This 1959 Jensen 541R is one of a claimed 193 examples produced between 1957 and 1960. The car was first registered in England and changed hands several times before being exported from the UK in the early 1990s. It was later relocated to the US, and it has not been running or driving since 1994. The fiberglass bodywork is finished in cream over a two-tone red and white interior, and the 4.0-liter inline-six is linked with a four-speed manual transmission. Additional retained equipment includes triple SU carburetors, 15″ steel wheels, rack-and-pinion steering, four-wheel disc brakes, and a Moto-Lita steering wheel. This 541R project is now offered with previous registration documents, partial service records, and a clean title.
Debuting in 1953, the Jensen 541 was one of the first British cars to be produced with fiberglass bodywork and was sold over three generations between 1954 and 1963. Like its predecessor, the 541R featured a steel chassis, which was now fitted with rack-and-pinion steering. This example wears a cream finish that is peeling around the body, and retained equipment includes chrome-finished bumpers with pitting as well as a vented hood, dual side mirrors, Jensen badging, and a front grille covering that, when new, could be raised or lowered by the driver from inside the car. The weatherstripping is cracked, a hole is noted above the right-rear fender strake, and the right door is dented.
The body-color 15″ wheels show corrosion and wear 185/55 Mohave Touring A/S tires that are said to have been mounted under current ownership. A full-size spare is stored in the trunk compartment. The car retains its independent front suspension, semi-elliptical rear leaf springs, and four-wheel disc brakes. Areas of rust are visible around the rear leaf-spring mounts.
The right-hand-drive cabin houses front bucket seats trimmed in white upholstery with red piping accompanied by a color-coordinated center console and door panels. The body-color dashboard is topped with a red dashpad, while the floors are lined with red carpets that show wear. Corrosion is visible along the door jambs and below the upturned rear bench.
The wood-rimmed Moto-Lita steering wheel features a Jensen horn button and fronts a mix of Jaeger and MotoMeter instrumentation that includes a 140-mph speedometer, a 5k-rpm tachometer, and gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, and water temperature. The five-digit odometer shows 3,500 miles, and total mileage is unknown.
The 541R was powered by a 4.0-liter inline-six sourced from the Austin Sheerline and fitted with triple SU carburetors. This example’s engine does not start or run, and the seller states that it was last running in 1994. The spark plugs have been removed, and penetrating oil was applied to the cylinders.
A four-speed manual transmission has been retained. The seller dealer notes that the underside and rear wheel wells have been cleaned with dry ice in anticipation of the sale. Areas of rust-through are visible. Photos displaying the condition of the underside are presented in the gallery below.
