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Jensen FF - the 4x4 pioneer with English technology and Italian design

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Created on February 1, 1987

Reading time 6min

Written by:

Rob de la Rive Box / Bruno von Rotz (2012)

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Archiv

18

Archiv

18

Jensen FF II (1970) - handgemachter Sportwagen - aus einer Verkaufsbroschüre

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Jensen FF (1965) - mit Allradantrieb und Antiblockierbremssystem war der FF, hier noch auf Basis des C-V8 gezeigt, die Sensation der London Motorshow von 1965

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Jensen C-V8 Mk III (1966) - das Modell für die Sechzigerjahre

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Jensen FF (1966) - Prospektillustration - lange vor dem ersten produzierten Exemplar

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Jensen FF (1967) - kaum vom "normalen" Interceptor zu unterscheiden, aber rund 30% teurer war der Allrad-Jensen

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Jensen FF (1967) - von aussen sah man dem Sportwagen die zukunftsorientierte Technologie nicht an

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Jensen FF (1966) - der endgültige FF wurde nicht auf C-V8-Basis- sondern auf Interceptor-Basis entwickelt

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Jensen FF II (1970) - der Radstand des FF war etwas länger, als der des Interceptors

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Jensen FF II (1970) - der vierradangetriebene FF rechts, der heckgetriebene Interceptor II links

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Jensen FF II (1970) - die doppelte Motorraumentlüftung kennzeichnet die 4x4-Version

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Jensen FF II (1971) - die Silhouette unterscheidet sich nicht vom Interceptor

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Jensen FF II (1971) - feuchte und unbefestigte Strassen waren das optimale Terrain, um die Überlegenheit des FF zu demonstrieren

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Jensen FF (1966) - bei den Goodwood Testdays - einmal mehr zeigte sich die Presse begeistert

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Jensen Interceptor (1972) - geräumiger Kofferraum mit hoher Ladekante, kein Unterschied zum FF

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Jensen Interceptor (1972) - edles Interieur, so ähnlich auch beim FF ausgeführt

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Jensen 541 de Luxe Saloon (1957) - der 541 wurde mit Kunststoffkarosserie gebaut

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Jensen C-V8 (1964) - Übergabe des ersten Fahrzeugs durch Alan Jensen an Peter Monteverdi

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Jensen C-V8 (1964) - Verladung von Monteverdis Jensen in ein Flugzeug

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Summary

In 1965, two new Jensen cars attracted the public's attention at the Motor Show in London. The first was the Jensen Interceptor (exhibited in convertible form); the second Jensen even represented a technical world first. It was the prototype P66 C-V8 Mk III FF. Apart from the air outlet grilles set into the front fenders, this car resembled the standard C-V8 model. However, it was the first passenger car in the world to feature four-wheel drive based on the Ferguson system. From 1968 to 1971, the FF was then built and sold with the body of the Interceptor. This report goes into the history of the Jensen FF and its technology and shows the Quattro forerunner in many historical illustrations and in six rare sales brochures, including the particularly rare prototype brochure.

This article contains the following chapters

Considerable new price
"Ferguson Formula"
Dunlop system proves its worth
It all started with an Austin Special
"541" with plastic bodywork
Elaborate production by hand
Only 318 FF built
Amazingly safe
Mixed success in Switzerland
Further information

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

In 1965, two Jensen cars attracted the public's attention at the Motor Show in London. One was the Jensen Interceptor (still in convertible form); the second Jensen even represented a technical world first. It was the prototype P66 C-V8 Mk III FF. Apart from the air outlet grilles set into the front fenders, this car resembled the standard C-V8 model. However, it was the first passenger car in the world to feature four-wheel drive based on the Ferguson system. Ferguson had already built a Formula 1 racing car based on this principle in 1961, which was then raced by Stirling Moss and Graham Hill, among others. Since then, Ferguson had been trying to get the passenger car industry to warm to his patents. Now the Jensen company was interested. The Jensen FF (Ferguson Formula) was built on a very robust tubular frame chassis, the tubes of which had a diameter of 5 inches (12.5 cm) (4 inches was sufficient for the Interceptor).

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