Spotted: Jensen SV8
Pricey and, um, striking, this thunderous roadster has a unique place in British motoring history
Attractive? No. Brutally fast? Oh yes
So, another doomed British sports car story, then, a bit like the MG SV. Revive an old name and its heritage, unveil a dramatic car at its home motor show, announce future plans to further boost excitement and imply stability... it's a familiar sequence of events.
A decade of progress has only further exposed the flaws in the SV8 package. Its appearance is certainly striking, and may have been modern at the time, but even the most optimistic of its fans could hardly call the Jensen a classic beauty. Which is a shame, given the brutal elegance of the Interceptor. The grey paint probably doesn't help, and the downward curves of the nose just makes it look depressed. And whoever thought the aluminium surrounds for the rear light clusters were a wise aesthetic decision?
Interior has barely been sat in
Contemporary tests even suggest that it wasn't a bad steer, noting a refreshing lack of scuttle shake and excellent steering. It’ll be no Caterham, granted, but the SV8 may be more competent than expected.
Any SV8 is rare, but this particular example is one of the original Jensen-made cars, putting it in hen's teeth territory. Presumably this will secure its future value, which may help in getting past the purchase price.
Even allowing for its paltry mileage, £35,000 is a lot of money to throw at a weekend toy, particularly when the SV cars cost that new. You want a roadster built in Britain with stop-and-stare styling? Try a Morgan 3-Wheeler. All manner of V8-engined TVRs can be had for this money, too. And of course the Lotus and Caterham options are always there.
But the SV8 is something unique, bold and intriguing, for which it should be celebrated. Sure, there are cars objectively more capable, but who buys an automotive toy purely on the basis of ability? And if £35,000 seems expensive, think of the development costs; a £10 million investment to make ten cars means each SV8 cost Jensen £1 million. £35,000? Bargain.
JENSEN SV8
Engine: 4601cc, V8
Transmission: Five-speed manual, RWD
Power (hp): 325@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 322@4,750rpm
MPG: 24
CO2: 408g/km
First registered: 2001
Recorded mileage: 728
Price new: £34,650 (SV Automotive cars)
Yours for: £34,950
See the original advert here
http://www.hiltonandmoss.com/cardesc/porsche-911-r...
http://www.hiltonandmoss.com/cardesc/ferrari-308-g...
http://www.hiltonandmoss.com/cardesc/lotus-europa-...
Could be a fun way to blow £35000. Or £70k. Or most likely £140k
http://www.hiltonandmoss.com/cardesc/ferrari-308-g...
Could be a fun way to blow £35000. Or £70k. Or most likely £140k
And then sell the other kidney to run it! On second thoughts.....
The fuel consumption was frankly ludicrus. I was glad of the economy from my V8 BMW on the route home
I thought the actual number of factory cars is somewhere around 20-23 cars, with another 20 cars being in the factory in uncompleted state at the time of the company closing.
Of those 20 unfinished cars, 12 or 13 were finished and sold, the remainder broken and kept for spares - so the final production number is around 32-35 cars.
They are good steers - the Mustang V8 sounds lovely as you'd expect, they're pretty competent long range cruisers too. I've never owned one, but have driven a couple while the Jensen has been in for service work. They do vary in quality though, some I've seen have shocking panel gaps, others much better.
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