1939' Jensen S-Type Tourer

This Jensen was the 1938 Earls Court Motor Show car, first registered by the factory on 2 March 1939. Campaigned in the 1939 RAC and Scottish Rallies by Brooklands racer Alan Hess. One of only five remaining out of eight made. Three owners, including the current owner between 1939 and 2022. 56, 000 miles. Exceptional original condition. Coachwork renovated to a very high standard by Red Triangle in 2018, finished in the original Light Cream with Black wheels. Photos by motoring photographer Stefan Marjoram at Grayshott Hall where the car lived from 1946 to 1960.

MODEL HISTORY

The Jensen 3 ½ Litre Saloon, also known as the ‘S-Type’, was launched in 1936, the first production model of Jensen Motors Limited. 35 were made. Early the following year, the Tourer was launched, of which only eight were built. The S-Type had a powerful V8 Ford engine with twin SUs, a three-speed box and twin-ratio rear axle, providing 60 mph at 2, 000 rpm in overdrive top. Maximum speed 90 mph. The Tourer had spectacular dual-cowl coachwork designed and built by Jensen.

EQUIPMENT

Original hood, side-screens and front tonneau, renewed rear tonneau and hood bag to match, original grey leather seats and interior trim, original tool tray with some original tools, folding windscreen, rear aero screens, special close-coupled Jensen gear change, six forward gears, the twin-ratio rear axle being operated from the dashboard, wire wheels, built-in DWS jacks, fog light, windscreen washers from new, original working trafficators with winkers and reflectors for modern traffic.

EXTERIOR

The ash frame and aluminium body panels are original. They were repaired and restored in 2018 as required and finished in the original Motor Show colour scheme with Cream fabric running boards, at a cost in excess of £80, 000. All invoices on file. The chassis required no attention. The original hood and side screens are in good condition as are the tonneaus and hood bag.

INTERIOR

The original grey leather seats and interior trim, including the unique grey leather dashboard, have been retained and have a wonderful patina: the car is one of the only pre-war Jensens to still have its original interior. Even the carpets are original apart from the front carpet mats. All the instruments and gauges are original and in working order.

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION

The V8 Ford engine is original. The heads were replaced in 1971 by the first owner due to aluminium corrosion after a period of being laid up, while the second owner had the engine and gearbox completely overhauled in 2012 by two early V8 Ford specialists. Red Triangle recently replaced the cylinder head gaskets and reskimmed the heads. The front down pipes and flanges have also been renewed and the manifolds reskimmed. The carburettors were fully overhauled and the radiator re-cored in 2018. Hoses and belts have been renewed and fluids and service items have been changed regularly. The Jensen has recently undergone a comprehensive inspection at Red Triangle with any identified issues addressed. Invoices are on file.

WHEELS TYRES AND BRAKES

The Jensen sits on period-correct Firestone 16 x 6. 5 tyres which have now done around 1, 600 miles. The brakes have been fully overhauled as well as the Luvax stand-alone shock absorbers (the original adjustable type is not available now) and the kingpins. The wire wheels have been refurbished.

HISTORY FILE

The car was featured extensively in the recent book Jensen: The Surviving 3 ½ & 4 ¼ Litre Cars and The Automobile magazine carried an article on it in the August 2019 issue, copies of which come with the car. The Jensen also comes with a more detailed 55-page illustrated history from new and substantial history files, including contemporary photographs of the car in 1939 on the Earls Court Motor Show stand, in the RAC and Scottish Rallies and when used by Alan Jensen. There are also later photographs in most of the following decades and a comprehensive photographic record before, during and after its restoration in 2018.

The first long-term owner kept the car for 54 years from 1939 to 1993, in the name of one of his companies then latterly in the name of his 12-year-old grandson resident at the same farm, though he never drove it, by which time it had covered 52, 350 miles. During the late 1940s and 1950s the Jensen was mainly used for epic summer trips to the South of France and the Amalfi Coast in Italy, and occasional weekend use in the UK.

The Jensen then passed in 1993 to a well-known classic car collector for the next 23 years, registered in the name of one of his companies and then in his wife’s name. As he spent most of each year abroad, it only covered 2, 200 miles during this time when he was in the UK but was always maintained and MOT’d.

The current owner purchased the car in 2016 at 54, 480 miles and has covered a further 1, 600 miles. Care commitments now prevent further use.

An old-style green continuation log-book from 1966 and a complete set of V5 and V5C documentation is on file. The Jensen has a current MOT, expiring in November 2022, all MOTs from 1982 and an earlier one from 1966 when it was last used prior to that date.

An important and historic Jensen. A unique opportunity to acquire one of the rarest and most beautiful cars of the pre-war era.