NEC CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW  11th - 13th November

Despite the restricted size allocated, the JOC will be celebrating 40 years of the Club with a magnificent stand at the Birmingham NEC. Every main group within the club will be represented with seven - yes, seven - cars crammed onto the stand. Namely:

• H type (pre-war) ~ Mike Williams
• CV8 ~ Chris Walton
• 4-litre Interceptor ~ Derek Chapman
• Interceptor ~ Mark Manniat
• Healey ~ Kevin Elliot
• SV8 ~ Dick Davis

and especially for us 541 enthusiasts

• 541 ~ Darren Barnes

The club marquee and the Regalia trailer will be there, so meet up with friends you've only met online, or who you haven't seen for months, and say "hello" to the JOC members on the stand. Darren's amazing newly restored 541 will be on display.
The JOC has arranged a discount on tickets to members - read about it in: this Forum thread!

Link to NEC site.

Watch their video of the 2010 show to see Keith Hudson's 541S @ 20 seconds in!
YouTube Video

  TECHNICAL UPDATE:  POWER OUTPUT  

In October we looked at a recently unearthed aerodynamics report that labelled the 541 as having the best drag co-efficient of any car yet tested. ...  Another part of the performance equation is the car's power. The Jensen designers realised from the start that this was likely to be a weak point in the car's design - the Austin 6-cylinder was a lovely engine but was not especially powerful. Designer Colin Riekie said "We learnt from Morris Engines that the output of the engine was 94bhp @3700rpm ... on the test-bed ... they were keen to test our modified cylinder head and we were pleased to learn it gave 117bhp @3500rpm ... torque was close to 190ft/lbs." On the road, "in normal top the bhp at the wheels would be about 110 at peak revolutions, but overdrive would reduce this due to losses in the overdrive unit."

With the kind permission of Ashley Hobson, of the Classic Performance Dyno Centre in South Australia, we are able to see how a 541 responds today.

For this they use their rolling road facility:




The car submitted for testing was a 1960 541R having a "Standard engine with factory triple SU's, standard exhaust". Initial power was 70.7kw, after which "The Carburretors were rejetted plus ignition optimised on the Dyno" and the car retested.



The results are shown below. Note that the peak power, when in correct tune, is 80.5kW which converts to 108bhp - just 2bhp less than originally! The peak torque was 234Nm or 173lb/ft which compares well to the 190lb/ft achieved on the test bed.




If any experts are able shed further light on the performance shown in this chart I'd be glad to hear from them!

Historical note: Although the four-litre engine was Austin, production had already been transferred from Longbridge to Morris Engines in the old Riley works in Coventry, where the staff were very interested in co-operating with Jensen.

RAGLEY HALL CONCOURS     Results Report

Now that the results are published in the Club Magazine, we can cover the 541 successes.

By no means all of the 541s present were entered in the Concours, but of those that were:

Bronze Class:    The two 541s present grabbed two prizes in this class.
Brian Philpott with 525 FBC was thrilled to receive not just 3rd place prize in his newly acquired 541S, but also the 541 Registrar's Cup :



And Terry Coggins from Bristol in his distinctive scarlet (previously green) 541, XKN 541, took 2nd place.




There were no 541s in the Silver Class  but
moving up to the Gold Class there were three 541s in the running:

Keith Lee with his previous prizewinner NEA 495 took 4th place :




Darren Barnes' delectable new restoration, SXU 567, took 3rd place.




Ian Proudfoot added his name to the trophy yet again with the immaculate 541S, 912 UPF, taking Gold 1st place.



Next year, the Concours will once again be incorporated
with the International Weekend (click for dates)

CAR OF THE MONTH:

   ...this month - the "rolling road" car featured above is seen in a recent Australian advert.

... previous featured car pictures are stored in an Archive page.  Go to the "Toolbox" tab to find this.

PART OF THE MONTH:

   ...the 541 has many interesting and unique parts... here's one of them...


Boot Lamp.

   Lucas L491 (53163)
Come back in a month for another obscure part!

