New Build from the States

[Mark I]

The fun begins. Now that both door frames, glass, seals and hardware are installed. The windows move up and down properly. The inner and outer seals work nice. It’s time to pull it all back out again and installed the damned outer door weather strips. feels like Groundhog Day. Then I get to re-install it all again.

[Mark I]

I’ve definitely spent the most time and care on the 5 Coupe window frames. After paint and chrome we had to do quite a bit of work getting everything to fit and sit just right.

[Mark I]

I consulted with quite a few auto glass guys and the consensus was pre-glazing all the glass using Ford fitting tape. This is to make sure that none of the glass will have any metal contact. The excess is then removed using an razor knife.

[Mark I]

I was given a bunch of butyl in different sizes and thicknesses, some with foam cores, The outside rim is set with urethane. And adheres to the butyl on the inside lip of the frame, creating an air and water tight seal. The most brutal part, and took a good four days. Was glazing and trimming everything with urethane. Paul's hands were destroyed at the end.

[Mark I]

Definitely worth the extra effort.

[Mark I]

With just a few more hurdles left. Installing the back window and making up some chrome trim being one. I finally can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

[cannonball]

[cannonball]

that looks a sexy car, most coupes look naff,,

[Grant]

Stunning and Beautiful, 100% brilliant workmanship Mr Mk1... Your fave colour too Dunc!
Its a credit to you Mk1 Man

[colin7673]

What head lights do you have, Sorry if you have already said

Thanks Guys,

Octane Lighting 5-3/4 H5006 H5001 Amber LED Angel Eye Halo Turn Signal Halogen H4 Bulb Headlight. They were inexpensive, so I thought I’d order them and see how they looked. They are both turning signals and running lights.

I think they look good, look like the car came with them from new, Very smart.

[aslef]

Great to see that you are back and busy again,fantastic watching things come together.

Tim

[Mark I]

So I just dug up a few before and some of the new photos of how far the car has come.

[RockyUSA]

The top two photos (rear 3/4 view) really shows the difference in the “before“ and “after”.

Great work - really shows off your attention to detail!

Rocky

[Dion]

Your squared off rear window looks SO much better than the factory rounded window!

[cannonball]

Hi to all reading Mark’s rebuild of his Coupe,

l see that Mark has not mentioned where the rendition came from. Mark has copied the rendition from my website Jensen Motors Australia Pty Ltd, and has been using the green rendition Coupe that I rebuilt as a guide. We have had several phone calls to discuss how I did it.

The Dark Green metallic with black leather trim is a 1976 Jensen Coupe which l rebuilt, and finished back in 2001/2002. I also changed some more items of the car in 2005 - 2007 to get more weight of it. It is fitted with a GTSR Viper racing engine with its matching gearbox, and is fitted with rear independent double-wishbone suspension.

In regards to the roof and glass, l had all the black glass remade, and installed a new custom-made back window with heater element. I also made all new mouldings for the rear window. Together, this cost me $5000 AUD.

(Mark, you hit the nail right on the head. The rendition looks fantastic, however there's no arch in the roof. On a regular Jensen Saloon, and in the Coupe, from B pillars across there is about 4 inches of arch built into the roof. The arch glass has about the same. I just went & sat in both of these cars to check, and unless you D-cushion the seats, or are incredibly short, this arch for the headroom that is definitely necessary.)

Please note that the front of the roof is the same as the standard roof, l have change the angle of the roof and there is an arch in the rear of the front half as it has to follow the frame and black glass shape - rear section of the roof. The rear section of the roof has to follow the shape of the roof glass and its frame, and then it merges to a lesser arch where it meets the rear window. There is still good head room. As l mentioned to Mark on the phone, l have removed the roof again as there was still too much movement with the two halves. The Jensen Factory had noticed this movement, and I have over 300 Production drawings of the Jensen Coupe, with a lot of them coming from the Jensen Engineering Team with amendments to try and overcome this issue.

Note for Mark: have you checked to see that your boot lid will open fully, like a Jensen Convertible? I only mention this as the boot lid on the Coupe did not open fully without hitting the back window. This was due to the rear window being set too far back. The Jensen factory fitted special boot lid supports that would stop it opening too far.
The green Coupe has a boot lid that will fully open.

I hope to bring the green Coupe over to Europe/UK in 2018. I also have another Coupe to rebuild that the owner wants to have it rebuilt like the green Coupe plus to be fitted with a 426 Hemi with an 8-speed auto that I hope to have finished by then all going well .

Regards,
Coupe

Jensen Motors Australia Pty Ltd

Any chance we could see pictures of this coupe ??? you built and also the one you fitting the Hemi,???? very interested coupe sir,,