1961 Jensen 541S

Jensen Paint Work

The very first Jensen we restored, our 1961 Jensen 541S has been in the paint shop with Chris. He has rubbed down the damaged area,

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Good As New

Our friends at Wyatt Polishing recently completed some restoration work and zinc plating for a number of seat runners and bonnet struts for the Jensens

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1961 Jensen 541S

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]History of the Jensen 541S The Jensen 541S was Jensen Motors luxury GT model of the Jensen 541 series, being 4″ wider than the 541R,

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Safely Transported Home

Our 1961 Jensen 541S has been safely transported home to its owner.

Tony was responsible for its care and, as you can see from the photos below, this beautiful classic is now back with its fellow garage mates.

Jensen Paint Work

The very first Jensen we restored, our 1961 Jensen 541S has been in the paint shop with Chris. He has rubbed down the damaged area, primed, and painted the sill.

Welcome Back – Our earliest Jensen 541 project returns home

As many know, we have become somewhat of a Jensen 541 specialist. But today, was a special day at our Suffolk HQ as our very first Jensen 541 project made its way back to our workshops for the team to begin work on.

This 1961 Jensen 541S was the one of the first, if not THE first, restorations of the unique and rare sports car which was undertaken by our team in 2015, back in our original workshops in Deben Road, Ipswich.

This car, which played such an important role in the early history of our work, will be carefully assessed and then worked on by our talented team very soon. So, keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for updates very soon.

Good As New

Our friends at Wyatt Polishing recently completed some restoration work and zinc plating for a number of seat runners and bonnet struts for the Jensens currently in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

When components like this look as good as they now do, you can tell that the fully restored cars they become a part of will be as beautiful as ever.

A Brief History Of The Jensen 541

The Jensen 541 was a car produced by Jensen Motors. Each one of these cars has an individual story to tell, but the story of the Jensen 541, in general, is one that many car enthusiasts should be keen to hear.

If you want to know more about these truly iconic classic cars, then this brief history of the Jensen 541 can give you a good idea of how special (and rare) these cars really are.

October 1953 – The Launch Of The Jensen 541

At the Earls Court Motor Show of 1953, the Jensen 541 was shown to the public for the very first time. It would be another eight months before production properly started but, this was the date when the world was officially introduced to the 541.

Up until the 541, Jensen had mostly been using aluminium for the bodywork of their Interceptors (there were restrictions on the use of steel still in place as the world recovered from the second world war). When it came to making the boot lids of the Interceptors though, Jensen played around with a new material of the time – fibreglass.

When working on the idea for the 541, Jensen wanted to do something big, so they decided to make a lot more of the car from this new wonder material.

June 1954 – Production Begins

In June of 1954, production of the Jensen 541 began. At the time, you could buy your very own 541 for £2146.

October 1956 – Say Hello To The 541 Deluxe

A little over 2 years after production of the 541 began, the 541 Deluxe was introduced. As this was a more luxurious car that featured all disc brakes, the price of the car increased to £2626.

Only 53 Jensen 541 Deluxes were made in total.

October 1957 – Here Comes The Jensen 541R

A year later, the 541R was introduced. When first released, these were fitted with Austin Princess (DS7) twin-carb engines, and an overdrive gearbox. The price tag for a 541R, at the time, was £2866.

January 1958 – No More Original Jensen 541

At the beginning of 1958, the very last Jensen 541 was made.

October 1960 – From R To S

Two years later, the Jensen 541R was pulled from production too. At this point, less than 200 541Rs had been made. Jensen had now moved on to the Jensen 541S which had a larger interior, and automatic transmission as standard. Due to these upgrades, the 541S cost £3195.

January 1963 – The End Of The Road

At the beginning of 1963, production of the Jensen 541S ended. Less than 150 had been made before being replaced by the Jensen CV-8 which had been introduced the previous year (1962).

Bridge Classic Cars And The Jensen 541

Jensens have had a strong presence in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for a long time. Our team of classic car technicians have restored multiple 541s and some of our current projects include a few more too.

Considering only a few hundred of these classic cars were made, we love seeing them in the workshop. We love working on them, and we love getting them back on the road for everyone to enjoy.

Watercolour – Artwork of our 1959 Jensen 541R From Helmingham

Local artist Paul Seymour has sent us in this beautiful watercolour painting of our 1959 Jensen 541R that he sketched at our stand at this years Helmingham Hall Classic & Sports Car Festival.