OCTOBER 2011

4-LITRE INTERCEPTOR
Trip Complete

A triumph for 1950s Jensens with the successful European tour of the 541's contemporary, the 4-litre Interceptor. The immaculate concours drophead, once owned by the JOC President Lord Strathcarron, is owned by Derek Chapman who said:
It was an incredible trip throughout and so great to meet everyone. My big thanks to everyone involved and for their great help and hospitality. It certainly makes all the effort worthwhile.
Special thanks to Andi Kreis and his family for looking after us so well in Switzerland... and sorry about the major oil spill outside (and inside!) your garages!!



Forum link to story of the trip. (new window)

569 MPJ - History

Last month, Lennie Boulton's two-tone "Pink" 541 was mentioned, and I have since received some interesting information about its history, which I will be researching. If you think you can add anything to the tale, please contact this site's webmaster.

MOT FAIL?

Some users are in the habit of spreading thick grease over their leaf springs, wrapping them in Denso tape and then protecting them with leather gaiters.

I've recently heard that some MOT stations are asking to have the gaiters and wrapping removed, so they can check the springs for fractures. Has anyone else heard of this happening?

WILD ABOUT
WILDE'S SPARES

Good News! The first UK buyer has reported back via the forum:
I recently took delivery of a pair of the Alloy Bonnet Securing Thumb Nuts and Half Wing Nuts from Tony Wilde in Australia. The ones featured on the 541 section of the Jensen website. The quality, finish and fit is superb they also match the originals perfectly. Definitely a must for any 541 owners out there that are missing them or their originals have worn or damaged threads.
- Steve K, early 1955 541.



You may remember that long-time JOC member Tony Wilde was once our JOC Spares Secretary (JOC founder member #92) before leaving for Australia in the early 1980s, to found a successful international accountancy firm. As you can guess, he does not need to earn a living from selling car parts, so these are a labour of love. His 541R travelled to Australia with him and is our featured Car of the Month, in its unrestored state. He has posted the pictures on Flickr and Tony has supplied me with a price list.  See the Links page for more details.

SALE

Our JOC Regalia are offering some 541 clothing items at SALE prices. At £16.65, down from £18.50, is a 541 polo shirt.
Apparently, it is a Yarn dyed marl pique made from 100% ringspun cotton, with a Three button placket, contrast jacquard collar and cuffs, side vents and a locker patch.
If you contact Regalia they will no doubt translate that, or even better pop in at the NEC show where they will happily show you their placket.

Link to Regalia

ABSOLUTELY BARKING

Jensen 541R fanatic and author Barry Stone has contacted us:
Just a wee note to say that the exciting new Constable & Robinson edition of my dogtastic tail Barking At Winston is now available everywhere: isbn 9781780332420



Despite the cute cover, this is intended for all ages from teens upwards.

How did he get a mention on this website? By including his email address, which is:
R541Cottage@aol.com

What a superb address!

  1950s TECHNICAL UPDATE:  AERODYNAMICS  

I was recently contacted by a relative of Jensen body designer Eric Neale with a rather interesting item - a copy of the famous aerodynamics report that labelled the 541 as having the best drag co-efficient of any car yet tested. ...  As we know, in the 1950s Jensen was enjoying a good relationship with the Austin Motor Company, an organisation which had been involved in aircraft production at its shadow factories during the War. It had developed an interest in aerodynamics and BMC had built what the BBC claimed in 1957 to be "the only full-size wind-tunnel owned by a car factory anywhere in the world".

One of the first to use this facility was Jensen. Here we see the Longbridge facility in 1954:



and from the other direction in 1956:




And this is the resulting document: Austin - Test Report No. S.1579/057 Wind Tunnel Tests on the Jensen 541 Saloon. 21st January 1954. Copies to: Sir L.P.Lord, Mr. G.W.Harriman, Mr.J.R.Rix, Mr. Stanfield, Mr.Neale, Mr. Riekie.    (Click on the picture to open the fullsize document)    Courtesy of Peter Neale. This is a wonderful document, reeking of the period in which it was written and a delightful mix and scientific report and literary work. Can you imagine anyone today producing a report as readable as this? The names at the front leap off the page at me - Leonard Lord, boss of Austin; George Harriman, later head of BMC; Jim Stanfield, Austin's chief body designer; and the two Jensen men, Colin Riekie and Eric Neale.


