The Jensen S-V8 is a roadster built by the British automaker Jensen Motors, and the most recent production car to carry the name Jensen.
History
After a £10 million investment, including Liverpool City Council and the Department of Trade and Industry, the two-seater convertible was launched at the 1998 British International Motor Show, with an initial production run of 300 deposit paid vehicles planned at a selling price of £40,000 each, but by October 1999 it was confirmed that 110 orders had been placed.[2]
The new Merseyside factory in Speke commenced production in August 2001[3] but troubles with manufacture meant production ceased with only 20 ever leaving the factory and another 18 cars left partially completed. The company went into administration in July 2002.
The Jensen name and partially completed cars were later sold to SV Automotive of Carterton, Oxfordshire, in 2003. SV Automotive was to complete the build of 12 of the cars and sell them for £38,070, retaining the others for spares.[4]
Specifications
The S-V8 is powered by a Ford Mustang-sourced 4.6-litre[5] (4601 cc), 32-valve, four-cam, V8 engine producing 325 bhp, giving it a top speed of 160 mi/h and a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) time of less than five seconds.
C-V8
A coupé version of the convertible S-V8 was planned, but due to the company's troubles, it never saw the light of day, except for one prototype.
References
- 2003 Jensen SV8 H&H Auctions, 23 July 2008, retrieved 10 October 2012^
- Jensen roars back BBC News, 12 October 1999, retrieved 10 October 2012^
- New Jensen S-V8 enters production The Telegraph, 25 August 2001, retrieved 10 October 2012^
- Tony Dron. The tragic tale of the Jensen S-V8 The Telegraph, 14 June 2003^
- Jensen SV8 Auto Express, 10 June 2003, retrieved 10 October 2012^