Description
Author: Keith Anderson, Hardbound, 200 Pages, ISBN: 9780854296828. 1st Edition, 1989, Secondhand book in excellent order !
In 1926 two young brothers took an Austin Seven and built for it a new and sporting body. Even in that first design could be divined the hallmark that was to identify their creations and those that bore their name for the next half century. The hallmark was STYLE and the name was JENSEN — a combination that produced some of the most prestigious and desired motorcars of any era.
In Jensen Keith Anderson — longtime Jensen aficionado and editor of the Jensen Club magazine — tells the hitherto unrecounted story of the two brothers who inspired a whole series of designs: first sleek and svelte on chassis from other manufacturers, then muscular and impressive as complete concepts from their own works.
Recalled are the first designs produced on ready-made chassis such as Morris Eight, Singer, Standard and Wolseley, the special commissions from the rich and famous such as Clark Gable; and the S-Type and H-Type, the first production Jensens.
Not forgotten is Jensen's departure into commercial vehicle manufacture, which longterm success as producers of the JNSN and Jen-Tug rested on early utilisation of aluminium in chassis construction. Such innovative thinking was also put to use in the war years on Ministry contracts.
Post-war the story is taken up with the PW saloon and then the original Interceptor, the model that proved to be the foundation stone of a whole line of sporting cars — 541, C-V8, P66, FF and Jensen-Healey — a genre upon which Jensens were, ultimately, to make their name, and which culminated in the Touring-styled Interceptor of the nineteen-sixties.
Keith Anderson's book tells the story of the cars and the men who built them, and in doing so fills an important gap in the history of fine motor cars.
Keith Anderson was born in Scotland but, whilst still at school, moved to Australia with his parents when they emigrated. After leaving school, he studied law at Sydney University but was waylayed after two years by an opportunity to enter the motor trade — and start earning money.
In 1979 he returned to Scotland for a working holiday — and ten years later he still hasn't got around to returning to Australia.
After pursuing the career of a freelance driving instructor for five years, his interest in the motor trade and love of classic cars prompted him to start a small restoration workshop in Greenock. After three years, however, he accepted a position at Cropredy Bridge Garage, the leading Jensen restorers.
By now Keith had already been an ardent Jensen-lover for sometime, both as an owner and as a member of the Jensen Owners Club. Today he is proud to be the editor of the club magazine, and he continues very happily to be professionally involved in Jensen restoration.
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