         George Harriman                              Len Lord


And the reports conclusion? "In its best form the car's drag co-efficient is .00100, a very low figure. It can be seen how remarkable is the effect of opening the radiator intake..."

So, proof of the oft-reported claims of the 541s incredible aerodynamics.

DUTCH INTERNATIONAL MEETING HJGH    Event Report

"Many of you from the UK, CH, D, B, N and, I am sorry too few from the NL, attended our meeting", reported organiser Kees.

Han Kamp told me:    Only one 541 DeLuxe and one 541R were present, an S from Germany unfortunately had problems and couldn't make it. There were 2 nice C-V8's as well as 2 early Interceptor cabriolets. A rare sight indeed! Five or six people showed up in their modern vehicles, which I think deserves an applause. Most important: they were there! It was a very good and enjoyable weekend in spite of the relatively low number of participants, at least compared to our 25th anniversary event (80 + then...... now 32....) but the hotel, food, tours, scenery, and most of all the people were magnificent. As a bonus we had 25 degrees or more and lots of sun!! Speaking for myself, I enjoyed myself tremendously having been given the keys of a MK1 FF for the weekend! More pics and video images soon on:
www.jensenholland.nl. - Jensenholland link

STOP PRESS  THE ITALIAN MOB:  

Dave and Jane Turnage, our 541 Registrars, have just completed a 3,000 mile European tour to Italy in their trusty 541R, with the only faults being a slight leak and a failed bulb. However, they have worn out their window winder trying to get cool on the long journeys!


Forum link for more great pictures

• Total indicated mileage – 2922 (probably 8 to 10% greater than reality)
• Fuel purchased – 623.6 litres
• MPG – 21.3 (similarly 8 to 10% optimistic)

VIDEO CLIP:  Puoi parlare in Inglese?

Foreign Language class:  

Dave Turnage answers the pretty Italian lady's questions.

SEPTEMBER 2011

541 RACER

At the recent Silverstone Classic, a 541 was entered in the RAC Tourist Trophy, a hotly contested hour long two-driver race. If I reveal it was up against Ferrari 250s and Aston DB4s it will come as no surprise that it finished very near the end of the field, but its lap times were quite competitive and it was not put to shame by the more exotic machinery.
I hope to find out more and add details in the following months.

UK - Switz - Holland - UK    in the Strathcarron Interceptor!

I will be setting off in my 1952 early (Strathcarron) Interceptor for an epic journey

I'm sure lovers of 1950s Jensens will be interested to note that the 541's contemporary, the 4-litre Interceptor, is being taken on a grand tour of Europe from August 23rd to 4th September. The car in question is Derek Chapman's immaculate concours drophead, once owned by the JOC President Lord Strathcarron.

Forum link to Derek's progress. (new window)

4-LITRE INTERCEPTOR TRIBUTE PAGE

Following on from the above item, I've noticed how overlooked this lovely car is by the public and the Press. I've therefore set up a private site (not an offical JOC site) with some pictures and information on it to help vistors learn more, and then redirect them to the JOC.

** 2019 - temporarily down **

Unlike Jensen541.com it will NOT be regularly updated. If someone better equipped to take over running it emerges, please contact Stephen Carter at the address below.

BUSINESS
ROUNDUP

*  Jensen specialists Martin Robey have a newly revamped website. www.martinrobey.com
Unfortunately they literally have only a handful of items for 541 owners, but may be worth a ring.



*  A H Spares Ltd near Coventry took over the supply of Austin Healey parts 40 years ago when the original factory was closed, using many of the same staff. As the 541 was built by Jensen at the same time as the Healey, many parts match.
A H Spares have just announced a new expansion with increased shop space, giving you somewhere to stand while you try to compare parts with those from your 541!
www.ahspares.co.uk
A detailed read of Mike Byrne's 541 Build Sheets will help you pick the correct Healey part number for many items - see below for details.



