot to us non-owners who can’t drive but just Rob Heydon in his sorry tale of his Healey engine fire in the Nov/ like the cars. Also someone who can look after them if they need Dec magazine advocates the use of Super Unleaded 97 fuel to avoid help with their Jensen. the effects of ethanol. He’s right but only partly so. I’ve tested 97 grade fuel from BP, Esso, Shell and Texaco as well as the offerings Mr Dunne from Tesco and Sainsbury’s. They all contain 5% ethanol except Esso Supreme 97. Editor’s note:- An interesting thought re cheaper subscription for The test is really simple. A fiver will buy you a set of plastic graduated younger members; the Chairman and I will raise this cylinders from Amazon. Pour 100ml of fuel into one cylinder and at a future meeting of the committee, as it’s a valid 10ml of water into another. Gently pour the water into the fuel and point!
43 New Members
Dear Darren,
Thanks for the email.
Details of the car are: - MkII C-V8 bought by me at auction on 24 June 2018.
Colour Red (though I am reliably informed by John Staddon that it left the factory as Deep Carriage Green). Chassis Number 104/2199; Engine number 200/4V; Registration 839 HYU which has been on the car since first registration.
Ex-factory 24 June 1964 (yes, I bought it on its 54th birthday). First owner 30.06.1964, was a Robert Sweeney of the Federated Finance Corp Ltd until at least 1968. Picture of the car attached, though the photo flatters it significantly! It has been unused 104/2199 – see the article in this mag about the Sweeney brothers for 22 years and needs some love!
My aim is to get it roadworthy within the next 2 months and dismantled for full refurbishment over the winter and beyond..... then drive it for a couple of hundred miles to give the engine, gearbox and diff a thorough test, following which it will be largely Adrian Tingle
Dear Darren, (VIN: 2311-1667) was acquired by me in 2009 in Bellevue, Washington. Beyond the information from the previous owner, Thank you for the warm welcome to the Jensen Owners' Club. (that he had purchased the vehicle in New Mexico 10 years prior I have enclosed a few pictures of my Jensens for your reference and driven it to Washington State for his own personal use), there and records. The 1976 ('75 chassis) Interceptor Convertible is little other historical background.
44 a storage facility in Texas. As the story was told by the agent handling the sale, the vehicle was used as a Texas school teacher’s daily driver to commute to work. Given the fact that it had some performance engine work done and was running "Cherry Bomb" glasspack as the mufflers, I would have liked to have met this teacher!
The motor was non-functional and has been removed, the interior was a total disaster and the paint had been destroyed by the Texas sun and heat.
Otherwise, the body and chassis are completely straight with no rust to be found. The body is being prepped for paint, with fenders flared, bumpers and door handles shaved, front cowling extended and lowered, and frenched rear lights.
The vehicle had the correct color exterior (white) at the time of The motor needed to be replaced, so a 440 HP2 block was found purchase, but the top and interior had been redone in Tan. While locally, and a performance engine has been built from this base rebuilding the drivetrain, I took the liberty to have the car painted with the assistance of a local machinist. Work will continue on in an updated livery, a modern Chrysler color (Passion Red Effect) this car through next winter, and it will hopefully be ready for with pin-striping to match the interior. Other than updated AC our next driving and show season. Ultimately this will not be a (which it doesn't need), the car is essentially stock. standard stock or original version of an Interceptor, but it will be fun to drive! My 1973 Interceptor (VIN: 140-8679) is a work in progress. This car was acquired in 2016 through an online auction out of Brian Lutt
Dear Darren, Great fun around the country lanes, but long distance or motorway driving? No chance. So I think a more usable, practical Thank you very much for the information. and spacious car such as an Interceptor might be the ticket to some more enjoyable classic driving as a couple, occasionally. Currently, I don’t have a Jensen and am just starting out on my quest to become an Interceptor owner. I’ve looked into Before you point it out, yes, I am prepared for the gas guzzling the various models and read up as much as I can, but as yet I aspect, having been the owner of a V12 for a number of years! haven’t driven one. Marcus Howes One of the benefits of joining the club I suppose, is to let other members know that I am looking and also see what comes up for sale.
