Vehicle Description
Brothers Richard and Alan Jensen entered the motoring field as
coachbuilders, and much like William Lyons of Swallow and Jaguar,
the humble little Austin Seven was their initial platform of
choice. After graduating from Austins, the Jensen brother moved
upmarket with stylish body designs for Wolseley, Star, and Ford.
Among those was a lovely special built on a Standard 9 chassis,
which was so well received that the Standard Motor Company adopted
the design for production, partnering with Avon Coachworks to
create the Standard Avon. As the 1930s progressed, Jensen
discovered their niche when they imported a batch of twenty Ford V8
chassis from North America and created a series of stylish touring
cars. However, around 1935, the Jensen name appeared more
prominently as the firm morphed from coachbuilder to manufacturer.
In the years bookending World War II, Jensen used various engines
from Austin and Meadows, but it was the combination of British
style and American V8 power that defined Jensen Motors from its
inception until production ceased in the late 1970s. This
exceptionally rare Jensen-Ford Shooting Brake is the sole surviving
example of an estimated two or three built in 1935. Based on a
Canadian Ford Model 48 V8 chassis, it is one of the twenty-odd
Fords imported and bodied by Jensen in the 30s. However, Jensen did
much more than simply tack a new body onto the existing frame - to
achieve their desired look and lower center of gravity, they
repositioned the engine and lowered/raked the radiator, resulting
in a dramatic and sporty appearance. Previous caretakers of this
Jensen believed it was built for a doctor, though it appears he
used it sparingly. Records show it was briefly taxed and registered
in the UK in 1957 & 1958, though it disappeared from the road soon
after. In the early 1980s, the car resurfaced via a Jensen Owner's
Club UK newsletter article, describing a wood-bodied Jensen in a
complete but rather sorry state, lurking in a garage in Dorking,
Surrey. With the threat of the car being sent to the breaker's
yard, the author issued a plea to save it. Help arrived when the
owner contacted a fellow Jensen Club member for a valuation. When
he saw the car sitting in the junkyard, he immediately decided to
buy it and bring it home for restoration. A piano restorer by
trade, the new owner painstakingly refurbished the ash framework,
taking great strides to preserve as much of the original wood as
possible. In the early 1990s, after years of effort, the Jensen
shooting brake returned to the road. By 2001, another club member
acquired it and continued detailing the restoration and showing the
car regularly for club events and concours. The most recent owners
bought it in 2010, bringing it to the USA, where it joined their
collection of rare and desirable Jensen cars and continued to be
driven and enjoyed in shows and concours events. Today, this unique
and stylish Jensen is offered in excellent condition; its
restoration gently matured after years of meticulous, enthusiastic
care. The rich green paint is a fine match for the ash-framed body
and red leather-trimmed interior, and the lowered, steeply raked
radiator gives the Jensen-Ford a decidedly sporty character. The
paintwork is glossy and attractive, with a few minor imperfections
consistent with the restoration's age. Brightwork is in good
condition all around, and fittings include period correct Lucas
head and marker lamps, a single oval Notek fog lamp, radiator stone
guard, and rear-mounted spare wheel with a color-keyed cover. The
interior is trimmed in dark red leather with matching wool carpet,
which has taken on a pleasing character with age and use. Controls
and switchgear are original fitments, and the dash has knobs and a
pressure gauge for the Andre "Hydro-Telecontrol" adjustable
suspension. There's also a lovely Smiths clock and Cooper-Stewart
main dials. Ford's venerable flathead V8 sits under the bonnet and
is tidy and nicely presented in green with silver heads and
period-correct fittings and accessories. The Canadian-built 221
cubic-inch (3.6-liter) eight runs well, delivering a respectable
amount of grunt to move the Jensen along with ease. Thanks to the
robust Ford underpinnings, the Jensen-Ford is reliable and easy to
live with, boasting excellent parts and service support from just
about anywhere in the world. Early Jensen cars are a rare sight on
our roads, and this charming Shooting Brake has the added cachet of
being the only known example. It has an interesting and
well-documented history, accompanied by a large file of receipts,
correspondence, MOT certificates, V5C documents, and insight from
marque historians. This is a one-off opportunity to acquire a truly
unique and cherished Jensen that's ideal for touring and driving
enjoyment. Offers welcome and trades considered For additional
details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6994-1935-jensen-ford-shooting-brake/
