RE: Spotted: Jensen SV8

RE: Spotted: Jensen SV8

Author
Discussion

Ahonen

5,015 posts

278 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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ravon said:
Pretty certain the final chassis development was undertaken by former Tyrell Chief Designer Derek Gardener and historic racing meastro Martin Stretton.
Yes it was. The 6-wheel P34 designer himself. Derek was working with Martin at the time, overseeing the rebuild of the P34 that Martin raced in TGP.

So the chassis had decent pedigree.

Ian_C

193 posts

209 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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Super rare car! I was lucky enough to have a look at one over ten years ago when they were fairly new. The company I was working for at the time had rented a corner of a warehouse unit for some storage, and the warehouse owner had nine supercars parked in there including a Countach Anniversary, Aston Martin V8 Zagato, Honda NSX (I wrote all nine down somewhere). Was quite a sight for a then-carless teenager who had not long passed his test!

CampDavid

9,145 posts

197 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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FourWheelDrift said:
CampDavid said:
tombar said:
If you want a Jensen, then sell a kidney and buy this:



And then sell the other kidney to run it! On second thoughts.....
I hired one for the weekend (well, my GF hired it for me)

The fuel consumption was frankly ludicrus. I was glad of the economy from my V8 BMW on the route home
The photo though is not of an unreliable, poor economy, asthmatic V8 (it only had 272bhp when new) Interceptor. It's a conversion by Cropredy Bridge Jensen. A Jensen Inteceptor S, which has a 430bhp Chevrolet LS2 plus better brakes, suspension, gearbox and more - http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2176...

You would need to sell a kidney though as it's £75,000 but the running costs will be less than an original smile
Having had a ropey original for the weekend, I'd rather that than a rebuilt "modernised" one.

The original engine has it's flaws, stat wise it's hopeless but it burbles along with so much charm. Ditto everything else. I'll take mine in a lovely original shape please!

GranCab

2,902 posts

145 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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You can see that they tried and failed to add some design cues such as the triple rear light clusters from the brutallly beautiful CV8...




anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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The old Chrysler engines are so unstressed that they go on forever if given oil and water. Their fuel consumption is shameful, and their power output per litre is pretty rubbish, but they do chug along very pleasantly.

I once got my Interceptor up to an indicated speed well, well above 100 mph, but it was scary stuff, as the front of the car was lifting off. I had three lanes of an empty motorway available, and needed them.

The handling is better than you might expect for a heavy ish car with a live rear axle, so long as you obey old fashioned SIFO rules. The steering is way too over assisted and light, although that and the good visibility makes the car easy to drive and park in cities. The brakes on my one are a bit dodge, but I'm having them looked at. The general pose factor and comfort are pretty fine.

AdeV

621 posts

283 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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Galileo said:
marsdalebear said:
Nice interior and nice engine. Who cares what it looks like!
I do. I want to walk towards a car and think, "Cor, what a beauty, can't wait to get behind the wheel", not "Jeez, that cars Fuggly. Hope none of my mates see me driving it". It should never have been allowed to happen.
Exactly. Part of the purpose of a really nice sports car is that it makes the girlies go a bit damp in the underwear department - and whilst the SV8 will certainly do that, it'll be because a little bit of wee came out when they laughed too hard...

Dr Interceptor

7,743 posts

195 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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Breadvan72 said:
I once got my Interceptor up to an indicated speed well, well above 100 mph, but it was scary stuff, as the front of the car was lifting off. I had three lanes of an empty motorway available, and needed them.
I had a 'moment' coming back from the Breakfast Club at Goodwood last month in Primrose - nudging an indicated 90mph, a bump in the road saw the front end lift! The steering went very light, and was very much a brown trouser moment.

That's the reason why I don't think the LS converted cars really work on the road... having driven a couple, the front end with an all aluminium engine up there is just too light - well too light to be able to press on down a twisty road. Although having now driven an FF, and felt the front end 'bite' and stability that they deliver, that will be my next Jensen when it comes to moving the Convertible on.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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I think that the FF is the one to have, but good ones seem rare and expensive.

ImDesigner

1,958 posts

193 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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B10 said:
Did this car not start as a Healey and because the Healey family would not allow / sell the Healey name they bought the Jensen name?
That's exactly right.

Everyone is complaining about the panel gaps and I can assure you, the two guys who penned the design didn't want them to end up like that.

The car was built using tooling created for the concept car.

teacake

150 posts

190 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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dandarez said:
I remember the motoring press raving about it rolleyes
I remember the headline "ON THE ROAD TEST" splashed boldly over the cover of one edition of Auto Express. Which turned out to be the reporter spending a couple of laps as a passenger on a test track...

madmarkb said:
I remember seeing it at the motorshow and telling the managing director on the stand that it would fail if they launched it with such appalling details around the front and rear lights . He insinuated that I didn't know what I was talking about. Hmmm the guy clearly hadn't got a clue and got his just desserts.
It was at the '98 show, I think. I made the pilgrimage, as a Jensen owner at the time, and they wouldn't let me get near the car. So I made some comment about it being brave to take styling cues from the CV-8 rather than the Interceptor, and wished them luck. Haven't seen one since.

