1959 Jensen 541R

Jensen Repairs

Jonn has been working on our 1959 Jensen 541R recently. His notes: Take complete inlet manifold and carburettor to bench for repair. Remove 3x inlets

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Jensen Crash Bar

Part of our 1959 Jensen 541R has been undergoing some work in the Bridge Classic Cars fabrication bay. Technician Monty has been straightening the front

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Jensen Doors

Brian has been giving our 1959 Jensen 541R some attention. He screwed the door cappings to the top of the door panels and fitted the

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Nearly There

Classic car technician Rob has continued his work putting our 1959 Jensen 541R back together. The steering wheel has been stripped and a new rim

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Dash Panel

Classic car technician Brian has been working on part of the interior of our 1959 Jensen 541R. He continued his work on the dash by

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A Jensen Dash

Classic car technician Brian has been working on our 1959 Jensen 541R and has been making parts for the dash of our rare Jensen. Brian

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Progress Continues

Rebuild progress on our 1959 Jensen 541R has continued recently with classic car technician Rob still working hard to bring this newly-painted classic back to

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Two More Deliveries

Tony has been out on the road again delivering two vehicles to their very happy owners.

The first was our 1959 Jensen 541R. After loading it into the trailer, it was soon back home.

The second delivery was to the lucky winner of our 1960 BSA A10.

Back Home – Our 1959 Jensen 541R Returns Home After a Checkover

Our 1959 Jensen 541R, which was recently restored, came back to our Suffolk HQ for its first check up after being used and enjoyed by its new owner.

Along with a check up and oil change, the team had to do a couple of little revisions for the owner. But, after being given the green light by the workshop – our transport team loaded the car into our enclosed trailer and took the classic GT car back home for its excited owner.

Back for a Check Over – Our recently restored 1959 Jensen 541R back for a check up

Our 1959 Jensen 541R, which was delivered to its new owner a few weeks ago, has been collected by the Bridge Classic Cars transport team to make its way back to our Suffolk HQ for a routine check up.

As with all of our ground-up builds, we like to see the cars back after completion to double check everything is as it should be. The car will make its way back to our Pettistree workshop for the team to take a look at the car.

A Restored Jensen Delivered

Our 1959 Jensen 541R has left the Bridge Classic Cars workshop and is now back with its very happy owner.

Tony loaded the car up and safely delivered it home earlier this week.

This is a stunning classic car and one that has been with us for a while. It’s great to now see it back where it belongs.

Getting Ready To Say Goodbye

As we prepare to say goodbye to our 1959 Jensen 541R, I thought it would be nice to take some photos of it in its almost-finished state.

A bit more testing is needed and then it will be off home to its owner.

Jensen Repairs

Jonn has been working on our 1959 Jensen 541R recently. His notes:

Take complete inlet manifold and carburettor to bench for repair. Remove 3x inlets unions from each inlet runner. Tap out thread carefully to 3/8 unf. Cut 3x bolts to length and fit to each runner with fibre washer and pipe thread sealer applied. Remove each inlet runner from carbs in turn in order to clean and resael vacuum balance pipes between runners. Clean out thoroughly.

Continue with each vacuum connection. Add extra o-ring firstly. Apply sealer and then second o ring and clamp plate. Secure each in turn and reconnect carbs. Remove suction Chambers from each carb in turn. Clean chamber and pistons. Set each jet depth of approx 2 1/2 turns. Use vernier to set each the same, at 1.63mm depth. Refit pistons ensuring lift and return smoothly. Refit each suction chamber and secure.

Refit carbs after John sorted out air leak on inlet manifold.

Front Wing And Servo

John has made the mesh to go on our 1959 Jensen 541R front wings, as requested by the owner of the car.

While John was doing that, James replaced the brake servo as, on a recent test drive, it was noted that the brakes were not quite as good as they could be. A replacement unit was fitted and the brakes were bled.

Final Checks and Adjustments

Over the last few days, the workshop team have been completing the finishing touches on our 1959 Jensen 541R. They have fitted a modern but classic-looking radio with DAB and speakers, road tested and obtained all of the details to get the speedo calibrated accurately, adjusted doors and ensured the washers are working.

A bonnet brace has been installed, and some small knobs were fitted to both the sun visors to assist in pulling them down. After the road test, James adjusted the exhaust and a breather pipe that were causing small rattles, ensuring the car is enjoyable and quiet to drive for the owner.

Exhaust Tips

Monty has made exhaust tips for our 1959 Jensen 541R.

Front Bonnet Flap

As the restoration of our 1959 Jensen 541R is coming toward its end, Rob has fitted new studs into the front grille badges and trim ring. He marked the positions of the new fixing holes and drilled them before bolting the badges to the grill. He then refitted the flap to the car and adjusted it to achieve correct operation.

