Now that's different

[bonkers24seven]

On eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1965-Ford-Mus ... 3643356395

[Denis]

Rumours that it was developed for the Swedish government order for police .

[Jens]

LHD - and the myth says that this was not possible for Jensen

[ajm541s]

Regrettably the 'myth' concerning an LHD version of the FF is hard fact. The problem we had with the FF was due to the Ferguson unit not being able to be run upside down, which it would have had to do if a mirror image conversion was used. With the chassis as designed by Jensen this was the only possibility in order to make room for the steering in an LHD configuration. Believe me, we were well aware that, despite the stiff price, the LHD export market was of considerable value to us and which might well have been sufficient reduce unit cost and prolong the life of it and future models.
With a monocoque chassis and smaller engine block the story is very different, as this Mustang proves. However, still nobody took it up, which I suspect was mainly due to cost and weight penalities.
Could Jensen have designed a better chassis? Most likely yes, but at the time the only affordable way of producing the FF was by converting the Interceptor chassis. While it was not a commercial success in itself, the value of the FF in terms of publicity for the company was enormous, far better than any amount of advertising we could have paid for.

[Tim SP]

It would seem to still be paying for itself & I rather fancy will continue to long after we are all dust!

[zacmarshall]

While it was not a commercial success in itself, the value of the FF in terms of publicity for the company was enormous, far better than any amount of advertising we could have paid for.

I think the percentage of Quattro model Audis to the front wheel drive models is around the same as that of the FF to the Interceptor, nobody says the 4wd Audis aren't a success.

Having driven an SP on song over greasy Autumn roads then give me an FF any day.

[Jens]

Thanks for the explanation Tony, and sorry for the "myth".

I love to read your insight stories whenever they pop up.

Do you know what Ford did with the Ferguson unit? What did they do to create the LHD versions if the unit could not just put upside down?

Jens, curious.

[ajm541s]

Not being an engineer I can only guess, as I said before, that it was the Jensen chassis configuration that was the problem, there not being any room for LHD steering. There were many other cars converted to FF drive, including Ford Granadas, Vauxhalls etc.
What I find interesting about this Mustang is that it was built early in 1965 as a demo car to solicit business. Is this how Jensen became involved? It all happened before I joined JML.

[MikeWilliams]

Thank you Tony. Glad to see you are still active in Jensen circles.

Maybe this story will come out one day when Richard Calver's magnum opus is published, but in order for that to happen we need to get out there and buy his current books.

Mike