Jensen Interceptor History

[jensenavantilover]

Is it just me or is there a definite lack of any Jensen History on the forum or in the magazine? I am intrigued by what Richard and Allen were able to accomplish as well as their manufacturing facilities. I would hope that some key individuals are still alive and can be approached before its to late with their musings shared with us in the Jensen world. Perhaps the JOC could retain someone like Richard Calver to contribute an ongoing column (for a fee or course) so that we can all be educated about our favorite marque and the information is not lost when people pass.

Just a few thoughts and ramblings.

[RockyUSA]

I would (respectfully) disagree that the Jensen history is not well known & documented...

There are lots of sources for information, and there are some people who worked at Jensen that are participants here on this forum.

Check out:

- Memoirs of the White Lady (36 Issue Series of JOC Magazines & Periodicals) - Available from the JOC

Books (I care mostly about Interceptors, but...)

- Jensen Interceptor by Mike Taylor
- Jensen & Jensen-Healy by Keith Anderson
- Jensen Interceptor Gold Portfolio - Series of Magazine Articles Compiled into a Book

Video:

Tool Connection UK - Jensen Interviews with Phil Grice

Postings by:

- Nick Maltby (Draftsman at Jensen Motors)

- others??? (I know there are more... Maybe someone can help me here).

Anyway - lots of material available, enough to fill my cup to overflowing!

Regards -

Rocky

[RockyUSA]

Plus there’s always Grant, and Kenny G if you want..... “the rest of the story “!

[Martin R]

The original post was not about lack of available publications but, lack of historic content on the forum and in the club magazine.
I would say that the magazine over the past 10 years has run some historic stories/content and many things have been posted concerning the history on the forum.
However, for the full details, any of the above books mentioned are a good resource and of course, all of the books written by the most knowledgable of Jensen historians, Richard Calver.
I'd recommend anyone with an interest in all things Jensen buy every one of Richard's books.

[jensenavantilover]

I have all of the aforementioned books etc.. It seems to me I was not being clear. The magazine and forum is strictly in my view a social forum with very little discussion, documentation, or care afforded to the cars glorious history. There have been very few actual discussions or research demonstrated about the company and circumstances of the Interceptors evolution from a historical prospective. I assume and probably wrongly that persons who worked for Jensen are still alive and an untapped resource. The posting about Jensen Factory Postcard has over 7,000 views. Anything labeled Vignale has hundreds of views. There appears to be an uncultivated interest by our members. I get the JOC is primarily a social organization but isn't there room for anything else?

If Mr. Calver had not taken the time to perform his research we would literally be in a black hole regarding each vehicles history. I don't know if he has ever been approached about contributing to the magazine for a fee of course, if he didi all of our lives would be enriched.

The items posted to the forum have an extraordinary amount of valuation discussions, banter about whose car was whose etc., and pardon me please some nonsensical ramblings.

If I lived in the UK I would be actively seeking former employees historians etc. with a fistful of questions.

Just my two cents.

[Martin R]

I believe I am correct I saying that three (or more?) former Jensen employees do contribute, if not to the Forum, then certainly between the Forum and Gentleman's Express Facebook page. They most certainly are still alive and well
Furthermore, I believe that the story of the P66 prototype being dropped in favour of the Italian designed Interceptor has been well discussed on this Forum.
I believe that "most" Jensen owners have an Interceptor, or a Jensen Healey rather than an FF, C-V8, early Interceptor or what we tend to refer to collectively as "early cars".
Therefore, that's likely to be where the main interests lies.
Sure, I'm interested in the history but, a Vignale Interceptor or FF will grab my attention right away.

[David Devine]

Hi jensenavantilover

Here's a video of a Jensen open day at RAF Cosford with 3 ex employee's doing a question & answer session that should interest you.