*  Long-time JOC member Tony Wilde is still offering several essential 541 parts from his home in Australia.      He has posted the pictures on Flickr and Tony has supplied me with a price list.  See the Links page for more details.



*  The 541 Build Sheets are still available from Mike Byrne on a CD. Virtually an instruction list on how to build a 541, they simply list almost every part,its dimensions, quantities and origins. It's up to you how to assemble them once you have sourced them! There are also miscellaneous other illustrated parts lists - around 300 pages in all. Mike has set the price at £12.00 plus £2.00 postage to anywhere in the world!
Please contact him at mikebyrne611@btinternet.com.
The "Workshop Manual" compilation remains on sale at the same address.

*  Our own JOC Regalia have their usual items, plus "JOC 40th" T-shirts and cufflinks.
I can also now personally recommend their magazine binders, which tidy away over a dozen copies of the Magazine - your partner will thank you! Read my Review on the Regalia site for hints on inserting the magazines.
Link to Regalia

PAPER CHASE

As described above, the Jensen Build sheets are now on a CD. I recently discovered the existence of some later Build Sheets from 1959 (below), but unfortunately the trail has gone cold.



If YOU know of the existence of any similar paperwork from the past, let the Club archivist, the 541 Registrars or this site know - these things are too easily lost forever.

NO MUSTY OLD MAGS?

Classics Monthly is available as a digital magazine. You can view it on a tablet, Smartphone or PC/Mac. Is this the way all car mags are going? I hope not - I've just bought some "JENSEN" binders!

JOC CONCOURS  RAGLEY HALL REPORT

A wonderful day in the country featuring a good turnout of cars and lovely weather. If you were bored of the cars (!) you could wander around the House and Grounds, or partake of afternoon tea in the Stableblock cafe. Some excellent 541s were in attendance, although Keith Hudson left his prizewinning gold 541S at home in favour of his truly immaculate Jensen-built Volvo 1800.

I can't reveal the Concours results until they are officially posted in the club Magazine, but I can say that "early Jensens" made a strong showing! Many thanks to all who worked so hard on this day.

Amongst the non-concours attenders were the Bristow family, who brought two 541s that have unfortunately been missed at club events for many years due to clashing dates.



If you want to see more of this event, take a look at this month's video clip.

   HARVEST FESTIVAL  SPECIAL REPORT

Rather an unusual departure for our favourite Jensen 4-litre based website, you may be thinking...  But as we move into September, traditionally the time for Harvest Festival, spare a thought for the hardworking combine harvesters. Back in the 1950s, a company named Newage specialized in modifying Austin engines for marine and off-road use.  One very popular model was the Austin 4-litre, as used in the 541. Next time someone says, "Wow! Is that a lorry engine under your bonnet?" you can reply, "Actually it's a combine harvester block"!




Brian Dye has kindly let me reprint some of his Combine memories, and would like me to include a link to his current site: FordsonTractorPages

Mr Jones lived just on the other side of Norwich, our local city, about 30 miles from the depot. He had a small farm of around 100 acres, which like most of the farms around this area, was a mixed crop and cattle farm. He grew malting and feed barleys and feed wheat.... The 726 and 780 were produced in Scotland at Kilmarnock and based on the Massey 21... Some Massey?s had a Chrysler 6 cylinder side valve petrol engine but this was replaced with either a Morris 4 cylinder side valve, petrol / kerosene engine, the same as was fitted to the early Nuffield tractors or the beautiful Austin-Newage overhead valve 6 cylinder petrol / kerosene engine as home produced units became available. The Austin - Newage was an industrial version of a car engine that powered the luxury Austin cars of the time. I owned on of these, (bought second hand I hasten to add, some years later). The engine used to purr like a contented cat!! An Austin - Newage, powered Mr Jones?s Massey-Harris 780. On the Massey machine the engine was mounted underneath the combine threshing area. All the rubbish that leaked from this area fell on the engine. Mr Jones had made the fatal mistake of not cleaning the build up of chaff and rubbish from around the kerosene vaporiser at least three times a day! The build-up caught fire. Luckily the farm staff managed to save the combine but all the wiring was burnt out.
If you are interested in reading the full amusing article on the repair, follow this link: Memories of a Field Service Engineer - by Brian Dye (opens in New Window)

Suffice it to say that eventually, "There was nothing like the sound of that six-cylinder motor crackling out of that straight piece of drainpipe that the Massey called an exhaust."