We brought along the 541R which is in the early stages of its restoration with us.

We’ve even got some photos of Paul at work while he roughed out the sketch which you can see below and head over to his website and check out some of the other amazing artwork he has done and the tuition courses he offers.

Featured – Photo of our 1961 Jensen 541S Restoration at Seckford Hall

We’ve been sent an amazing photo from the lobby of Seckford Hall here in Suffolk. The photo in the frame is from a photoshoot that Bridge Classic Cars did with the 1961 Jensen 541S restoration we had carried out at Seckford Hall.

It’s always a very proud moment to see both our photography work and restoration work in somewhere like Seckford Hall.

Jensen Journaal – July 2021

It is lovely to receive a copy of the Zomer 2021 Jensen Journaal in the post this week.

Several of our Jensens that we have restored have been featured in this month’s copy of the Dutch magazine, Jensen Journaal! https://jensenholland.nl/ It’s an absolute privilege, so thank you.

The magazine talks about our 1957 Jensen 541R, the 1958 Jensen 541R, the 1960 Jensen 541R and the 1960 Jensen 541S (The Prototype).

Here are our website links to the cars that were featured to find out more information on each of the restoration projects.

https://bridgeclassiccars.co.uk/category/projects/completed/1958-jensen-541r-navy/

https://bridgeclassiccars.co.uk/category/projects/completed/1957-jensen-541r/

https://bridgeclassiccars.co.uk/category/projects/completed/1960-jensen-541r-01/

https://bridgeclassiccars.co.uk/category/projects/completed/1960-jensen-541s/

Bespoke Jensen book bag!

We call it the Jensen bible and in order to protect it Kath has made a bespoke leather book bag.

Jensen Genome Richard Calver July 2019 Edition

She started the process by drawing, measuring and working out the dimensions and design for the bag. Black leather was cut out to the required shapes and measurements and then mounted onto 3mm foam. She then sewed around the edges of the mounted pieces to make sure they were secure.

The first step in putting it all together was to sew a zip between two pieces of mounted leather with a zipper foot. Red topstitching went down either side of the zip as a finishing touch. Kath attached the zip and sidebands with clips onto the front of the book bag, to make sure it all fitted together, before sewing in place. She checked the book fitted inside, before sewing the back of the bag on. Red topstitching running around the outside edges of the front and back matched the zipper.

Twenty Twenty: The Year Of The Jensen

Some of you may remember we mentioned our busy Jensen workshop last year, and it hasn’t slowed down in 2021. We’ve become the Jensen Specialists of the UK with a constant set of Jensen 541R and 541S projects passing through our doors on a regular basis. With projects ranging from full nut and bolt restorations to small fixes and services, we’ve been inundated with Jensen’s, and we love it!

2020 saw 8 Jensen’s in at the same time, which led to this amazing shot of them all lined up. Our technicians are now well versed in Jensen mechanics, electrics and bodywork as we’ve still got 6 of them in the workshop plus another stored at Bentwaters waiting to find a new home.

With only 193 Jensen 541R’s ever made and 127 541S’s made, and even fewer still on the road, we’ve had a large quantity of them in the workshop.

antique.inc – March 2020

antique.inc have shared this stunning photo of our 1961 Jensen 541S on Instagram. This vehicle was fully restored by ourselves here at Bridge Classic Cars and was one of the first Jensen 541’s we fully restored.

Since then, we have worked on several of these stunning vehicles and become very familiar with their quirks and intricacies.

The power of media…reuniting the Jensen 541S with it’s previous owners

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Last month we told you how delighted we were to feature in the May 2016 edition of the EADT’s Suffolk Magazine with a fantastic piece on our very own Jensen 541S restoration.

Suffolk Magazine May 2016

On Wednesday 25th May we received a lovely email into the office from a Mr and Mrs Smith:

“I was thrilled to see the car I owned for 31 years restored to pristine glory in the Suffolk magazine, I have several photo’s of the car under restoration, I and a colleague made the tubes and did the welding on the chassis but sadly time over took me you see I am in my 77th year. The Jensen originally came from Ipswich a publican owned it and used it to go onto the beach at Felixstowe I bought it from a man in Hadliegh and drove it home about 2-00am with a very noisy exhaust what a thrill. I still have several cars we currently use for local trips an Austin A40 Somerset & a Ford Consul Mk1 also a number of others from 1923 to 1979 I do have some photo’s of the 541s and we do live in Suffolk on the Norfolk border I and my wife would love to come and see your workshop. Regards William Smith”

