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Jensen FF - more than one step ahead of the sports car competition

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Created on September 24, 2013

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

46

Bruno von Rotz

1

Archiv

18

Daniel Reinhard

46

Bruno von Rotz

1

Archiv

18

Jensen FF (1969) - with vinyl roof

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Jensen FF (1969) - the likelihood of ever meeting another FF was as low then as it is now

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Jensen FF (1969) - and there he goes

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Jensen FF (1969) - a car like no other

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Jensen FF (1969) - impressive appearance, despite its simple design

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Jensen FF (1969) - the performance was enough to drive away from most of the others

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Jensen FF (1969) - the only 4x4 sports car of its time

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Jensen FF (1969) - in its element on slippery roads

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Jensen FF (1969) - the anti-lock braking system works mechanically

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Jensen FF (1969) - the 4x4 drive concept was unique at the time

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Jensen FF (1969) - Number 188 of 195 in series 1

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Jensen FF (1969) - actually ideal for winter roads

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Jensen FF (1969) - most authentic with English registration

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Jensen FF (1969) - the snout of the FF was longer than that of the Interceptor

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Jensen FF (1969) - especially in bad weather you appreciate 4x4 and ABS

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Jensen FF (1969) - good all-round visibility thanks to lots of glass

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Jensen FF (1969) - the front end of the FF was longer than that of the Interceptor

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Jensen FF (1969) - the FF shared the large glass tailgate with the Interceptor

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Jensen FF (1969) - the practical tailgate

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Jensen FF (1969) - the headlights are also positioned slightly differently than on the Interceptor

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Jensen FF (1969) - three rock drummers drove FF - probably no coincidence

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Jensen FF (1969) - inconspicuously painted white

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Jensen FF (1969) - would actually have been a good car for James Bond, with its climbing abilities

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Jensen FF (1969) - the Interceptor also had the large tailgate

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Jensen FF (1969) - the differences to the Interceptor are only apparent at second glance

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Jensen FF (1969) - with filigree rear lights

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Jensen FF (1969) - the seat on the left-hand side was significantly restricted by the mechanics

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Jensen FF (1969) - still with the Italian-style cockpit

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Jensen FF (1969) - everything important at a glance

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Jensen FF (1969) - the steering wheel with chiselled spokes is striking

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Jensen FF (1969) - red zone already at 5,000 rpm, the American V8 was not a barrel organ

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Jensen FF (1969) - Center console with impressive collection of clocks and switches

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Jensen FF (1969) - still with mileage tachometer

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Jensen FF (1969) - View through the trunk

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Jensen FF (1969) - "american iron" - large-volume Chrysler V8 in the engine compartment

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Jensen FF (1969) - the V8 needs a lot of space

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Jensen FF (1969) - easily accessible units

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Jensen FF (1969) - everything still nice and mechanical here

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Jensen FF (1969) - the chassis badge

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Jensen FF (1969) - the Jensen sign

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Jensen FF (1969) - with stylized four-wheel drive

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Jensen FF (1969) - the air scoop was reserved for the FF

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Jensen FF (1969) - only the FF had the double air vents

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Jensen FF (1969) - the dealer left his signature on the door sill

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Jensen FF (1969) - the lettering on the C-pillar

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Ferguson (1961) - the ideal car for the little man

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Ferguson P99 (1961) - Peter Westbury at the St. Ursanne-Les Rangiers hill climb in 1964

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Ferguson-Climax Project 99 (1960) - in the race for the Richmond & Gordon Trophies at the Goodwood Revival 2012

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Jensen FF (1965) - with all-wheel drive and anti-lock braking system, the FF, shown here still based on the C-V8, was the sensation of the 1965 London Motor Show

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Jensen FF (1965) - the prototype still with the body of the C-V8

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Jensen FF (1966) - at the Goodwood Testdays - once again the press was enthusiastic

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Jensen FF (1966) - brochure illustration - long before the first example was produced

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Jensen FF II (1970) - the wheelbase of the FF was slightly longer than that of the Interceptor

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Jensen FF II (1971) - the silhouette does not differ from the Interceptor

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Jensen FF (1967) - the sports car's future-oriented technology was not visible from the outside

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Jensen FF II (1970) - the double engine compartment ventilation characterizes the 4x4 version

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Jensen FF (1967) - hardly distinguishable from the "normal" Interceptor, but around 30% more expensive was the all-wheel drive Jensen

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Jensen FF (1966) - the final FF was not developed on a C-V8 basis but on an Interceptor basis

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Jensen FF II (1971) - damp and unpaved roads were the ideal terrain to demonstrate the superiority of the FF

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Jensen FF (1972) - Dimensions

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Jensen FF II (1970) - the four-wheel drive FF on the right, the rear-wheel drive Interceptor II on the left

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Jensen Interceptor III (1973)

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Jensen SP at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - Interceptor III equipped with a 7.2-liter engine

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Jensen Interceptor (1972) - the interior of the Jensen FF largely corresponded to that of the Interceptor, but it was not available as a left-hand drive model

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Jensen Interceptor (1972) - spacious trunk with high loading sill, no difference to the FF

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Summary

The Jensen FF was probably the most advanced car of its time; no other production sports car before it could boast 4x4 drive and ABS. The technology boost was packed into the slightly modified body of the Jensen Interceptor. The fact that the four-seater coupé was nevertheless not a great success was due to the high price and the not exactly simple technology, as well as the fact that Jensen did not actually want to export the car. This report shows one of the few Jensen FFs still on the European mainland and tells the story of the unusual 4x4 coupé, supplemented by original documents and many pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

The first series-produced all-wheel drive passenger car
On the ski slope
First series-produced passenger car with anti-lock braking system
Better not to sell
No Interceptor
From Series 1 to Series 3
Luxurious and comfortable
Further information

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

They had two things in common, the drummers John Bonham, Mitch Mitchell and Ginger Baker. Of course, they all played drums in rock bands (Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream), but they also drove the same car, a Jensen FF, which was perhaps the most advanced English car of the time - with four-wheel drive and anti-lock brakes. Until 1965/1966, all series-produced cars had either driven front or rear wheels. Only off-road vehicles were equipped with selectable four-wheel drive, but these vehicles could not be described as comfortable or even sporty. But Harry Ferguson, the king of tractor manufacturers, had the dream of establishing permanent four-wheel drive in passenger cars. And he invested huge sums of money to get there.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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