The Jensen C-V8 was a four-seater grand tourer that Jensen Motors built between 1962 and 1966. It paired a fibreglass body with Chrysler big-block V8 engines, and in Mk II form it was among the fastest production four-seaters of its era.
Jensen C-V8 at a glance
| Maker | Jensen Motors, West Bromwich |
|---|---|
| Produced | 1962–1966 |
| Launched | October 1962 |
| Body | fibreglass with aluminium door skins |
| Engine | Chrysler 361 cu in, then 383 cu in from 1964 |
| Power | 330 bhp (246 kW) from the 383 |
| Gearbox | three-speed Chrysler TorqueFlite automatic; nine manual cars |
| Layout | front-mid-engined, engine behind the front axle line |
| Mk II | October 1963, Selectaride adjustable rear dampers |
| Mk III | June 1965, revised body details and dual-circuit brakes |
| Performance | Mk II 136 mph, 0–60 mph in 6.7 seconds |
| Built | 500 |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Jensen C-V8.
History of the Jensen C-V8
Launch and engineering
The C-V8 was launched in October 1962. Like the 541 before it, it had a fibreglass body, here with aluminium door skins. All cars used big-block engines from Chrysler: first the 361, and from 1964 the 330 bhp (246 kW) 383 cu in unit. Most were ordered with a three-speed Chrysler TorqueFlite automatic, but seven Mk 2 cars were built with the 6-litre engine and a four-speed manual gearbox, followed by two manual Mk 3s. The engine sat entirely behind the front axle line, which makes the C-V8 a front-mid-engined car. Almost all cars were right-hand drive; only ten were made in left-hand drive.
Mk II and Mk III
The Mk II arrived in October 1963 with Armstrong Selectaride electronically adjustable rear dampers and minor styling changes. It could reach 136 mph (219 km/h), ran the quarter-mile in 14.6 seconds and reached 60 mph in 6.7 seconds, roughly as quickly as a Lamborghini Miura and quicker than an Aston Martin DB5 or a Jaguar E-Type. The Mk III of June 1965 brought a slight reduction in overall length, a deeper windscreen, equal-sized headlamps without chrome bezels, improved interior ventilation, a wood-veneer dashboard, overriders on the bumpers and a dual-circuit braking system.
Styling and coachwork
The front was originally styled with covered headlamps, as on the Ferrari 275 GTB and the Jaguar E-Type Series 2, but concerns about the effectiveness of the lights meant the covers were dropped for production cars. As a result the frontal appearance was considered compromised for decades, and some owners have since fitted covers to return to the design intended by Eric Neale. The factory built two convertibles: a cabriolet and a sedanca that opened only above the front seats; the 1963 Sedanca was featured by the Italian magazine Ruoteclassiche in June 2008.
End of production and legacy
The model was discontinued in 1966 after a total production run of 500. Because of its fibreglass body and a twin-tube frame set in from the car’s perimeter, the C-V8 has survived in comparatively large numbers. One prototype C-V8 FF was fitted with four-wheel drive and anti-lock brakes and was used to develop the Jensen FF, the first non all-terrain production car with four-wheel drive.
Design and features
- Chrysler power: big-block V8s of 361 and later 383 cu in, with 330 bhp from 1964.
- Front-mid layout: the engine was set back entirely behind the front axle line.
- Pace: the Mk II reached 136 mph and 60 mph in 6.7 seconds.
- Durability: the fibreglass body and inset twin-tube frame gave the car a high survival rate.
Jensen C-V8 versions
- Mk I (1962–1963): the original 361 cu in car.
- Mk II (1963–1965): Selectaride rear dampers, 383 cu in engine and a 136 mph top speed.
- Mk III (1965–1966): deeper windscreen, dual-circuit brakes and revised trim.
- Manual cars: seven Mk 2 and two Mk 3 cars with a four-speed gearbox.
- Convertibles: one cabriolet and one sedanca built by the factory.
- C-V8 FF prototype: four-wheel drive and anti-lock brakes, a test bed for the Jensen FF.
The C-V8 replaced the Jensen 541 and led directly to the Jensen FF. More cars are in the Jensen collection.
Video: Jensen CV8
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Jensen C-V8, English Wikipedia: engines, versions, performance, styling, production and motorsport