Sadly, by the time Newage had modified the head, the block, the sump and the stroke of the crankshaft, there was not much compatibility with the standard road-car unit, so it is unlikely to be source of 541 spares.

JOC TREDEGAR HOUSE RALLY  September 18th

JOC South Wales Area at the Tredegar House Rally and Show. Unknown 541 involvement this year.
Information on Tredegar House Car Rally (opens in New Window)
Contact: Richard Streeter (0771 7674670) concours@joc.org.uk

NEC CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW  11th - 13th November

JOC stand at Birmingham show. TBC.
Link to NEC site - watch their video of the 2010 show to see Keith Hudson's 541S @ 20 seconds in!

HURLINGHAM CLUB CONCOURS, 29th JULY    Event Report

While the JOC Concours considered itself as upmarket as we sipped tea on the terrace at Ragley Hall, the real money was partying at the Hurlingham Club Concours in London. A chance to spend your inheritance while surrounded by priceless automobiles.


Classic & Sportscar Hurlingham club report


But amidst the quaffing of Veuve Clicquot champagne and munching of lobsters, and close to the Helicopter test flights (all completely true!) the Jensen flag was being upheld by Lennie Boulton with his 541. Sorry - Ill read that again, "Leonard Bolton" (who has gained a more impressive first name but at the expense of his surname's length).

Classic & Sportscar reported:    ....other 1950s highlights included another concours regular: Leonard Bolton?s superb, two-tone Jensen 541R (below).



"It was the 1959 Earls Court show car, finished in Dusk Rose over Primrose," explained Bolton. "I bought it 30 years ago from its first owner, who bought the car off the show stand because his wife 'liked the colour'."

Next year - Sir Leonard de Boulton to arrive by helicopter?

VIDEO CLIP: RAGLEY HALL 541s

A brief glimpse of Ragley Hall Concours

  - a party in the Park for all the Concours competitors and those there for fun. Keep the Volume turned to medium as the first few seconds sound dramatic!
Nine out of fortynine cars were 541s - not included in the video were:
* Keith Lee's green 541 which was filmed two months ago
* last month's 541R red video star
* the newly purchased metallic red 541S shown at the top of this page
* Ron's aubergine 541R beauty (another time hopefully)
* the Turnage's 541S - see below for car of the month

AUGUST 2011

AUSSIE PARTS

Long-time JOC member Tony Wilde used to be the Spares Secretary. Since moving to Oz he has branched out into making the spares! Several essential 541 parts are now available from him.


They are not cheap, but represent good value as they are uniquely designed for the 541.

TRIVIA CORNER

On the forum, there has been discussion of what the No.1 record was when your Jensen was first registered. It is quite instructive to do the same for the 541.

Firstly, the "Singles chart" only started the year before the 541 project was started. Up until then, sales were measured of sheet music for people to play on their own pianos!

As the project got under way, the sounds of "How much is that Doggy in the Window" were most popular. During its gestation, Frankie Lane's "I Believe" was popular, and during its unveiling at the Motor Show in 1953 the honours were shared by Guy Mitchell's "Look At That Girl" and Frankie Laine's "Hey Joe" (not, I hasten to add, the same song that Hendrix performed during the Interceptor era!).

By the time the very first 541 was registered in January 1955, the No.1 was Winifred Atwell's honky-tonk piano rendition of "Let's Have Another Party" (a Christmas leftover no doubt). The exhausted production team must have empathised with the track "Another Little Drink Wouldn't Do Us Any Harm" as they handed the keys over to the first customer.

By the time the 541S was introduced, the charts had changed in style and the hit was Roy Orbison's "Only the Lonely". When the last 541S quietly crept out of the factory in March of 1963, the Beatle's first hit "Please Please Me" had just been toppled by Cliff with "Summer Holiday".