On Saturday 28th May, we welcomed Doreen and William Smith to the Bridge Classic Cars workshops to have a chat and show us some images that they had from when they owned the 1961 Jensen 541S. They loved the canvas print that we had on display in the workshop and we showed them the full gallery of the restoration project and the fantastic photoshoot from Sugar and Spice Photography, held at Seckford Hall in Woodbridge, Suffolk

Mr and Mrs Smith at Bridge Classic Cars

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”4296,4295,4294,4293,4292,4291,4290,4289,4288,4287,4286,4285,4284,4283,4282″ title=”Archived images from Mr and Mrs Smith”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

1961 Jensen 541S

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]History of the Jensen 541S

The Jensen 541S was Jensen Motors luxury GT model of the Jensen 541 series, being 4″ wider than the 541R, which had the advantages of making the interior roomier and improving the road holding. The 541S had a conventional radiator grill (as opposed to the flap of the 541) to allow for the extra heat given by a proposed new V8 engine, and a Salisbury limited slip differential for the extra torque demanded.

Jensen used their own powerful version of the Austin DS5 4-litre straight-six engine (featuring triple SU carburetor, a high compression Weslake head with custom-made twin exhaust manifolds and an alloy baffled sump/oil cooler) in the 541S. Initially the Jensen brothers tested Chrysler Hemi V8s in the 541S, also trialed in Richard Jensen’s Jensen 541 deluxe, but none were used because of supply difficulties. One was fitted with a Chevrolet 327 V8 however, at Donald Healey‘s request. A total of 127 cars were hand-built between 1960 and 1962 at Jensen’s West Bromwich factory, most having GM-licensed Rolls-Royce hydramatic gearboxes. This was innovative at the time as performance cars mainly had manual gearboxes. It also suited the criteria of effortless speed and luxurious long distance driving Jensen set for their new car, although twenty-two were fitted with Moss manual gear boxes at the request of their prospective owners.

The Jensen 541S is also notable for being the first British car to have seat belts fitted as standard equipment. Another first for the 541 series was the use of Dunlop disc brakes on all four wheels. A rack and pinion steering system was employed, giving the car very positive steering. Other safety equipment included a padded windscreen surround, fire extinguisher and first-aid kit. Each car was also fitted with a Motorola radio.

The 541S was superseded by the Chrysler Golden Commando V8 powered Jensen CV8 model, which inherited from the 541S the same wheelbase and track dimensions, as well as the Jensen ethos of safe, easy, comfortable and fast inter-continental travel while the groundbreaking 1966 Jensen FF used a perimeter tube style chassis first tried on the 541 series of cars.

Jensen 541S

Jensen 541S

Reg Number: 5871 VT

Date of Registration: 02.01.1961

Chassis No: 100/1013

Engine No: 40/A/11052

Cubic Capacity: 3993CC

Fuel Type: Unleaded petrol

Taxation Class: Private Light Goods

Wheel Pan: 2-Axle-Rgid Body

Body Type: Saloon

No of Seats: 4 Seater

This Jensen 541S was found in a farm building in Boxford Suffolk. The owner had bought two Jensen’s a 541 and the 541S. He had previously restored a 541S.

The Jensen 541S was disassembled, having its interior removed and the engine stripped. Some parts were missing. It was purchased by Bridge Classic Cars as a restoration project.

 

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”1069,1070,1071,1072,1073,1074,1075,1076,1078,1068″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Chassis and Suspension

The large tubular chassis has been totally restored and or replaced.

The remaining chassis structure was sandblasted and repaired as necessary and the total chassis was painted in gloss chassis black.

The foot wells, front and back, are made of triple marine ply that is protected on both sides with 3mm aluminium plate and bonded to the chassis cross and longitude rails.

In the front floors pans there are removable panels to access the jack mounts. These apertures are closed with the same floor structure with a holding wing nut’s and secondary clamps.

The suspension was totally rebuilt and Proteck Adjustable shock absorbers were fitted.

The front dampers were rebuilt by SCP (Specialist Car Products) of Tamworth.

Running Gear, Braking and Fuel Systems

All the running gear was removed from the car. The back axle was stripped, cleaned and rebuilt and the casings again were painted black. The differential was filled with “COMMA LSD LS80W-90 differential oil”.

The braking system was totally rebuilt. The calliper’s were rebuilt and refurbished by “Past Parts” of Bury St Edmunds as was the brake servo.