Roadster25 said:
Is it just me who thinks it looks like a big Daihatsu Copen?
The grille always reminded me of the Daf XF95...


soad

Original Poster:

32,829 posts

175 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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GranCab said:
You can see that they tried and failed to add some design cues such as the triple rear light clusters from the brutallly beautiful CV8...



Cool, so that's where the inspiration came from!! thumbup

GranCab

2,902 posts

145 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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The CV8 was driven by Steve Forrest in "The Baron", it starred Steve Forrest and Sue Lloyd and was ITV's first colour production using humans ...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA2RJZNg_bI

Mules

72 posts

146 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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I went to the factory, just down the road from Halewood, the line was pretty small. IIRC the emphasis was very much on craftsmanship rather than mass production.

Shame they didn't quite get traction and work out.

JT

tombar

475 posts

208 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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I've always loved the CV-8 since finding one in a field back in the 80's - rotten underneath unfortunately. I think they are beautiful in a kind of early Gerry Anderson/ Stingray way! I respect the intention behind the SV-8 but TVR had hit the sweet spot of price and brutality.

I hanker after the idea of an Intercepter powered by a supercharged 1UZ-FE from a LS400 - because it is such a great engine. Judging from comments on here I'd have to weigh the front down with pig iron.

SV8Predator

2,102 posts

164 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
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ravon said:
Pretty certain the final chassis development was undertaken by former Tyrell Chief Designer Derek Gardener and historic racing meastro Martin Stretton.
Pretty much as you say. The chassis and suspension design was by Peter Knott; over 1999 / 2000 the spring and damper settings were finessed by the team of Derek Gardner and Martin Stretton (Dangermouse). Originally Bilstein dampers had been specified but they were never successful, so development continued with fully adjustable (bump and rebound) Konis and dual rate coil springs. The test sessions were mainly at Millbrook Proving Ground with additional testing at Long Marston. Derek was very enthusiastic and a true gentleman.





squirrelz said:
Didn't they destroy the pressings by using steel panels instead of the aluminium they were designed for? Or am I confusing it with something else?
Not correct. Steel is much easier to press than aluminium. The early panels were pressed in aluminium (as was the original intention) but they were having problems with the deep draw at the front of the bonnet and the trunk lid. So the decision was made to make these panels in steel. Thus the early cars had all-aluminium skin panels; later cars had steel bonnet and trunk lid.


madmarkb said:
Quite frankly the car is disgusting and whoever signed the design off must have been an absolute numpty.
The car was designed by Jaguar's Principal Designer (at the time) Howard Guy and his colleague at Jaguar, Gary Doy.


AntJD

22 posts

153 months

Thursday 22nd November 2012
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It looks like a REALLY badly made Airfix kit! Just look at those panel gaps.

Blackpuddin

16,409 posts

204 months

Friday 23rd November 2012
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CampDavid said:
tombar said:
If you want a Jensen, then sell a kidney and buy this:



And then sell the other kidney to run it! On second thoughts.....
I hired one for the weekend (well, my GF hired it for me)

The fuel consumption was frankly ludicrus. I was glad of the economy from my V8 BMW on the route home
Had the official test Interceptor for a day, took it up to Lancashire wondering if the fuel gauge was broken as I was caressing the throttle so lightly but the needle was still dropping like a stone. Mentioned it to the Jensen fella on returning it. "Oh yes," he said, "you might as well have booted it everywhere, it makes no difference to the fuel consumption." mad

Denver09

134 posts

186 months

Friday 23rd November 2012
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Viper engined Jensen..I quite like it but then I'm not a Jensen fan anyway so am not offended by the updated stayling


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X998E340TtE&fea...

padster666

1 posts

136 months

Saturday 24th November 2012
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i have owned a jensen sv8 for 11 years now and its never once let me down. i have covered approx 20,000 miles in going to france,ireland,germany,austria and scotland. its a great car for attenion there is nothing like it on the road.if you buy a porsche or lotus or anything like that there everywhere so no one takes notice.with
this you buy exclusivity.

anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 24th November 2012
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padster666 said:
i have owned a jensen sv8 for 11 years now and its never once let me down. i have covered approx 20,000 miles in going to france,ireland,germany,austria and scotland. its a great car for attenion there is nothing like it on the road.if you buy a porsche or lotus or anything like that there everywhere so no one takes notice.with
this you buy exclusivity.
That's like dressing in a gimp suit just because you stand out.