Jensen CV8

The Jensen C-V8 is a sports caur produced bi Jensen Motors.

Launched in October 1962, it wis the successor tae the similarly styled 541 series o Jensen motorcaurs an shared thair uise o fibreglass as a body material (ae the door skins wur metal).

The C-V8 uised big block Chrysler ingines, at first the 361 an frae 1964 the 383 in³ which produced 330 bhp (246 kW). A few wur fittit wi standard transmissions but maist left the factory wi the excellent Chrysler Torqueflite automatic. Syne the majority o C-V8s wur made for the Breetish mercat, ae 8 ensaumples wur made in left-haund drive (LHD) an sic caurs are prized the day bi European an American collectors.

As a result o the fibreglass bodywirk an the fact that the lairge twin-tube frame wis set in frae the perimeter o the caur, mony ensaumples o this model hae survived the years in better shape than mony contemporary vehicles an continue tae provide a comfortable hie performance drivin experience.

Bein able tae achieve a tap speed o 136 mph (219 km/h), run the quarter mile (~400 m) in 14.6 seconds an 0 -60 mph (97 km/h) in 6.7 seconds made this an automobile ane o the fastest production fower seaters at the time.THE AUTOCAR 16th April 1965

The stylin wis done bi the factory, an wis ...controversial. It wis decidedly unuisual an the slant eyed leuk aither repelled or attractit fowk wi little middle grund. This aiblins contributit tae the relatively sma tot production frae 1962 tae 1966 o 500 caurs.

The caur wis upgradit tae Mk II specification in 1963 wi Selectaride dampers fitted tae the rear. The 1965 Mk III haed baith pairs o front headlights made the same size an a dual circuit braking seestem.

The Jensen CV-8 Mk II wis featurt in the ITC telly series The Baron made in 1965/66.

Twa convertibles wur made bi the factory – a full cabriolet an a Sedanca that wis ae open abuin the driver an front passenger. A featur aboot the unique CV8 Sedanca, written bi Breetish motorin jurnalist Paul Walton wis printit in the Juin edition o Ruoteclassiche (Italy's leadin classic caur magazine).

References

The 40t anniversary o the CV8 celebrations 
Detailed description o the CV8

C-V8
Category:Sports caurs
Category:1960s automobiles
Category:Luxury vehicles
Category:1962 introductions