New discs and “County Asbestos Free brake pads” were fitted and the total system was reinstalled using all new brake lines, calliper hoses and filled with “Comma Dot 4 Synthetic brake fluid”.

New wheel bearings were fitted and the steering rack was totally rebuilt and fitted with “Morris Lubricants KP400” rather than normal grease to lighten the non power assisted steering.

The fuel system has been totally rebuilt or renewed using the existing fuel tank.

The exhaust is bespoke stainless with twin pipes manufactured by others and fitted by us during refitting.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”1081,1082,1083,1084,1085,1086,1087,1088,1089,1090,1091,1092,1093,1094,1095,1096,1097,1098,1099,1100,1101,1102,1103,1104,1105,1106,1107,1108″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Main Body

The glass fibre body was in reasonable condition and free of any previous accident damage.

It had been stripped of top coat paint leaving a faded grey colour which had over the years been left to the elements.

Crazing within the main body tub was minimal but there was more crazing on the one piece bonnet section.

The body was totally stripped for paint and all crazing was taken back to original fibre mat, repaired and gelled.

At this time many original mould ripples and imperfections were removed to achieve the best finish possible.

Jensen 541S

The car was repainted in Jensen Royal Blue.

Colour code ICI3310B.

Chrome and External Fittings

All external chrome was repaired and refinished in triple coated hardened chrome by Wyatt Polishing of Thetford in Norfolk. The original front grill was lost before the car was purchased and was a non available part to replace.

A new tool was made to press a new grill and a new stainless template was laser cut and pressed on the new tooling . The finished grill was then polished.

Jensen 541S Front Grill

The number plates which are custom built Aluminium raised letters and numbers riveted to a black background that were made and supplied by Framptons.

Jensen 541S Number Plate

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Engine and Gearbox

The engine was rebuilt by renowned racing engine builder Don Warman of Maldon in Essex.

The cylinder head is a Dennis Welsh Motorsport Alloy “Number 002” which gives compression of 8.3-1 Ratio.

It has a valve clearance of 12” Thou and a head bolt torque of 75lbft.

The pistons are Dennis Welsh Motorsport Omega Fast Road.

The engine oil is “Comma Classic 20W50 with a Fleetguard FF4003 oil filter”.

It has an Accuspark Electronic Ignition System fitted.

The Hydramatic gearbox was drained of its fluids, inspected and deemed to be in fantastic condition. The drained oil was clean and free of any foreign bodies. The whole unit was cleaned, reassembled and refilled with “Comma AQF mineral transmission fluid”.

The Dynamo was replaced with a Dynamator which has the original looks of the dynamo but is an Alternator for better charging and voltage stabilisation.

Jensen 541S

Electrics

The electrics of the car have been either totally renewed or overhauled.

A new “Autospark” wiring loom was fitted.

The headlights were converted to new “Lucas H4 Halogen headlamps”.

All other electrical items were refurbished and refitted.

Glass

The rear screen and back windows are made of Perspex from “Project Plastics of Colchester” who re-formed and cut to size the shaped units.

Front screen, front door glass, quarter lights are all original and fitted with new rubbers.

Jensen 541S Screen[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Badges and Decals

Original badges have been refurbished where possible and new badges have been sourced and purchased as necessary.

The Jensen’s decals were sourced and fitted as necessary.

Kick Plates and Door Shut Protectors

These were beyond repair, a new set were remade to the original design in Australia and shipped to the UK.

Interior

The interior is “UK Hide Autocalf” mulberry leather with matching mulberry vinyl. The carpets are high grade in “AS Trim code No: German 23X318” with a black boot carpet piped in mulberry and a custom made tool roll in black vinyl.

The ceiling cloth has been replaced with a “Boyriven Cream HLPVC 5684” mounted on the original wires to ensure the correct shape was kept at all times.

The new seatbelts were sourced at “AH Spares” and although not original to the car they are a period seat belt used in the 1960’s Austin Healey’s. This is a very safe option that suits it very well.

All of the dashboard instrumentation has been refurbished or replaced.

All the dials were rebuilt by The Gauge Shop. They have been rechromed, had their dials and needles refurbished. All dials were calibrated prior to fitting.

A period radio has been fitted with concealed speakers.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”1116,1117,1118,1119,1120,1112″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Wheels and Tyres

The original steel wheels were sand blasted, powder coated and refurbished by “Wheelworx of Colchester” and fitted with Ovation Eco Vision V1682 205 with chrome hubcaps.