I have attached a picture of myself, with my V12 E Type. I hope this is acceptable! I’m probably going to store the E Type for the short term until I decide its future. But in the meantime I shall look for a suitable Jensen.....
My car doesn’t get a lot of use and I have to say in truth she’s not a great deal of fun to drive. I just couldn’t take her out during the heat of this summer as she doesn’t have aircon and the cabin ventilation is appalling; as a consequence it gets unbearably hot.
By contrast in the winter, (not that it goes outside in this weather), it can become uncomfortably cold..... I generally do “solo” motoring with the car, as my wife isn’t a great fan. Marcus Howes with his V12 E-type
45 Dear Darren, WLO 971 needs a full restoration. The engine is not seized, but the brakes are totally inoperable and, according to my first Since my first contact with you, two years ago with a warm JOC investigations, the rust doesn’t seem too extensive. welcome, I have been very busy with my professional occupation and a Datsun 260 Z’s full restoration with my son. So now, the The original rims are in the rear boot, and, apart from little things complete overhaul of my 541R can start. such as the surrounding front oval bonnet trim, the central part of the steering wheel, the locking glovebox, and the elbow support I bought it in October 2016. I was lucky enough to get WLO 971, on the left door, the car seems complete. As a starting point, a one owner model. I found it in Scotland, close to Edinburgh and I began carefully dismantling the brake and clutch hydraulic it was a long trip with a trailer to bring it back to France. systems. The brakes are Dunlop discs front and rear, very similar to those of my Facel III restored 10 years ago. This car has never undergone an MoT in its all life, as it has been kept in a storage garage during the last 30 years. So, as soon as For sure, I have now have an occupation for a long time..... possible, it will go through its first French “contrôle technique” (equivalent to the MoT) to get a classic registration certificate. Philippe Dreisler Forum name hil541R
The 541R of Philippe Dreisler
Dear Darren, I’m currently in the process of a complete restoration. Hence, the car is dismantled. My plan is to restore her as much as possible to Here are some details of my Jensen: She is an 1971 Interceptor III, original spec, e.g. metallic fawn colour. left hand drive, chassis number: 133 / 5537. Being an early MK III, she still has the 383 (6276 cc) motor. Current colour is black but Here below are a couple of pictures: just after I bought her, and the original colour was metallic fawn. what the body currently looks like with me in the picture.
I bought her in January 2017 from Raimond Heinzl who imported I’m looking forward to the membership pack, the magazine and her back from the U.S. to Europe in 2016 but never registered the making many good contacts with other JOC members. car here. Previous owner in the U.S. was Richard C. Allison. Reinhard Sauerwein
The Interceptor MkIII of Reinhard Sauerwein
46 Dear Darren, So when I saw it the body was a kind of bare metal surface rust colour. I enjoyed reading the letters in my first issue mag 259 received since re-joining the Jensen community, and it reminded me that The engine did start but due to some missing exhaust parts the others may be interested in my money pit - Chassis No: 128 4619. noise made it difficult to assess the engine condition but I bought Engine No: J2535. I am the third owner of the car and I acquired it anyway. Now may be a good time to tell you that since my it in October 2007 from a car dealer in Essex. I was given some purchase I found out that it was so bad even Andy at Appleyard’s sketchy information with various documentation that showed turned it down! the car being off the road since 1979. I had the car MoT’d in September 17 so the car became legal 10 It would appear that the previous owner decided that the inner years after my purchase, if anyone is interested I can at some & outer sills needed attention, and as there was other corrosion/ time give a more documented report of re-build. damage “not really sure on details” it would be appropriate to re-paint the whole car; now this is where third hand story Terry Carney telling comes in - the garage partially stripped the car leaving Lincolnshire just the interior and windows in place and removed the paint....
