• One of only 127 made

 • Sympathetically restored

 • Four owners from new

 • Impressive history file

Hand-built at the Jensen factory in West Bromwich, the 541S was the luxury ‘GT’ version of the 541. With a track four inches wider than the 541R, the car featured a roomier interior than its sibling, as well as improved roadholding. A total of only 127 cars were made between 1960 and 1962, with most (as this example) fitted with the Rolls-Royce Hydramatic gearbox. 

The 541S was notable for having disc brakes all round, and as the first British car to have seatbelts fitted as standard. 

RRZ 5415 is a sound and smart-looking example of an increasingly rare car, having been subject to a comprehensive but sympathetic restoration.  

 • Thick history file 

 • MoT- and tax- exempt

 • New wiring loom

 • Power steering upgrade

The vendor has owned the car since May 2021, and is listed on the V5 as the car’s fourth owner. 

It’s clear that the car has at some point been subject to a full restoration, and the condition of both the interior and exterior reflect this. The vendor believes that the previous owner was a keen car collector, with a large number of classic vehicles, and believes that the car’s restoration may have been carried out under his tenure. 

Since he purchased the car last year, the vendor has had a considerable amount of work done, with invoices totalling around £10,000. The work included a complete new wiring loom, the reconditioning of the speedometer and rev-counter, and the fitting of a specifically made power steering unit, supplied by a company in the Netherlands. All this work was done by renowned Jensen specialists Bridge Classic Cars, in Suffolk.  

The paperwork includes a thick file compiled by previous owners, which includes a number of invoices from the car’s early life, and an original workshop manual. There is also an original owner’s manual, a replica owner’s manual, invoices for recent work commissioned by the vendor, and a number of Jensen Owner’s Club magazines.    

The car’s registration number, RRZ 5415, is a private plate acquired by the vendor and is included with the car. 

 • Smart beige leather seats

 • Comfortable and spacious interior

 • Original dashboard and radio

Open the doors and the interior is obviously spacious and comfortable. The beige leather seats both front and back are in excellent condition, and although the carpets could do with a clean, they are also in very good condition. Both door panels are finished in the same beige leather as the seats and look great. The dashboard and dials all look to be original, and the switchgear all seems to work. The Motorola radio is an original feature. 

The vendor has had the speedometer and rev-counter refurbished, but the clock is not working. The driving position is good and all the controls fall readily to hand. 

In the boot, there is a carpet liner that matches those inside the car, and which looks to have been custom-made. Beneath the carpet, there is some very minor surface rust.

 • Distinctive styling

 • Excellent paintwork 

 • Original badges and brightwork

In the ongoing tradition of many post-war small-scale British manufacturers, the 541S has a steel chassis with a glass-fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) body. The car has a striking and distinctive profile and looks good from both front and rear. 

RRZ 5415’s dark green bodywork looks extremely good and has clearly been painted (and looked after) to a high standard. All four wheels are in extremely good condition and retain their original Jensen spinners, and while the tyres all have good tread on them, they are clearly a few years old. The brightwork and badges all look to be original, and are largely very good, although there is a small patch of rust on the rear bumper. 

 • 4-litre Austin engine

 • Rolls-Royce Hydramatic 4-speed auto gearbox 

 • Power steering

Powered by a Jensen-modified version of the 4-litre Austin DS5 straight-six engine, fitted with triple SU carburettors, the 541S was amongst the highest performance GT cars of its era. RRZ 5415 starts readily, the Rolls-Royce Hydramatic ‘box works smoothly and quietly, and the engine has a lovely low, rumbling note. 

The vendor assures us that it drives well with no issues, and reports that the ride is particularly good, thanks to the car’s excellent suspension. He had the power steering unit fitted to make the car more user-friendly on the road, as the unassisted steering was very heavy. 

Under the bonnet, everything looks to be largely original but in good order, with the new wiring loom immediately apparent (and reassuring!).  

The 541S was intended to combine effortless speed with luxurious, refined motoring. With only 127 made, it’s now a rare beast and this one combines on-road practicality and comfort with distinctive looks. 

It’s a car that can hold its head high at any classic-car event, and that should provide the new owner with many years of trouble-free enjoyment.