These have now been changed to Stainless Steel Wire wheels from “MWS (Motor Wheel Services)” and shod with Pirelli Cinterato 185 VR15.

Jensen 541S

These wheels are centre splined with stainless steel wheel spinners.

Specification

PAINT CODE: ICI 3310B

PAINT COLOUR: JENSEN ROYAL BLUE

BRAKE FLUID: COMMA DOT 4 SYNTHETIC

CYLINDER HEAD: DENNIS WELSH MOTORSPORT ALLOY NUMBER 002 FAST ROAD

COMPRESSION: 8.3-1 RATIO

VALVE CLEARANCE: 12” THOU

HEAD BOLT TORQUE: 75lbft

IGNITION SYSTEM: ACCUSPARK ELECTRONIC

ENGINE OIL: COMMA CLASSIC 20W50

OIL FILTER: FLEETGUARD LF4003

TRNSMISSION FLUID: COMMA AQF MINERAL

DIFFERENTIAL OIL: COMMA LSD LS80W-90

WIRING LOOM: AUTOSPARKS

S/S WIRE WHEELS: MWS (MOTOR WHEEL SERVICES)

TYRES ON STEEL RIMS: OVATION ECO VISION V1682 205 70R15

TYRES ON WIRE RIMS: PIRRELI CINTERATO 185 VR 15

BRAKE PADS: COUNTY ASBESTOS FREE

SHOCK ABSORBERS: PROTECK ADJUSTABLE[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Seckford Hall Hotel, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 6NU”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It was a beautiful summer’s day, on Saturday 29th August and the day the Jensen was ready to leave us…but not before one final task!

The whole team at Bridge Classic Cars took her to one of Suffolk’s most beautiful settings, Seckford Hall Hotel in Woodbridge for the completed photoshoot.

A huge thank you to Jason at Sugar & Spice Photography in Felixstowe for the stunning images. We all had a wonderful day and it was lovely to meet all of the hotel guests who took the time to come and chat to us and to admire our Jensen 541S.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”2241,2240,2239,2237,2236,2235,2234,2233,2232,2231,2230,2229,2228,2227,2226,2225,2224,2256,2257,2258,2259,2260,2261,2262,2263,2264,2265,2266,2269,2270,2271,2272,2273,2274,2275,2276,2277,2278,2279,2280,2281,2282,2283,2284,2285,2286,2287,2288″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU9kikjjfIY” title=”Mr Andrew Storer, Managing Director of Pukka Pies taking delivery…”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=”One very proud new owner”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Andrew Storer - Pukka Pies

Andrew Storer, Managing Director of Pukka Pies collecting his newly restored Jensen 541S alongside head technician of Bridge Classic Cars, Asa Judd.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Pukka Pies Logo

Our story

Pukka Pies is an independent company with a passion for pies. They are made with the finest ingredients by dedicated and caring people. They are full filled in light pastry; they taste great and have true flavours. The proof is in the eating. Try one… They’re Delicious!

  • Pukka Pies is an independent company based in Leicestershire. We only bake pies with our name on them.
  • Our entire range is free from preservatives and hydrogenated fats.
  • 320 people work at Pukka Pies it is a great place to work. Staff welfare and job security is most important to our company.
  • Pukka Pies was set up in 1963 and we have sold more pies every year since then. Today we make over 60 million pies every year.
  • We only use the best ingredients from trusted suppliers who we have good working relationships with.

How Did We Get There…?

In 1963 the Beatles were at number one, Mary Quant decided short dresses were cool and the rest of the population were discovering bell bottoms!

Thankfully, Trevor Storer had other ideas on good taste. Quitting his day job he founded Trevor Storer’s Handmade Pie Company which started the smallest of bakeries and set about selling great tasting pies. His first creation was the Steak and Kidney Pie and it was Trevor’s wife Valerie who produced the recipe for the Chicken and Mushroom Pie which like all the pies, remains the exact recipe today. He baked the pies on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and sold them on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Trevor opened 13 accounts on the first day and sold 1,200 pies in the first week. By the end of the first year he employed just 12 members of staff. Pukka Pies now make over 69 million pies and pasties per year and have 320 members of staff.

In a flash of marketing genius, one year later he renamed the company Pukka Pies and the rest as they say, is history. Trevor Storer’s pies tasted great and were an instant hit. Bell bottoms may no longer be with us but Trevor Storers pies most certainly are. Pukka Pies… Don’t Compromise!.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]