J OC D iary
Sun May 12th 2019 Fri 20th – Sun 22nd Sept 2019 Thurs 14th – Sun 17th February 2019 Ferguson 4WD day @ British Motor JOC Tour of South Devon & Dartmoor JOC at the London Motor Show @ Excel Museum Gaydon Contact John Pym Contact John Staddon Contact Bill Munro T 07831 777665 E [email protected] T 07748 782437 / 01737 767517 E [email protected] E [email protected] Fri 10th – Mon 13th May 2019 JOC Spring Weekend @ Metropole Hotel, Fri 21st June – Sun 23rd June 2019 Llandrindod Wells JOC International @ Grange Park Hotel, Contact Clive Bishop Willerby Nr Beverley T 01597 823700 Contact Stuart Allen (For the latest updates please also E [email protected] E [email protected] visit:https://www.joc.org.uk/events/diary)
47 Area news
Southern Area We had another good turnout on September 4th for the Southern Area with a short drive out from Alresford to the Pub with No Name in Froxfield.
Author
Eustace’s Interceptor 3 and John Tunnicliffe’s SP waiting at the start of our Drive Out
(Left to right):- Roll call at ‘The Pub with No Name’ with Dean Wilcock, Bill Dearsley, Neil Eustace, John Tunnicliffe, Edward Brown and Phil Fish
Robert Edward Brown Southern Area Rep
48 Jensen Owners’ Club Area Representatives
CUMBRIA SCOTLAND YORKSHIRE GRAHAM CURTIS KEVIN BAX Chris Cawthron 01539 624984 07962 073660 07956 661306 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
NORTH WEST NORTHANTS LINCS & NOTTS DAVID MANOCK ANGUS FORSYTH RICHARD CLEWS 07786 240377 07506 001431 07720 215383 0844 8241130 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
CHESHIRE THREE COUNTIES NORFOLK ADRIAN HOWELLS (HERTS, BEDS & CAMBS) COLIN & DIANE MAYES BERNARD TOMINEY 01775 725020 01270 664609 07595 221642 (offi ce hours only) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
WARWICKS, SOUTH BUCKS & OXON SUFFOLK WORCS.,& W.MIDS SHAUN WINFIELD PETER & LYNDA HEYWOOD STEVE ZACAROLI (ZAC) 07969 129382 07434 524072 01905 610908 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
SOUTH WALES LONDON NORTH, ESSEX N. WEST & CENTRAL RICHARD STREETER DAVE BARNETT CHRIS GALE 07717 674670 01708 456439 07746 381506 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
WESSEX LONDON WEST THAMES VALLEY CLIVE & LINDSEY BISHOP DAVID DEVINE BRIAN & JOAN RAPER 07891 049169 (CLIVE) 0208 8452765 01256 780718 07971 798595 (LINDSEY) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
SOUTH WEST LONDON SOUTH KENT & S.E. LONDON THAMES & SURREY JOHN PYM TIM CLARK STEVE HODDER 07831 777665 01322 333484 07970 973672 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
SOUTHERN SOUTH DOWNS AREAS CO-ORDINATOR PHIL FISH (W & E SUSSEX) 07952 942048 JOHN PYM DAVID WRIGHT 07831 777665 EDWARD BROWN 01903 746101 07976 282667 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
INTERNATIONAL AREA CONTACTS IRELAND CANADA - ONTARIO - DAVID RODGER - 905 889 1882 GERRY FITZSIMONS CANADA - VICTORIA - ROBERT ATKINS - 250 544 1702 00 353 86 2557889 USA - CALIFORNIA - BOB ADAMS - 858 487 6371 - [email protected] [email protected] USA - EASTERN USA - BOB LASATER - [email protected] EUROPE - GERMANY - JENS JANSEN - 0049 172 8568 468 - [email protected] EUROPE - FRANCE - NIGEL PICKFORD - 0033 682 591 479 - [email protected] EUROPE - SWITZERLAND - FELIX KISTLER - 0041 79 736 06 41 - offi [email protected] EUROPE - NORWAY - OLE JON TVELTO - 0047 9300 4093 - [email protected] EUROPE - DENMARK - POUL - 0045 3391 8913 - [email protected] EUROPE - EAST AND POLAND - SZYMON (SIMON) RAJWA - 0048 601 255 629 AUSTRALIA - TONY COPE - [email protected]
JOC_AREA_REPS_CS6 Amended.indd 1 13/12/2018 12:32 Classifieds
INTERCEPTOR Carney, 01400281111 or 07774310488. the car to silicone brake fluid to prevent any Member 9212. further damage to the paint in the engine compartment. HEALEY / GT
