Francis Motors

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Anton001
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Francis Motors

Post by Anton001 »

Hi all,

It appeared the my C-V8 was sold by Francis Motors. Is there any one who can support me in my search for original historical material from Francis Motors (brochures, advertisements etc).

Anton
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Jensen Healey Mk1 1123 / 11016
Jensen C-V8 MK3 112 / 2419
Jensen 541S / S1079


www.jensenholland.nl
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Anton001
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Re: Francis Motors

Post by Anton001 »

Is there anyone able support me??
Jensen Healey Mk1 1123 / 11016
Jensen C-V8 MK3 112 / 2419
Jensen 541S / S1079


www.jensenholland.nl
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Keith
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Re: Francis Motors

Post by Keith »

Anton001 wrote:Is there anyone able support me??
Probably not Anton, or they would have replied to you.

So you'll have to research yourself, and you've got some great clues in the ad above. Other marques there for you to ask the question on their marque forums, for a start. But presumably, you've already done that.

The Francis Motors Group details:

Address:
45-49 Coventry Rd
Leicester, Leicestershire.
LE19 2GE

Contact:
T:01162752800
F:01162750707

Not sure how old that info is though as that address appears to be a Honda dealership now (Marshall's Motors).
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Anton001
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Re: Francis Motors

Post by Anton001 »

Hi Keith,

Thanks for your information.
There should be some car magazines around with these ads in it. But untill know I was not able to trace even one!!

Anton
Jensen Healey Mk1 1123 / 11016
Jensen C-V8 MK3 112 / 2419
Jensen 541S / S1079


www.jensenholland.nl
AH1951
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Re: Francis Motors

Post by AH1951 »

Looks like there's still a car dealership at that 393 Humberstone Road address.
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Anton001
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Re: Francis Motors

Post by Anton001 »

Yes, that’s what I also found.
Jensen Healey Mk1 1123 / 11016
Jensen C-V8 MK3 112 / 2419
Jensen 541S / S1079


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AH1951
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Re: Francis Motors

Post by AH1951 »

Would the dealership really have produced its own brochures?
If you could obtain original Motor & Autocar magazines from that era, you might stumble across some interesting advertising.
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Anton001
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Re: Francis Motors

Post by Anton001 »

That is correct, but there are so much different magazines......
Jensen Healey Mk1 1123 / 11016
Jensen C-V8 MK3 112 / 2419
Jensen 541S / S1079


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AH1951
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Re: Francis Motors

Post by AH1951 »

If you target the big two, Autocar & Motor, from a few weeks before and after your car was sold, it need not cost a lot.
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Chris_R
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Re: Francis Motors

Post by Chris_R »

I'm doubtful that a local dealer would advertise in a national magazine, they're only trying to reach their local areas. More likely any advertising would be in local papers such as the Leicester Mercury or local magazines such as the Leicester Topic, Nottingham Topic, Leicester Graphic or Nottingham Observer magazines. There may also have been local publications in some of the other neighbouring counties and they might advertise in them as well. The publisher of the Leicester Graphic and Nottingham Observer magazines covered 12 other cities although some were far away like Edinburgh but others were closer like Birmingham with the Birmingham Sketch and Leeds with the Leeds Graphic.
There will be archives certainly for the Leicester Mercury but I wouldn't know where to find them.
Chris
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AH1951
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Re: Francis Motors

Post by AH1951 »

Amazing what you can find in the British Newspaper Archive.
:) :) :)
I can't search any more unless I pay.
I've had my 3 free pages.
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Jensen 32 hp 1946.
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Frankoid
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Re: Francis Motors

Post by Frankoid »

AH1951 wrote:
Amazing what you can find in the British Newspaper Archive. :) :) :)

Jensen 32 hp 1946.
1946 32hp? Is that a PW? I have not heard of this description before...
AH1951
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Re: Francis Motors

Post by AH1951 »

I think only the PW was in production at that time.
It might be something to do with the RAC Horsepower rating.
But the Tax Horsepower system was abandoned in 1947!
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Chris_R
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Re: Francis Motors

Post by Chris_R »

Frankoid wrote:
AH1951 wrote:
Amazing what you can find in the British Newspaper Archive. :) :) :)

Jensen 32 hp 1946.
1946 32hp? Is that a PW? I have not heard of this description before...
What struck me though is the mileage and the dates. The car was around 4 years old yet had racked up almost 50,000 miles at at a time when petrol rationing was still in force, an average of just over 1,000 miles a month.
The basic ration in March 1946 was 180 miles a month, in August 1946 it was raised to 270, in October 1947 the basic ration was abolished which meant none was available at all and then in June 1948 reintroduced at 90 miles a month, doubled to 180 miles a month for the 3 summer months in 1949 before reverting again to 90 a month and then in May 1950 doubled again back to 180 miles per month.
This car was used far in excess of what the petrol rations would have allowed and at a time when roads were nothing like they are today, even dual carriageways were virtually non-existent.
It does make me wonder what profession the car's first owner had and how they were able to justify such a large use of petrol which was strictly controlled, presumably even through the time in 1947 - 1948 when there was no ration available. And of course the winter of 1946-47 would have meant many roads unpassable for 3 months coupled with even more difficulty getting petrol so I think the 50,000 miles in those 4 years even more incredible.
Or maybe it was as simple as that the wealthy, someone who could afford to buy something like a Jensen, didn't need to obey the same rules as the rest of the population and could get as much petrol as they liked.
Chris
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AH1951
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Re: Francis Motors

Post by AH1951 »

The Jensen owner might well have been a politician.
Normal laws don't apply to such people.
But, if you had petrol coupons but did not make use of them yourself, could you sell them to anyone?
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