The Ford Barn - View Single Post

Jembow · 07-14-2019, 09:42 AM

Let's not get too hung up on the Gable car, it's been discussed ad infinitum. It's clearly based on a 36 - Gable may have placed the order in '34 but he got the car in '36. The car was photographed in Santa Barbare in 1936, and the photo above has a 1937 plate.

This car of Joerg's is far more interesting. I have a clipping from Classic & Sportscar magazine of May 85 which refers to an article in their February '85 issue showing a car with the same front wing styling as Joerg's White Lady, but some doubt if it was actually a Jensen. I'd like to find a copy of that February issue.

I have only seen one S-type tourer up close, several years ago at a show in Henley-on-Thames. I couldn't engage the owner in conversation, he was agitated because it was its first outing after restoration and kept stopping when hot, and he didn't want to listen to my suggestions! I should have photos but can't immediately find them.

In 1970, I was in at the death of chassis S23, a four-door saloon. It was in a Berkshire scrapyard in very rough condition, I bought the Columbia axle and front hubs when they cut it up and later swapped them with the late Bert (Mr Model A) Thomas, who traded them on. The brakes were Ford cable (1937 style), the wheels Dunlops. I believe they may have ended up in the hands of Mike Knapman, well known V8 & Allard man.

In the 60s & 70s there was a series called Profile Publications - A5 size booklets of about 12 pages with short car histories. I have The V8 & Straight-8 Jensens, written in 1967 by J R Buckley. It says the Ford chassis and running gear were provided to Jensen on the orders of Edsel, who visited Jensens (Edsel was known to like sportscars). There is a photo of him with the first production S-type in 1935. It may have been Edsel who suggested the Columbia - to the best of my knowledge, the Columbia was never marketed in the UK as an accessory. The engine is said to have been tuned to produce 120bhp, with alloy heads, twin SU carbs, Scintilla magneto and dual exhaust headers. Top speed claimed as 95mph.

There is also a photo of a prototype 2 1/4 litre car which never went into production - that would have been a V8-60. The Jensen cost nearly 3 times as much as a stock V8 Ford - for that money I would want the big motor!

There is also mention of 2 V12 cars built for Californian customers - anyone heard of them?

After my dismissal of the Gable car, I have just spotted a photo in the Profile booklet said to be the Gable car, but it's a light colour. It also says there were 2 made, the other going to Cary Grant.

Joerg has a fabulous unique car, I am so jealous!

07-14-2019, 09:42 AM	#28
Jembow Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Spalding, United Kingdom Posts: 306	Re: Jensen S1 Let's not get too hung up on the Gable car, it's been discussed ad infinitum. It's clearly based on a 36 - Gable may have placed the order in '34 but he got the car in '36. The car was photographed in Santa Barbare in 1936, and the photo above has a 1937 plate. This car of Joerg's is far more interesting. I have a clipping from Classic & Sportscar magazine of May 85 which refers to an article in their February '85 issue showing a car with the same front wing styling as Joerg's White Lady, but some doubt if it was actually a Jensen. I'd like to find a copy of that February issue. I have only seen one S-type tourer up close, several years ago at a show in Henley-on-Thames. I couldn't engage the owner in conversation, he was agitated because it was its first outing after restoration and kept stopping when hot, and he didn't want to listen to my suggestions! I should have photos but can't immediately find them. In 1970, I was in at the death of chassis S23, a four-door saloon. It was in a Berkshire scrapyard in very rough condition, I bought the Columbia axle and front hubs when they cut it up and later swapped them with the late Bert (Mr Model A) Thomas, who traded them on. The brakes were Ford cable (1937 style), the wheels Dunlops. I believe they may have ended up in the hands of Mike Knapman, well known V8 & Allard man. In the 60s & 70s there was a series called Profile Publications - A5 size booklets of about 12 pages with short car histories. I have The V8 & Straight-8 Jensens, written in 1967 by J R Buckley. It says the Ford chassis and running gear were provided to Jensen on the orders of Edsel, who visited Jensens (Edsel was known to like sportscars). There is a photo of him with the first production S-type in 1935. It may have been Edsel who suggested the Columbia - to the best of my knowledge, the Columbia was never marketed in the UK as an accessory. The engine is said to have been tuned to produce 120bhp, with alloy heads, twin SU carbs, Scintilla magneto and dual exhaust headers. Top speed claimed as 95mph. There is also a photo of a prototype 2 1/4 litre car which never went into production - that would have been a V8-60. The Jensen cost nearly 3 times as much as a stock V8 Ford - for that money I would want the big motor! There is also mention of 2 V12 cars built for Californian customers - anyone heard of them? After my dismissal of the Gable car, I have just spotted a photo in the Profile booklet said to be the Gable car, but it's a light colour. It also says there were 2 made, the other going to Cary Grant. Joerg has a fabulous unique car, I am so jealous!