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JENSEN 541 BACK IN PRODUCTION
With a few simple modifications to bring the car up-to-date, the 541 is set to spring back into production. A small factory on an industrial estate in the Midlands has tooled up and a stock of body/chassis units has already been built up, ready to fulfil orders. |
A fleet of monogrammed distribution lorries has been prepared, showing the professionalism
of the new company.
The price level has not yet been set, but is anticipated to be around £50,000,
which will rise if optional extras such as the braking system and interior are also specified.
New owners will experience the distinctive smell of fresh glass fibre,
just like the original customers of the West Bromwich factory in the 1950s. Of course, some compromises have been made to ensure the car can be sold in today's markets.
The Austin straight-six power plant is obviously not available, so the new design
uses a tuned Ford V8 (as did the shortlived SV8 model).
After some consideration, it was decided that sales would increase if
the car was available as a convertible, so the shell has been modified to achieve this.
Under the skin, the twin chassis tubes and flat sheet steel chassis
were deemed too complicated,
and a simple ladder frame design has been licenced from a replica specialist and modifed to fit the 541 instead of a Cobra replica.
Also in the interests of reducing complication, the swivelling radiator shutter has gone,
replaced by a conventional grille.Along the side, Eric Neale's famous wheel arch bulges
were found to polarise opinions when shown to a focus group,
so they have been replaced with simple rounded arches.
To perform in today's environment, chunky modern tyres fill out the new wheelarches.
Supporters of the "new look" point out that the front and rear lights appear unchanged, providing a link to the old design.
Proprietor Jake Profoillo, who apparently made his fortune in the transportation of bovine waste product, said, "Despite all the changed required by modern legislation, I feel the character of the Jensen 541 really shines through. As a final modification, the rather dull winged name badge can be substituted with one of our exciting coiled snake chrome badges. In my opinion, this really finishes it off."
Indeed, I think all 541 enthusiasts will look at the finished car and think that the 541 really has been finished off:
