Jensen Liquidation May 1976

[jensenavantilover]

Does anyone know how the liquidation was actually conducted? ie: Asset Auction? Was there BBC or any photographed coverage of the event if one was held. Are there any photos of the facilities cars on the line etc. at the time of the closing?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time.

[RockyUSA]

You have probably seen this from another JOC page...



In 1966 the ‘Interceptor’ was voted ‘Car of the Year’. Around 4,500 would be built.

Unfortunately the Jensen brothers, now getting on in years, and not happy with the direction the company was taking, especially with the use of Italian bodies, decided to call it a day, and retired from the business in 1966.

In the late 1960s things started to go wrong. The Austin Healey was discontinued and so Jensen lost a most lucrative contract, the main source of income for the company.
At the time body building work was in short supply, and the business found itself in deep trouble.

After the demise of the Austin Healey, Donald Healey planned to build a new sports car as a replacement, built by Jensen and aimed at the American Market. Jensen’s dealer in California, Kjell Qvale, an extremely successful American businessman, was greatly impressed with Healey’s plans for the new car. As a result he became Jensen’s major shareholder, and employed Donald Healey as company chairman. The plans for the new car, called the Jensen Healey rapidly got underway and the car went into production in 1972. Unfortunately there were faults in the design, and the build quality left a lot to be desired. An improved version appeared the following year, but Donald Healey disapproved, and resigned.

Desperate efforts were made to improve the situation, including cost-cutting which resulted in a large number of redundancies.

New up-market versions of the ‘Intereceptor’ were launched including a convertible and a coupé, but all to no avail.

Jensen’s financial situation worsened and a Receiver was appointed in September 1975. Production continued until Jensen Motors Limited went into liquidation in May 1976.

The company was sold in two parts to a holding company, Britcar Holdings. The two parts were Jensen Special Products Limited, and Jensen Parts and Service Limited.

Jensen Special Products Limited was a specialised engineering and design company, mainly formed from Jensen’s development department. Unfortunately the venture failed after an unsuccessful management buy-out.

Jensen Parts and Service Limited had been formed to service and renovate Jensen cars. It became quite profitable and began to import Subaru, and later Hyundai cars. Company employee Ian Orford, who had purchased the right to the Jensen brand name, took the business over in 1982 and it became Jensen Cars Limited. He decided to restart production of the ‘Interceptor’ using the original jigs and readily available components. The new Series 4 ‘Interceptor’ made its first appearance at the 1983 Birmingham Motor Fair. The car was almost identical the previous model, except that it now had a Chrysler 5.9 litre engine. The car sold for around £45,000, but production never really got underway and only a few were built.

In 1988 Ian Orford sold the business to Unicorn Holdings of Stockport. Although development work then started on a new model, the Series 5, it never came to fruition. After a round of cost-cutting, a Receiver was appointed in 1992 which resulted in the closure, and sale of the Kelvin Way Site. In April 1993 Martin Robey, a manufacturer of Jaguar body spares in Nuneaton purchased the design rights, copyrights, tooling, stock of parts, and almost the entire contents of the works. Some of the remaining Jensen staff joined the Nuneaton workforce and the business became Martin Robey Sales Limited. Their Jensen and Jensen Healey works Parts Department still offers parts from the original Jensen stock, and also manufactures parts using the original tooling and specifications.

[jensenavantilover]

Thanks I had seen that posting. I was curious as to the actual event. Was it a liquidation at the facility in West Bromwich? Has anyone seen photos of the operations just after shutdown before liquidation? Were there cars "on the line" or other possible interior plant photos at the end? I noted there have been photos of the SV=8 operations after their close. They represent to me the end of operations at the close of day.

I have not seen a great deal of photos with the Interceptor in production at their facilities as well in good times as well as the end.

Anyone who can help out I appreciate your comments and sources.

Thanks in advance

[zacmarshall]

Have a look at page 122 and 123 of Jensen Interceptor by Mike Taylor for some photos. One of the photos (Of JOC Editor John Pellowe) is also used in issue 17 of the magazine (I will send you a scan later)

[cannonball]

I thought Hugh wainright owned Jensen for a period,, and also did the robey group not buy the Jensen name ??? thank you

[challenger]

you are correct duncan, for those that havent seen these, jensen was a thriving buisness in mid 80,s this is while ian orford ran the place, you will also see a pic of the first s4 that was built and all conversion work done by john page https://www.flickr.com/photos/48235702@ ... 067271317/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Keith]

did the robey group not buy the Jensen name ???