So, from "How much is that Doggy in the Window" to The Beatles - what a ride that must have been!

WORK OF ART

The website page:
Metal chrome and leather
  (new window) features handsome black and white photos of parts of a 541. The photographer adds: "I deliberately haven't put a photo of the whole car on this page. Why, because you don't need it, you should imagine it. Here's the scene you should see in your mind's eye: The Jensen 541, a Grand Tourer. So let's tour down to the Cote D'Azur, pull up on La Croisette and sip cocktails at the Martinez. Cheers!"

And like me, he is from the area of Epping in Essex - obviously a man of taste.

HELP!

An appeal via the Forum from Craig: The top of the sleeve on the gearlever on my 1958 Deluxe has broken off. This is used to curl your finger under and pull the sleeve up to select reverse. I now have a jagged edge at the top and I now need two hands to select reverse. The crunch came yesterday when I sliced my finger on the jagged bit. Is this sleeve easily removeable and replaceable? Or do I remove it and get somebody to braze a new finger tab on the top?

Craig's Forum link. (new window)

AIR BRAKES

I heard a very interesting story recently regarding the change of boot hinges from the original style, which hinged neatly from the bottom, to the more conventional style adopted by the R and the S, which had large external chrome hinges and opened upwards.



As I heard it, one of the Jensen brothers was travelling at speed when (possibly after hitting a bump) the boot catch sprang open. Instantly, a large vertical surface was presented to the wind as it flowed over the aerodynamic bodywork, which must have had a similar effect to the Mercedes race team and their LeMans airbrake. Whatever happened, it was scary enough for the design to be modified so that if the boot opened while moving, it would be blown shut again.



I'd be delighted to hear confirmation of this story or further details.

Where's Wally?

ACE CAFE  541 STAR TURN

Out of 30 cars at London's Ace Cafe in July, about 20 must have been Interceptors so they seemed relatively commonplace. The only 541, belonging to Derek from Bristol, was parked in pride of place next to the doorway and therefore got even more attention, including a very enthusiastic young lady who made enquiries on behalf of her young man - he was quieter but had a glint in his eyes as he looked at it. Maybe in 20 years time he'll be joining the club as a middleaged 541 owner.



If you want to see more of this car, take a look at this month's video clip .

HET JENSEN GENOOTSCHAP HOLLAND  September 2-3-4

Those who attended our 20th and 25th will no doubt remember what HJGH has offered in terms of hospitality and facilities, not in the least, the very affordable cost. We are aiming to offer the Same quality, if not an even better event in 2011 ... You would not not want to miss this I am sure, just ask those Who have attended the other events.

Han Kamp says: Over the weekend we will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of Het Jensen Genootschap Holland. We have made reservations in a fantastic hotel in Goes which is near Antwerp and Ghent in Belgium and near most ferry services. Excellent motorway connections from all over continental Europe lead to Goes and the Dutch coastal area of the district of Zeeland where this city is situated. Zeeland is famous for its endless sand beaches and dunes and features many beautiful historic cities and other places worth a visit. Rotterdam is a mere 70 miles and Amsterdam just 120 miles away. Detailed information on our website (click the link below)
(opens in New Window) www.jensenholland.nl

From our archives, we have a picture of how the club celebrated their 10th anniversary back in 1991 with a limited edition model:

BRITISH DAY ITALY  Event Report

Some Italians appreciate the looks of classic British cars, and even hold special "British Day" events. Max Bottoli took along his family to such an event. "Bell'auto. Massimo". A couple more of his pictures can be seen, also thanks to Mike Byrne on his Flickr page.

Massimo and his family - on Mike Byrne's slot on Flickr
The British cars - full size - on Mike Byrne's slot on Flickr
The full parade - on Mike Byrne's slot on Flickr

SCANDINAVIAN ADVENTURE, 16-29th July    Event Report

The intrepid travellers from the UK were driving Interceptors, FFs and a Healey, so you might think there was no 541 involvement. But wait! In the Centre of Oslo on the 21st they were met by local enthusiasts, one of whom was in a 541R. They all parked up at Karl Johan and Town Hall, as can be seen below.

