1939 Jensen H-Type Chassis 9641, Eng 3980/9447 at Sotheby's

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Michael Richardson
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Re: 1939 Jensen H-Type Chassis 9641, Eng 3980/9447 at Sotheb

Post by Michael Richardson »

Yes.there is much wrong with this car. Wheels and tyres being perhaps the most obvious. As Richard said the whole thing is non original,not that it is all bad news to many possible future owners. I am still struggling to understand how that Nash got into a S Type chassis,and when ?
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EdwardB
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Re: 1939 Jensen H-Type Chassis 9641, Eng 3980/9447 at Sotheb

Post by EdwardB »

Funny what people notice. Agree on the wheels, the smaller ones give a non period feel.
However my immediate concern was, that it looks from the photos, as though a couple of eight year olds are in the front driving! :D
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Han Kamp
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Re: 1939 Jensen H-Type Chassis 9641, Eng 3980/9447 at Sotheb

Post by Han Kamp »

Richard Calver wrote:It's a well-known car. The BUE plate is a ringer from an Alvis. I saw it in 1998 about three years after the restoration was completed. The workmanship is amazing. Even the block has been ground or bogged (or both). However, all of the visual originality has been lost. The pre-war data as seen in the 1991 databook was very limited. In the new version, due out later this year, the pre-war data is almost complete.

Looking forward to the new book Ric !
Han Kamp The Netherlands
Formerly owned Jensens: 1974 JH, 1976 GT, 1952 4 litre Interceptor, 1954 4 litre Interceptor Left Hand Drive, 1957 541.

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Michael Richardson
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Re: 1939 Jensen H-Type Chassis 9641, Eng 3980/9447 at Sotheb

Post by Michael Richardson »

Sale,4/5 May,a little while away yet....a collection of Yank vintage,plus a few RR saloons. The odd one out is the Jensen. I have noticed that,in a situation like this,a collection/estate sale, that the auction houses are offering a no reserve catalogue. Why would'nt they ?. It means that the sale through rate is 100%,and the interest from possible buyers is increased because they think they may pick up something cheap. Well..........I think we will have to keep a close eye on this,..n'est pas ??
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Re: 1939 Jensen H-Type Chassis 9641, Eng 3980/9447 at Sotheb

Post by felixkk »

Han Kamp wrote:Looking forward to the new book Ric !
Richard, on a sideline, if it is at all possible could you in the new book change the details of one of Andi Kreis‘ cars into a really atrocious orignal color combination (mango polyester interior with purple piping, on the outside candy apple red with gold metallic sprinkles and a yellow roof for example). I‘d be much obliged and the cheque is posted. Thank you!
PS the engine also: to something with 4 cylinders and 60 HP
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Re: 1939 Jensen H-Type Chassis 9641, Eng 3980/9447 at Sotheb

Post by MikeWilliams »

Michael Richardson wrote:Yes.there is much wrong with this car. Wheels and tyres being perhaps the most obvious. As Richard said the whole thing is non original,not that it is all bad news to many possible future owners. I am still struggling to understand how that Nash got into a S Type chassis,and when ?
Its not as S type Michael, its a perfectly standard H type. This was the second of three H type tourers made and although not completely original, is still in superb condition. Being sold amongst several million pound cars it will be interesting to see what it fetches and where it ends up.

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Re: 1939 Jensen H-Type Chassis 9641, Eng 3980/9447 at Sotheb

Post by MikeWilliams »

EdwardB wrote: ... my immediate concern was, that it looks from the photos, as though a couple of eight year olds are in the front driving! :D
It is actually the rear passengers who are giants! In the tourers the front passengers sit in a normal position, but those in the rear are high up and feel like the are Royalty.
From the back you look over the aero screens and over the windscreen. It is a beautiful design though ... with the hood down.

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Re: 1939 Jensen H-Type Chassis 9641, Eng 3980/9447 at Sotheb

Post by Michael Richardson »

Mike. many thanks for clarification. I bow to your superior knowledge. I note you use the words'Tourer' and 'Drophead'. Does your car feature the divided rear compartment,being earlier than the car I sold to Marcus,which does not have that ?
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Re: 1939 Jensen H-Type Chassis 9641, Eng 3980/9447 at Sotheb

Post by MikeWilliams »

The tourer or "dual cowl" has two cut-away front doors for the front passengers and a single door for the rear passengers, with a deck between front and rear seats and separate aeroscreens for the rear passengers. It also has bolt on side screens and a separate hood. On a fine day it is quite cosy and fun.

The drophead has two doors and full four/five seats, the front seats folding forward for access as is usual now. The doors are full height with wind-up windows and a folding hood, so much better weather protection, if not quite so sporty.

The car you owned was a drophead, as is mine. In fact they have adjacent chassis numbers! When new the tourer was the cheapest, the drophead the most expensive, with the saloon priced between the two.

Actually, from the screen backwards there is not much difference between the S type and the H type. Jensen lengthened the chassis at the front and the radiator is deeper. Another giveaway is the side lights. Although many have been changed, originally S types had a lovely sort of art deco style lamp as used on 1940s Humbers, whereas H types starting with H3 (I think, RC will soon correct me!) had the Lucas bullet type lamps.

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Joerg
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Re: 1939 Jensen H-Type Chassis 9641, Eng 3980/9447 at Sotheb

Post by Joerg »

.. or from 40th Harley Davidson :-)
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I own some of the odd Jensen 8)
Michael Richardson
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Re: 1939 Jensen H-Type Chassis 9641, Eng 3980/9447 at Sotheb

Post by Michael Richardson »

Thanks Mike..I get it now. as I had assumed the Tourer,and Drophead were just different words to describe the same thing. I do think the drophead is more practical,especially in UK,however,the tourer....well it does look good for fine weather motoring. Let us see how it is received in May.
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Re: 1939 Jensen H-Type Chassis 9641, Eng 3980/9447 at Sotheb

Post by MikeWilliams »

Yes Joerg, that is very similar. There were several other similar ones, some with lights at the back so you could see they were alight and in a variety of sizes and I've seen some on various American cars imported to the UK in the 1930s and 1940s. I think the Jensen ones were made by Raydyot.

Perhaps somebody can confirm but I think the lighting regulations in the USA and UK were different and cars imported to the UK had to have lights fitted. Would that make sense?

Mike
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Still own 1938 Jensen HL1 drophead
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Re: 1939 Jensen H-Type Chassis 9641, Eng 3980/9447 at Sotheb

Post by MikeWilliams »

Here's a period shot. The lens is a different shape at the back compared to the Harley and there is a more pronounced ridge down the length of it.
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Mike
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Han Kamp
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Re: 1939 Jensen H-Type Chassis 9641, Eng 3980/9447 at Sotheb

Post by Han Kamp »

Fantastic picture Mike!
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Re: 1939 Jensen H-Type Chassis 9641, Eng 3980/9447 at Sotheb

Post by mikebyrne »

Great photo Mike,
looks like Blackpool promenade ? Tyres are either brand new or have been blacked for the occasion. Concourse De. Elegance ?
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