Jensen CV8

[rooflover]

Pitched up to Cock & Bottle in Morden and stumbled on the Poole Bay Classic car club. Great venue with good food. This won! It's a fibreglass body with a Chevy V8!

[V8 FOU]

Great car!

It has a Chrysler engine though - unless the owner has done a swap.

[rooflover]

I was very surprised its fibreglass. Also saw this

[rooflover]

And this...

[Yertis]

Has the Cock and Bottle gone all gastro pub? I used to wander in there covered in mud, having traipsed across the fields from Lytchett.

[rooflover]

It's still a great pub. They've extended it a bit with a nice patio area and the food is still fab! Venison Wellington hits the spot every time. Well worth a visit.

[lowdrag]

I remember the CV8's of old, back in the 60's. I remember feeling the rear wing for the thickness of the fibreglass and it was very thick, surprisingly so in fact. Lovely looking beast.

[dinkel]

[bnseven]

This one is mine, definitely a Chrysler golden commando v8, lovely engine, bit heavy on fuel if you are pressing on....

[Spottedlaurel]

I hadn't really thought about them too much in the past, but this one parked next to us at a recent certainly caught my eye (and ear!):

1965 Jensen CV8 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

[Arcnewal]

I've always thought that these are so ugly they're pretty, but the more I see of them the more I like them. A convertible was also made (a Mk3 I think?) which I think is lovely.

[guru_1071]

the earlier 542r is far more pleasing on the eye

they can look quite brutal in the right colour and with the right wheels and chrome removed

[Arcnewal]

guru_1071 said:

the earlier 542r is far more pleasing on the eye

they can look quite brutal in the right colour and with the right wheels and chrome removed

Agree with you on that, but I prefer the 541S.

[benjj]

I very nearly bought one a few years ago off the back of this video. Wish I had...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt51sds9EGc

[mph]

Arcnewal said:

guru_1071 said:

the earlier 542r is far more pleasing on the eye

they can look quite brutal in the right colour and with the right wheels and chrome removed

Agree with you on that, but I prefer the 541S.

Anorak corner. The 541/541R had one of the lowest Cd's measured at the time and was the first production car to have four wheel disc brakes. The 541R was the fastest four-seater tested by Autocar at 127 mph in 1958.

The CV8 is an awesome car although the looks can be challenging. With the right wheels and in certain colours it's not bad though.

Having an American V8 means they can be rebuilt and upgraded for relative peanuts and make an absolute joke out of obtaining high performance from so-called thoroughbreds such as Aston Martins for example.

The Jensen company seldom receives the recognition it should IMHO. They were innovators in many ways and produced some fast, desirable cars.

[coppice]

I am in the minority which finds the CV8 Jensen's most attractive car- it has the velvet glove /iron fist dynamic just right . I found the later Interceptors (Vignale styled was it ?) a bit louche and lacking the CV8's subtlety . Mind you, I like Bristols and Gordon Keebles too, especially the latter, which is an arrestingly good looking car.

[rooflover]

coppice said:

it has the velvet glove /iron fist dynamic just right .

Great description - in the flesh they look mean and angry! Stunning!

[storminnorman]

benjj said:

I very nearly bought one a few years ago off the back of this video. Wish I had...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt51sds9EGc

Came here to post that exact video

[a8hex]

coppice said:

I am in the minority which finds the CV8 Jensen's most attractive car- it has the velvet glove /iron fist dynamic just right . I found the later Interceptors (Vignale styled was it ?) a bit louche and lacking the CV8's subtlety . Mind you, I like Bristols and Gordon Keebles too, especially the latter, which is an arrestingly good looking car.

Personally I really like the looks of the CV8, it ain't by any stretch of the imagination pretty, but to me it looks purposeful. The Interceptor never quite tocked my boxes but I like the 541, the CV8 would be my choice of Jensen.