No, Robey did not buy the Jensen name.

[cannonball]

you are correct duncan, for those that havent seen these, jensen was a thriving buisness in mid 80,s this is while ian orford ran the place, you will also see a pic of the first s4 that was built and all conversion work done by john page https://www.flickr.com/photos/48235702@ ... 067271317/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hello Jimbo, that was a great period in time, i bet if you had been a good few yrs younger you would have took that lot over,,

[Grant]

Evening Dunc and Jimbo Challenger
Did you work there there then Jim?
Dunc are you implying that in your opinion Jim is too Old now?

[cannonball]

Evening Dunc and Jimbo Challenger
Did you work there there then Jim?
Dunc are you implying that in your opinion Jim is too Old now?

ha ha its complicated when i look at it. i think Jim was only young back then maybe not even 10 in the low 80,s ??????????????????????

[challenger]

Evening Dunc and Jimbo Challenger
Did you work there there then Jim?
Dunc are you implying that in your opinion Jim is too Old now?

grant, i didnt work at jensen as dunc says i would of been a wee lad !! i worked with ian orford for 20yrs at the garage he ran after jensen. i also worked with john page for 13yrs who spent 30yrs at jensen, he was also workshop foreman and probably the most knowledgable jensen guy you will ever come across.i still see john regular but since i left ians to set up my own buisness i no longer see him, over the years i heard a lot of stories and learnt a lot from them,

[Grant]

Evening Dunc and Jimbo Challenger
Did you work there there then Jim?
Dunc are you implying that in your opinion Jim is too Old now?

grant, i didnt work at jensen as dunc says i would of been a wee lad !! i worked with ian orford for 20yrs at the garage he ran after jensen. i also worked with john page for 13yrs who spent 30yrs at jensen, he was also workshop foreman and probably the most knowledgable jensen guy you will ever come across.i still see john regular but since i left ians to set up my own buisness i no longer see him, over the years i heard a lot of stories and learnt a lot from them,

Many thanks for your answer Jim, I am sure you will regret letting me know you are Jensen tied!!!>> here you are here >> after letting me know this.. I am Top Anorak and a completely weird type, I am sure DuncyMan will vouch for that!!
Where are you based then please Jim?
Wishing you well Jimboleeny

[ajc9415]

Does anyone know how the liquidation was actually conducted? ie: Asset Auction?

I’m pretty sure there was an auction as I seem to recall that someone posted some photos from it on this forum. It was a few years back.

[Tim SP]

As One of the founding uber geeks! The phot's were great- thanks Jim for sharing.
Its great to hear about the good old days of the factory & later times- priceless infact, I can say that most members would be thrilled to hear them, it would also make for a great magazine article, esp with phots etc, something I am happy to help with.

I have 2006 the RHD S4 Interceptor, I don't spose you recall it??
Lucky as the chap who ordered it, asked Ian to take photo's so we do have some of it being built.

Again brilliant post!

[challenger]

Evening Dunc and Jimbo Challenger
Did you work there there then Jim?
Dunc are you implying that in your opinion Jim is too Old now?

grant, i didnt work at jensen as dunc says i would of been a wee lad !! i worked with ian orford for 20yrs at the garage he ran after jensen. i also worked with john page for 13yrs who spent 30yrs at jensen, he was also workshop foreman and probably the most knowledgable jensen guy you will ever come across.i still see john regular but since i left ians to set up my own buisness i no longer see him, over the years i heard a lot of stories and learnt a lot from them,

Many thanks for your answer Jim, I am sure you will regret letting me know you are Jensen tied!!!>> here you are here >> after letting me know this.. I am Top Anorak and a completely weird type, I am sure DuncyMan will vouch for that!!
Where are you based then please Jim?
Wishing you well Jimboleeny

grant im based in west midlands, stourport, take alook at the shop and the cars i get in for repair https://www.facebook.com/JIMS-AUTOS-185565251798246/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;