Descripción
In 1998 the Redditch-based Creative Group Ltd announced its intention to revive Jensen. Debuting at that year’s British Motor Show with a projected sub-£40, 000 price tag, the prototype S-V8 attracted 300 deposits. Styled by Howard Guy and Gary Doy, its lines echoed several past Jensens but without being too self-consciously ‘retro’. Based around a steel monocoque chassis equipped with four-wheel independent double-wishbone suspension, rack-and-pinion steering and ventilated disc brakes, the two-seater was powered by a Ford 4. 6litre 32-valve V8 engine allied to five-speed manual transmission. With a quoted 325bhp and 330lbft on tap, the sportscar was reputedly capable of 0-60mph in 4. 8 seconds and 155mph. Unfortunately, the Creative Group soon discovered that £9 million was not enough to design, develop and produce a new car. After numerous ‘debugging’ delays, the first customer S-V8 did not roll off the production line until August 2001 and when the receivers were called in the following year just twenty cars had been completed. Another eighteen partially assembled cars were acquired up by SV Automotive of Carterton, Oxfordshire. Though, only twelve of these were finished off (the others being retained for spares).
Number 18 of just 28 factory examples produced; the order for this particular S-V8 was placed in September 2001. The roadster was specified in striking Indium Blue metallic, with a matching Blue hood and interior trim. Optional extras selected included an Alpine CD Tuner, Air Conditioning, Full Leather ‘Sprint Design’ two-tone interior and Speedline Alloy Wheels. Passing its ‘Type Approval’ test in April 2002, the car was seized by bailiffs before delivery, in lieu of rent owed by the Speke factory to the North West Development Agency! SV Automotive took over where the factory left off and this particular car was delivered to the supplying dealer David Eales of OSELLI in May 2003, later passing to its first official private owner (Mr Angus Frew Esq. Surrey) just a month later. The car was used very sparingly over the subsequent twelve years, covering a mere 2, 800 miles and was regularly serviced by Eales throughout this period, before passing into current ownership in March 2015.
Subsequently stored as part of a small private collection in a heated and dehumidified garage, ‘OX53 DHJ’ has been serviced and maintained regularly by Nigel Grant Motor Engineers of Swinton. Now displaying a warranted 3, 800 miles from new, this unrepeatable example is offered in excellent, original condition with little-to-no wear to the interior, commensurate with the low mileage. Supplied with a comprehensive history file, with correspondence dating from before production even commenced, all the way through to present day. A copy of the workshop owner’s manual is also present, although the car has proven to be completely reliable in the current ownership.
Ready to be used and enjoyed, this elegant, hand-built British roadster offers complete individuality, paired with thundering American ‘stock block’ V8 reliability. It was a daring piece of British ambition – the roadster that was to re-invent and revitalise the Jensen name, with a reported 34-36 ever seeing the light of day – making it the most exclusive Jensen ever produced.
