1959 Jensen 541R

Description

Top spec 541R with disc brakes all round, overdrive, rack-and-pinion steering; one of only 193 made; in the current ownership since 1971; complete car in need of full restoration

Widely considered to be the best-looking car ever to emerge from the West Bromwich factory, the 541 was styled by Jensen's Eric Neale and was not just attractive, it was also highly aerodynamic with a Cd figure of just 0.39, one of the lowest recorded at the time.  

Launched in 1955, it had lightweight fibreglass bodywork consisting of three major mouldings, the entire front section being easily raised for excellent engine access. The doors and the lower front wing panels were aluminium, the body being mounted on an immensely strong, tubular-framed chassis featuring independent coil-and-wishbone front suspension and a leaf-sprung rear axle.

Power came from a 135bhp six-cylinder, twin carb version of the 4-litre Austin engine (later cars had three carbs), driving through a four-speed transmission with optional Laycock de Normanville overdrive.

Pick of the 541 range was the 'R' of which just 193 were made between 1957 and 1960. This had disc brakes all round, overdrive as standard and much-improved rack-and-pinion steering rather than the cam-and-roller system of the standard 541. It also had a restyled bonnet for better cooling and distinctive bulbous wheel arches (reminiscent of the Mercedes 300SL Gullwing) that aided stability at speed. And the R could certainly shift, with a top speed of over 125mph which made it one of the fastest four-seater cars in the world at the time.

First registered in Hull in March 1959, this rather sorry-looking 541R was bought by our vendor’s father, Robert Atkins, way back in 1971. A keen motorist and rally competitor (he was a navigator on the RAC Rally in the early ‘70s), he had always lusted after a 541R to join his collection of sporting machines.

He went to look at two and plumped for this one because he liked the two-tone colour (Taupe with a Maroon roof) and the number plate seemed to have his name on it: 5453 AT. The Jensen’s lusty 4-litre engine proved ideally suited to towing the family’s Fairholme New Dawn caravan and it was regularly used as holiday transport for the next few years (as shown in photos on file).

In 1975 our vendor’s father took up a new job in Canada and the Jensen was entrusted to a family friend for safekeeping, being stored in a barn in Leicestershire. When it became clear that the move might be permanent, plans were made to ship the Jensen to Montreal but the cost proved prohibitive. The Jensen languished in the barn for many years and eventually ended up getting stored outside, which did not do it any favours…

Scroll forward to 2004 and our vendor was back in the UK and finally succeeded in recovering the Jensen, his plan being to restore the car for sentimental reasons. He did make a start on the job, removing various parts and buying a few new ones, however life then got in the way and now, 20 years down the line, our vendor has come to realise that he will never get round to finishing the task, hence it’s appearance in this sale.

As you can see in the photos, the car is now in a very dilapidated state and will need a lot of work to get it back to its former glory. It is believed to be complete but you will need to satisfy yourselves on that score by personal inspection.

Documentation includes a V5C, original buff logbook which lists all five previous owners, original owner’s handbook, CD workshop manual, historic photos of the car plus much technical information about the model.

These really are fabulous looking machines that are very easy to live with and will cruise all day at 90mph at just 2,500rpm. Many parts are still readily available via the Jensen Owner’s Club and you can even buy a new chassis from Jensen specialist Ron Everitt-Clay of Worcestershire. New mirror-polished stainless steel bumpers are also available at modest cost from those excellent chaps at Group Harrington.

With good examples now making £40k+, this rare and desirable 541R is on offer here at no reserve and needs to be saved for future generations to enjoy.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com