Hitting the scene in the '70s and making a brief return in the 2000s, Jensen Motors was a relatively small and unique British carmaker, primarily known for their eccentric yet cool sports cars. Amongst those cool cars was a Jensen motor that still stands out to this day, the Jensen S-V8. Debuting in 1998 at the British International Motor Show, it combined fine British sophistication and true American V8 muscle power. We think it would certainly give 2022 Muscle Cars a run for their money.
The Jensen S-V8 is the most recent sports car to stylishly carry the Jensen name. Jensen received a whopping $12.5 million investment from the likes of Liverpool City Council and the Department of Trade and Industry in 1998. This would run an initial production line of 300 deposit paid vehicles, which were planned to be sold at $50,000 each.
The brand-new Merseyside factory began its highly anticipated production in 2001, but troubles with manufacture meant production ceased with only 20 fully-completed motors ever leaving the workshop, with 18 partially-completed cars following. Unfortunately, the company went into administration in July 2002.
Unsurprisingly, the Jensen name, along with the partially completed cars were later sold to SV Automotive of Carterton in 2003, who decided to complete 12 of the cars, leaving the remaining incomplete for spares and repairs if needed. The Oxfordshire based company managed to sell the latter completed motors for $47,000 - slightly less than what was originally planned!
The Jensen S-V8 Had Big Plans From The Offset
When this amazing car initially debuted, it received huge worldwide interest. There was a certain rise in popularity for fun open-top vehicles, such as the Porsche Boxster, so Jensen weren’t exactly being daring when they thought of the S-V8.
Jensen seemed to have cooked up the perfect recipe, with a booming Ford Mustang 4.6-liter V8 engine that is rather easily tunable and allowed parts to be easily available. The company also thought to clothe the car in an aluminum body to keep the weight of the motor down, adding to its rapid acceleration speed.
The Jensen S-V8 came with plenty of horsepower, 355 at 6,000 rpm to be exact, as well as an impressive 322 lb-ft at 4,750 rpm. The S-V8 could achieve a top speed of 160 mph and an amazing 0 to 60 mph time of less than 5 seconds.
So, How Much Can You Expect To Pay For A Jensen S-V8 Today?
The Jensen S-V8 is an extremely rare find to come across, probably because so few of them actually left the factory. Most recent sightings show that those car enthusiasts who are wanting to add the Jensen S-V8 to their collection can expect to spend between $47,000 to $70,000 on one of these motors in good condition.
One particular Jensen S-V8 was bought directly from Automotive Ltd in 2007, when it had covered only 51 miles and was, at this point, unfinished. This motor went direct to S-V8 specialists to be substantially modified. It was reprinted in Jensen blue to cover its previous silver frame, alongside a roof frame and cover being made and fitted. These modifications included a serious upgrade to the rear suspension, the installation of a fuel tank, drop glass which was fitted to all windows, stylish leather cladding to the steering column, as well as a general tidy up to features such as the body panels and trim.
These improvements certainly didn’t come cheap, setting the owner back some $9,996. The current owner reports it to have traveled only 5,500 miles and is in very good condition, with it recently being valued at an impressive $62,000. When you compare this Jensen to the likes of Aston Martin and Jaguar, the S-V8 suddenly feels like quite a bargain.
The Jensen Name Lives On
This just goes to show that the Jensen S-V8 is a well sought after vehicle, even in 2022. Its classic look and luxurious sporty feel continue to tempt enthusiasts into splashing out on one of these timeless wonders.
Although the Jensen S-V8 was never the great triumph that it was once intended to be, the few cars that were lucky enough to leave the factory continue to be well looked after and are likely to continue to grow in value as the years pass by. The Jensen S-V8 is a marvelous car that deserves huge amounts of credit for the fantastic vehicle that it is.
Sources: piston heads, auto express, classiv driver