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Jensen Car Cartoons

Jensen built some of Britain’s most interesting GT cars, often flying under the radar while other marques grabbed the headlines. Based in West Bromwich, they started as coachbuilders before creating their own cars – proper hand-built stuff with big engines and distinctive styling.

The Jensen Interceptor’s the one most people know. That rear window alone – massive, wraparound glass that made the back end unforgettable. Chrysler V8 up front, Italian styling from Touring, British craftsmanship throughout. They sold it from 1966 to 1976 and nothing quite looked like it.

Then there’s the FF – Jensen Interceptor Ferguson Formula. Same gorgeous body but with four-wheel drive and Dunlop Maxaret anti-lock brakes. This was 1966. Most manufacturers didn’t get ABS until the 80s. Jensen were fitting it as standard on a luxury GT. Only built about 320 of them, which is mad considering how advanced they were.

These cartoons are for anyone who appreciates cars that did their own thing, quietly and brilliantly.

Your Jensen

Own an Interceptor? You’ll know about that V8 rumble and the way people stop to look at that back window. The FF? Rarer still – four-wheel drive on a GT in the 60s seemed like science fiction. Some people run C-V8s, others have Healeys. Each one’s a proper piece of British GT history.

Jensen owners tend to be enthusiasts who know their stuff. These weren’t mass-produced motors. They were hand-built in relatively small numbers by people who cared about getting it right.

I’ll draw whichever Jensen you’ve got – Interceptor, FF, CV8, 541, Healey, whatever. Each one deserves celebrating.

Sorting Out Your Cartoon

Dead certain what you want? Perfect. Not quite there yet? We’ll figure it out.

You in the driving seat, your registration, mates from the Jensen Owners Club, that tour you did – whatever tells your story. Simple as that.

Jensen’s Story

The Jensen brothers – Alan and Richard – started building car bodies in the 1930s. They made bodies for other manufacturers before deciding to build complete cars themselves. Early Jensens used various engines, but by the 50s they’d settled on big American V8s. Made sense – reliable power, readily available, proper grunt.

The 541 arrived in 1954 with fiberglass bodywork and that distinctive swooping roofline. Ahead of its time really. The C-V8 followed in 1962 – handsome thing with a Chrysler engine. Proper fast too.

But 1966 brought the Interceptor and everything changed. Touring in Italy did the styling and absolutely nailed it. That wrap-around rear screen became iconic. Chrysler 383 V8 gave it serious performance – later versions got the 440 with even more power. Luxurious inside, beautiful outside, quick enough to worry the Italians.

The FF version – that’s where Jensen showed real ambition. Ferguson four-wheel drive system, anti-lock brakes, all the Interceptor’s style. Cost about 50% more than a standard Interceptor which limited sales, but the ones they built were remarkable.

There was also the Jensen-Healey roadster in the 70s – Lotus engine, open-top fun – though quality issues hurt it. The Interceptor carried on until 76 when the company folded. Various revivals happened but never quite took off.

What Made Jensen Special

They were coachbuilders who became car makers. Everything was hand-built, properly crafted. They weren’t trying to compete on volume – couldn’t have done anyway. Instead they made distinctive GTs for people who wanted something different from the usual suspects.

American power, Italian styling, British build quality when they got it right. That combination made Jensen unique.

Let’s Draw Your Jensen

Whether you’ve got one tucked away in the garage, you’re working on a restoration, or you just appreciate these understated British GTs – let’s get it drawn.

Been doing this long enough to know what makes each Jensen special. They’re all individuals really.

Get in touch and we’ll sort something out.