Picture: Jensen Owners Club Norway

Picture: Jensen Owners Club Norway

Click here to go to JensenCars Norway.

CLASSIC CAR OF THE YEAR : 541 NOMINATION

Keith "Rock" Hudson entered this 1961 Jensen 541S in the Practical Classics, Classic Cars and Classic Car Weekly "Classic Car of the Year 2011" competition. Entires closed on 31st July - will it be chosen for Public vote?

Keith gave a brief description of his car:
This car had been making regular trips to France with previous owner until a bad ferry crossing caused severe damage to front and rear of its fibreglass body.It was then stored for about 20 years until I purchased the car for £2000. Part of the bonnet came in carrier bags and a lot of the rear was missing.
After a (crash) course in fibreglass repair I spent the next 6 years restoring it and even located the original factory mould which I used to re-create the rear end. The welding took me 2 years to complete.

VIDEO CLIP: ACE CAFE

This month, Terry's 541 (ex-Malcolm Bristow) which has been on the cover of the JOC magazine a couple of times when it was green, but is now back to its original crimson. It burbled up from Bristol, stunned the Londoners at the Ace, and then proved it was as useable as it is attractive by setting off on the return journey.

JULY 2011

NEALE FAMILY

Update! Last month I reported : "The 541 body designer, the late Eric Neale, had a younger brother called Colin who achieved fame in Britain by heading the styling studio that produced the iconic Ford Zodiac Mk2 and the finned Consul Capri. He then moved to the US..." I have recently traced his address and was told by his daughter "Yes, you have found Eric's remaining brother. Eric was a lovely man and is greatly missed in our family."
I've now had a phone chat, direct from the suburbs of Detroit, with this youthful-sounding 85 year-old and he retained his enthusiasm for the motor business. So far I've learnt about their father's abilities with wood (his skills led to him being dubbed "Mr Wood" and he headed the woodwork section at Austin, an important area before the war). His inventions were the reason for his sons' interest in design; he improved WW2 bombers and the Horsa troop gliders. I hope to learn more next time we talk.

RESTORATION ROUNDUP

There's mixed news on project cars this month. Read on for the latest:

Good News

Readers of Practical Classics magazine may have been following the extensive restoration being undertaken on 541R "WXM 54". This has ground to a halt recently, and Bus mechanic/drummer Fuzz Townshend has now moved to Classics Monthly. When I enquired about the project, Fuzz told me: "My Jensen 541R has indeed migrated to Classics Monthly with me. I shall be recommencing its restoration over the summer, so I should have plenty to report by the Autumn."

Subscribers to Practical Classics will have to content themselves with Editor Danny Hopkin's Interceptor rebuild.

Bad News

The website www.anugraha.org.uk  (new window) is now 12 years old and carried news of a 541R to be restored in 1999.


I have followed up on it and Andy told me that "Unfortunately, my friend emigrated to Australia and left the car in my garage for a few years with no funds to continue the restoration; at the time, I was trying to source replacement Dunlop disk brake cylinders. Eventually, about 6 years ago, he decided to get the car restored professionally and give the car to his daughter as a wedding present. A low-loader recovery truck was sent round to fetch the car and it was taken off to a restorer somewhere in south London. I heard nothing for long time but a few years ago I learnt that (a) the wedding was called off and the couple split up and (b) the restorers took one look at it and said it was beyond their resources to restore it and would cost a phenomenal amount of money in any case. I've no idea where it is now, my friend doesn't use email and I've no contact details for him in Australia. A terrible shame really as I have driven the car even though it was extensively vandalised after being left parked in a front garden in Merton, South London for a year."
Is this car back in circulation?

No News

While browsing on the computer I came across this image:

Of no interest? Try zooming in beyond the Escort:

Apparently this 541 is part of a huge stash of cars in barns on a farm I will keep anonymous. The owner has actually restored another 541 to show condition and has vague plans for this one. I managed to trace the photographer who has been out of the country for several years, but has just returned and, at my suggestion, will be asking the owner (his relative) for more information on the car and enquiring under what circustances it would be for sale.

MIKE BYRNE TO THE RESCUE...