Dave


https://youtu.be/jVUji9rzPmU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[felixkk]

I agree about getting as much information from the people who were around. Use the search function to read Tony Marshall‘s posts on this forum. Here are some other links to topics on this forum, though not specifically on the Interceptor:


The Factory „Postcard“ link, on where was what at the various factories:

https://www.joc.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14450" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


GKN FFF 100:

https://www.joc.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=28349" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Richard an Alan's ancestry:

https://www.joc.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=28117" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Caroll Shelby:

https://www.joc.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=27720" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Warwick Healey Archives:

https://www.joc.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=27299" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Geneva Motor Show Cars:

https://www.joc.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=26422" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Phil Grice interview:

https://www.joc.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=24211" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


J-H prototype:

https://www.joc.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=26167" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Volvo production at Jensen:

https://www.joc.org.uk/forum/viewtopic. ... ilit=volvo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Carters Green photos:

https://www.joc.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21547" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.joc.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=23004" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Boardroom Photographs:

https://www.joc.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23272" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Kelvin Way factory photo:

https://www.joc.org.uk/forum/viewtopic. ... 0&start=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


541S Prototypes with V8s:

https://www.joc.org.uk/forum/viewtopic. ... it=runners" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Grant]

Well.. I never seem to have any spare time, but I'm at work in my office and thought I could have this video playing (from above with the Ex Jensen employees as https://youtu.be/jVUji9rzPmU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) and listen to it while I worked, then obviously I stopped work and sat to watch it for the last hour, fabulous and so interesting, loved it, thank you for posting it Davidand of course it was lovely to hear from them all and their stories, I had heard some of the stories previously when I was actually at David Millards house collecting the Brand New Unused late Mk2 Steering Wheel that he found under his bed one day

[Martin R]

Perhaps we should have a "sticky" made of this post, to serve as easy access point to all of the historic threads listed?

[felixkk]

Many, many more are around- I think (great video, by the way). Here's one on the S-V8:

https://www.joc.org.uk/forum/viewtopic. ... v8#p145253" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kees]

I would (respectfully) disagree that the Jensen history is not well known & documented...
There are lots of sources for information, and there are some people who worked at Jensen that are participants here on this forum.
Check out:
- Memoirs of the White Lady (36 Issue Series of JOC Magazines & Periodicals) - Available from the JOC
Books (I care mostly about Interceptors, but...)
- Jensen Interceptor by Mike Taylor
- Jensen & Jensen-Healy by Keith Anderson
- Jensen Interceptor Gold Portfolio - Series of Magazine Articles Compiled into a Book
Video: Tool Connection UK - Jensen Interviews with Phil Grice
Postings by:- Nick Maltby (Draftsman at Jensen Motors)
- others??? (I know there are more... Maybe someone can help me here).
Anyway - lots of material available, enough to fill my cup to overflowing!

Regards -
Rocky

One of the best books I find is the JENSEN HEALEY STORIES by Peter Browning and John Blunsden. Unlike its title suggests it is not about the Jensen-Healey. It is a very comprehensive story about the history of Jensen and Healey. Of course there is also a chapter about the Jensen-Healey but that is in the context of the history of Jensen and Healey.
Others are mentioned by Rocky and additionally:
Jensen Interceptor by John Tipler
Jensen by Keith Anderson
many Brooklands publications about Jensen/Jensen-Healey which are compilations of many magazine articles through the years

Kees Oudesluijs

[John Staddon]

Richard Calver's All the Models and Mark Dollery's Jensen V8 also contain a lot of Jensen history. But is does seem to me that the forum isn't the place for history, it is a discussion forum and not a static archive, the website would be a better place for history and a good example of what could be done is Ulric Woodham's Jensen Museum website.

http://www.jensenmuseum.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ulric's site may have started as a resource for the Interceptor and FF models, and primarily the FF, but it covers a lot of ground now from interviews with former JML employees to how to take the front body off an Early Interceptor, it's also regularly added to where the JOC website isn't. The problem the JOC has of course is that Ulric has done it and now the JOC can't steal it!

Stephen Carter's 541 website is another great resource for history and technical information and is another website that is regularly updated to keep it interesting (not so much this year as Stephen hasn't been well).

http://www.jensen541.com/index2.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


John

[zacmarshall]

There is a section on the JOC site about the history of Jensen here

https://www.joc.org.uk/models/slide-show

The text was from the information sent to new members when Keith Andrews was membership secretary.

[RockyUSA]

LOTS of good stuff in this thread.

Maybe this should be edited and made into a sticky about Donald Healey & the Jensen brother's history!

Or not edited!

Rocky