1975 Jensen GT Shooting Brake

Highlights

  • One of only 511 GTs produced
  • Rare colour, thought to be one of 37
  • Very rare factory-fitted electric metal sunroof
  • Comprehensive 1996 restoration
  • Little used in recent years
  • Presents well, inside and out

The Appeal

Developed jointly by Jensen and the Healey family of Austin-Healey fame, the Jensen GT is a more practically-bodied version of the Jensen-Healey sports car. But while it may have rear seats and a capacious boot, it still manages to look swoopy and a little exotic to our eyes. 

As a classic, it pulls off the coup of both being rare and having good parts availability due to utilising lots of off the shelf components (including an engine from Lotus) and with the company having sold the tooling for the rest to a specialist in Martin Robey, who continues to this day.
This example was restored in 1996 by none other than Martin Robey and has seen little use since, with its minimal mileage thought to be genuine. It has the distinction of having a factory-fitted electrically powered metal sliding sunroof, which is thought to be extremely rare. 

It’s most recently been dry stored for quite some time and, although it’s received a fresh coat of paint and starts and runs, it now requires recommissioning. So if you’re looking for a rare and interesting slice of seventies car culture then head on over to the bid button now.

The History and Paperwork

  • A collection of old MOTs
  • A box file of Invoices, including those for the 1996 restoration and some work since, including a cambelt in 2016 when the last owner bought the car
  • Owner’s manual
  • Two keys
  • V5 is present
  • MOT exempt

The Interior

  • Very good condition cosmetically
  • Switchgear untested and may require some attention
  • Original toolkit
Presented in the classic combination of black and tan, the interior features that staple fabric of the decade of the car’s production, corduroy. While making this very much not a car in which to indulge your Cadbury’s Flake addiction, the fabric has arguably never looked more at home. The wood dash and Smiths instruments provide a great outlook from the driver’s seat but the switchgear is largely untested and so it’s best to anticipate that it may need some fettling.
The rear seats fold down to provide a usefully flat load area, while under the boot floor is the original toolkit. Up above, the headlining is clean, albeit slightly sagging in places, and the factory metal sunroof is a welcome and rare addition

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The Exterior 

  • Presents very well
  • Recently repainted
  • Wheels in very good condition, although tyres will need to be renewed, due to age
  • Good chrome, although showing a little pitting in places
Although brown is increasingly coming back into fashion, is there a more seventies shade than the Cheviot Brown which adorns this car? It’s rare, too, with a previous owner stating that only 37 were produced in this colour though, given how well it suits the car, that’s a surprise. 

The paintwork has recently been refreshed and the seller reports that it is generally in very good condition. The chrome was not restored and shows a little pitting but is still very presentable.
Underneath, the paint shop reported a little surface corrosion but that it looks generally solid. The wheels have largely been protected from kerbing by the generous amount of sidewall on the tyres and, while there is tread remaining on them, the tyres will likely need to be changed due to their age. Overall, the car presents very well and after some recommissioning will be ready to adorn the roads once again.

The Mechanics 

  • Very original engine bay
  • Starts and runs well
  • Will need thorough mechanical recommissioning following a number of years in storage
Under the bonnet is the 1973 cc Lotus 907 dual overhead cam, twin-carb, 16-valve all-alloy engine. With an intake that confusingly resembles an exhaust, the engine is slanted to fit it under the low bonnet line. It starts first time and the seller reports that it drives well with no knocks or bangs, keeping up with modern traffic and handling very nicely. However it has not been thoroughly tested as it really needs a full service before being properly extended.
Likewise, with the rest of the mechanics, on a brief drive everything appears to be in working order including brakes, a smooth gear change and no excessive smoke from the exhaust but the vendor strongly recommends a good going over before driving it any distance and that it should therefore be collected on a trailer.

Summary

A rare and unusual seventies car in overall very presentable condition which would now benefit from recommissioning before adorning the roads once again.


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Vehicle specification
  • Year 1975
  • Make Jensen
  • Model GT Shooting Brake
  • Colour Brown
  • Odometer 29,378 Miles
  • Engine size 1973
Auction Details
  • Seller Type Trade
  • Town Harlow
  • Location Essex
  • Country United Kingdom
Bidding history
18 bids
  • Ro•••• £17,000 31/01/22
  • ge•••• £16,750 31/01/22
  • Ro•••• £16,500 31/01/22
  • ge•••• £16,000 31/01/22
  • Ro•••• £15,750 31/01/22
  • Ro•••• £15,500 30/01/22
  • LP•••• £15,000 30/01/22
  • ch•••• £12,000 30/01/22
  • LP•••• £10,500 29/01/22
  • Fa•••• £7,600 29/01/22
Message C&C Auction Team

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