...of anyone trying to make sense of the wiring diagrams on the JOC site. He says, "I am in the process of re-drawing the 541 wiring diagram and I intend to sectionalise it to make it a bit easier to use. The first section I have done is the dashboard."


Check his notes on the Forum (new window)

On returning from the International Weekend, my children presented me with Father's Day cards. My 12 year-old son included a tiny sketch of a 541 on his card, which I think captures its shape rather well.

INTERNATIONAL WEEKEND  A RELAXED TIME

The International seemed a great success, with plenty of chat replacing the usual Concours. Not many early cars were present, but a delegation from Denmark bolstered the numbers.



Here we see the beautiful sight awaiting visitors as they arrived at the Hayley hotel on Friday evening.

CROPREDY BRIDGE  MORE CHANGES

You may be aware of more changes at Cropredy: following the sudden departure of V-Eight from the site, manager Bob Cherry had to rebuild the business he had been connected to for decades. He has now decided to hand over the reins and contacted his former panelbeater Gregg Alvarez who has bought up the business. Gregg also runs Gama cars, which handbuilds the "brand new" Interceptor R on behalf of the JIA company. To find out how all this affected 541 owners, I contacted him and he told me:
We definitely intend to provide specialist 541 services, building upon the groundwork that Bob Cherry has so carefully put in place. We plan to offer an indepth, comprehensive service for all 541, CV8 and Interceptor customers old and new. We are able to offer major glass fibre repair facilities as well. Bob Cherry is staying with us at least for the foreseeable future, (let?s face it, he?s irreplaceable in the Jensen world!!) so we can offer a full technical support service as well.

The works will be run by the new General Manager at Cropredy, Michael Garden.

INTERCEPTOR / FF DAY   Event Report

The 33rd Sandwell Historic Vehicle Show at West Bromwich had over 500 mixed vehicles. Steve J reported: "To prove that Jensens do not dissolve in the rain, 28 cars made the effort to give the public a display of West Brom's finest products. The previous night, the usual suspects plus several new faces came to Dudley for a few beers and a mind numbing Mexican meal (thanks to Bill Smith). Congratulations to club stalwarts Ron and Thelma Smith, as their superb 541R won "Best Jensen", a well deserved award."

COTSWOLD AIR SHOW, KEMBLE    Event Report

Picture: Neil Jennings

Daniel Bristow told us: "We had 4 541s at Kemble in the end and the weather turned out really well for us. A bit of low cloud to start with but it lifted as the planes took to the skies. Lots of interest in the cars and met a couple who have their father's old 541 who are going to join the club and get it back on the road after seeing them at the show. Now that's got to be a result."

BOURNE CLASSIC CAR SHOW   Event Report

JOC Lincolnshire and South Humberside Area at the Bourne Show

Picture: Derek Chapman

Derek Chapman reported:  "Many thanks to Colin & Diane for all their efforts which resulted in a great turnout of 11 Jensens at the Bourne Show. Ok, the weather wasn't with us which resulted in the show packing up early, but hey, it was still great to see everybody again, and did we care as we tucked into our Sunday dinner and beer at the local?!!" Colin and Di added:   "A big thanks to those who made the effort, helping to make an impressive display at Bourne this year, our Third, we had people from five different counties, you all came from Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. To those who came back to ours afterwards, it was our pleasure."
More pics on the Forum  (new window)

LEFT-HAND DRIVE: VERY SPECIAL 541

Paul Vierhout sent the JOC a bundle of pictures chronicling the lengthy 6 year rebuild and conversion of "GFA 444". It is now possibly the only LHD 541? Now with rack and pinion steering box and a better brake system. The last couple of years have been taken up with resolving minor issues, and finally by the time you read this it will have a lucky new owner in Switzerland.

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VIDEO CLIP: International Weekend

A Scenic drive was planned for the Saturday afternoon of the International Weekend and it was a huge success, especially amongst those freed from the "tyranny" of concours preparation. Congratulations are due to Lewi and Zac Marshall for all the preapration they did. Many thanks also to Keith and Jenny Lee for offering the drive pictured below:

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