Interceptor MkIII (128/4619). Purchased by me in October 2007 with an MOT dated Dec 1979 and recorded mileage of 32,594 miles. I have also installed a fresh set of OEM I had the car re-tested on 24th September Pirelli CN36 tires from Longstone Tyres in 2017 and it passed with nil advisories @ a England and have had them “ROAD-FORCED recorded mileage of just 32700 miles. I “balanced. The second owner had me believe the car was stationary for some 27 convert the car to Euro spec Dellorto 45mm years prior to my purchase and the log book Late 1974 Jensen Healey. I have been the carburetors that were NEW at 29k miles, states 2 previous owners. I am a retired motor mechanic on this car for the original owner replace the clutch, and install front and rear mechanic who served my apprenticeship in since it had 11,040 miles. It was then sold sway bars. Other items addressed are new the mid-60s so learned on these car types. I to another customer of ours for whom I seat belts, battery and seat bottom cushions have carried out an “as required” restoration continued working on the car until I had the and Danish webbing from Rejen Classics. This from 2007-2017 to include new tyres, opportunity to buy the car nearly 10 months car drives like it just left the dealer lot and calipers, discs, pads, master cylinder & pipes ago. This car wears its original paint and is a prime example of a beautifully preserved all round, new inner & outer sills and a bare interior and is a documented 35,914 original Jensen Healey. For questions, please contact metal repaint in Reef Blue by a respected miles. All purchase documentation is also Kevin McConnell at +1 805-797-0793 or body repairer. The body and underside is available with this car (purchase agreement, [email protected]. Please see the solid, also I added superior acoustic/thermal purchase contract, pre-delivery inspection extensive photos at: https://photos.app.goo. under bonnet insulation, refurbished the fuel and cashier’s check and hand written note gl/FBxq9wSNwE8kjHsT8. Price is $23,950.00 tank and the rear axle, gearbox engine oil with the name of the salesman who handled USD & filter have been changed. The navy blue the transaction.) The original owner is the interior has also been restored. The car is grandson of the founders of a well-known PARTS FOR SALE complete & running with a 6.3 litre engine Southern California candy company called that is not original, however the original 6.3 See’s Candy started in Pasadena California Jensen Healey lotus twin cam covers litre engine is sold with the car ready for re- in 1921. Since I’ve owned the car, I have believed to be from the early 1970s. I really build, even the tool roll & jack are present. restored the paint, including the engine bay, don’t know the value of these so welcome Please contact me for further information installed the original brake master cylinder, offers. Telephone Chris on: 07979418498. and pictures. Offers circa £55,000. Terence restored with a brass sleeve and converted Healey/GT. Brand new pair of black footwell Send your classified advertisements to: trim cards still in their original packaging. Stuart Turner, 66 Riverside Way, Hanham, Bristol BS15 3TF. These have been manufactured by Rejen to Tel: 07814 039889 E: [email protected] original specification and have never been fitted. Only £39 plus postage (which is All classified advertisements are FREE to members and non-members alike, provided that they considerably less than they cost). Contact are not businesses or trade adverts and are motor related (see rates panel). You may include a Richard 07876 638664 (East Sussex). PHOTO free of charge, which will be used if space permits. Photos cannot be returned unless you include an SAE. WANTED Advertising rates as of January 2018: Full page: £220 Set of wire wheels for my 1960 Jensen Double page spread £400 Half page: £115 541R. Please contact JOC member 9774 Phil Quarter page £60 Williams on 07808130075. Eighth page: £39 Trade classified ad (up to 10 lines) £15 Please note, free classified Leaflet inserts: £350 adverts will only be reprinted if No VAT is payable, we are not VAT registered. Traders’ invoices are sent out with a copy of the magazine in which the advert appears. Payment is due after receipt of invoice. you contact [email protected] by FINAL DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS: Friday 8 February Fri 8 February
50 JENSEN Jensen Motors Ltd. Part of the
Manufacturer and supplier of genuine Jensen and Jensen Healey parts
www.martinrobey.com Tel: 02476 386 903