VIN 182758837
- One of reportedly just 30 Jensen-Fords built, and one of only
three left-hand-drive examples for the U.S.
- Ordered new by California industrialist and Jensen-Ford
franchise holder Percy Morgan
- Photographed in period with Clark Gable for promotional
use
- Formerly part of the noted Robert Gottlieb and Art Astor
collections
- Mellowed concours restoration with upgraded Edmunds-equipped
Ford flathead V8
The Jensen-Ford occupies a fascinating place in prewar motoring
history, combining American V8 power with British coachbuilding and
distinctly international styling. During the early 1930s, brothers
Alan and Richard Jensen built a reputation for creating stylish
custom bodies on a variety of chassis, often drawing inspiration
from contemporary American design. The resulting Jensen-Fords
paired dependable Ford mechanical components with low-slung,
carefully proportioned coachwork that stood apart from more
conventional British offerings of the period.
Production was extremely limited, with reportedly just 30
Jensen-Fords built between 1934 and 1936. Only three were
constructed in left-hand-drive form for export to the United
States, and this car was the first of those examples, ordered by
California industrialist Percy Morgan, who had secured a
Jensen-Ford franchise.
According to period accounts, the chassis was sourced through a
Hollywood Ford dealer and shipped to England for body construction.
Morgan ordered his car in black, while a second example was ordered
in silver for his friend, actor and motoring enthusiast Clark
Gable. Morgan later recalled in Automobile Quarterly that he and
Gable personally helped unload the cars upon their arrival in the
United States. Gable reportedly preferred Morgan's black example
and attempted to buy it, but Morgan refused.
Although Gable never owned the car, he posed alongside it for a
series of press and promotional photographs, which later appeared
in publications including The Ford Road 1903-1978. The car
subsequently passed through the hands of Warren Wyman and noted
collector Robert Gottlieb, and was later featured in Automobile
Quarterly, where Morgan recounted the Jensen-Ford story.
The car later entered the respected Art Astor Collection in
California, where it was restored to concours standards in the
early 2000s. Following the dispersal of the Astor Collection, it
entered a private collection in the early 2010s.
During more recent ownership, the 221-cubic-inch Ford flathead V8
was upgraded with Edmunds Custom cylinder heads and an Edmunds
dual-carburetor intake manifold, adding a welcome measure of
performance while retaining the essential character of the original
powerplant. The interior was also refreshed with brown faux leather
upholstery.
Today, the Jensen-Ford presents as a handsome, mellowed older
restoration. Its significance extends well beyond condition,
combining extreme rarity, scarce left-hand-drive configuration,
distinctive Jensen coachwork, and an unusually rich early American
history.
With its documented connection to Percy Morgan, promotional
association with Clark Gable, and long-term residence in several
respected collections, this 1936 Jensen-Ford represents a
compelling piece of prewar Anglo-American automotive history.
Offers welcome and trades considered.