Jensen Boot Floor Plate

Rob is back into the swing of things now as he makes and fits an access plate to cover the fuel tank sender unit.

He has fitted up the interior door handles to both doors, repainted motif on gear knob and fitted to car.

The fuel tank breather pipe has been fitted to the tank and run out of boot floor.

He’s made up and fitted an alloy bracket to hold a new charging socket. Wire up and fit inside glove box.

Fabricating various small components for our Jensen 541

Rob returns to work this week, having taken a extended break to recover from some recent surgery.

He gets straight back on to our Jensen 541R as we finish off this fantastic restoration. He has fabricated a bracket for mounting a battery cut off switch in the boot. Fitted a bracket and switch to car. Made new earth leads to run from the battery to the switch and the switch to the chassis. Make up a wire to connect the horn button to the steering column. Fit steering wheel and horn push and test. Fit an extra throttle return spring and make and fit a bracket to attach the spring to the engine.

Jensen Crash Bar

Part of our 1959 Jensen 541R has been undergoing some work in the Bridge Classic Cars fabrication bay.

Technician Monty has been straightening the front crash bar before it goes back onto this beautiful (and nearly finished) classic Jensen.

Jensen Water Pump

Bridge Classic Cars workshop manager, John found that the hose was not sealing on the water pump of our 1959 Jensen 541R, so he found another pump and fitted it into the engine.

Our 541R is getting closer and closer to being completed and we are looking forward to seeing it leave the workshop very soon.

Jensen Doors

Brian has been giving our 1959 Jensen 541R some attention. He screwed the door cappings to the top of the door panels and fitted the chrome trim along the top of the door cappings, before cutting & filing holes in the chrome trim to fit around the quarter light brackets.

He then adjusted & fitted the chrome trim to the top of the door capping.

Jensen 541 Interior Work

Fitting inner glovebox top section and outer panel. We have glued the vinyl to the bottom section, fitting hinges to the glovebox lid, fitted lock to the lid before fitting lid to the glovebox outer panel.

Brian has also made up the leather door straps, glued leather together ready to be sewn and bolted leather straps to the door panels.

John has also bee fixing a water leak in the engine. Water way blanking stud is missing so he has made up a new one and fit.

Fitting door panels and glove box

Brian has fitted weather strips to the top of the doors, adjusting the ends of the door cappings to let the doors close properly./ He has cut out door panel insert panels and covered in leather. He has fitted insert panels into door panels, fitting door panels back on, fitting top and bottom sections of the glovebox into dashboard.

Interior work on our Jensen 541

Some additional shaping was needed to the floor mats upon inspection. Lydia cut down the sides slightly and shaped the back edge. She added a rubber floor mat to the drivers side to give some protection for the mat.

The front carpet mats have been altered to improve the fit and she also located the seat bars to secure the seat bases to the sliding rail. Heat shrink has been added to the end of these to give them a better finish.

Most of the interior is now complete. The centre arm rest storage has been fitted and the front seats are now secured in as well. Just awaiting the capping pieces for the door cards to be finished.

Cutting and fitting weather strips to the door tops, adjusting the ends of the door cappings so the doors close properly. Lydia has cut out insert panels for the door panels, covering insert panels in leather and fitting to the door panels, fitting door panels back onto the car.

Nearly There

Classic car technician Rob has continued his work putting our 1959 Jensen 541R back together.

The steering wheel has been stripped and a new rim has been fitted to the refurbished hub. The rear screen is also back in the car and there has been great progress made in the engine bay.

Rob also fitted the clutch slave cylinder and he made up and fitted the pipework before bleeding the clutch.

All Coming Back Together

Lydia and Brian have been working hard on the interior of our 1959 Jensen 541R. Brian has been making and fitting the door panels, while Lydia has been focussing on the interior carpets and seats of our classic Jensen.

The restoration of this beautiful car is getting closer and closer to being finished and we are looking forward to seeing this progress continue.

Lots Of Progress

Over the last few weeks, a lot of progress has been made on the restoration of our 1959 Jensen 541R. Both the interior and the exterior of this beautiful classic car are looking very different now and are getting closer and closer to being completely finished.

Classic car technicians Brian and Lydia have been working on the interior of our 541R. Carpets have been fitted, the headliner has gone in, vinyl installed, and the rear seats have been fitted too. Other interior work included the dash, glovebox, door panels and more.

While Brian and Lydia were working on the interior, classic car technician Rob has been working on getting the exterior of our Jensen 541R back together. As you can see from the photos below, he has made extremely good progress. His most recent work has involved fitting the bonnet flap operating mechanism, installing the window latches, and building and fitting the front seat runners.

Interior Work Continues

Our 1959 Jensen 541R has continued to make good progress as its interior is coming together nicely. Both Brian and Lydia have been working hard to make the interior of the car look as good as the exterior.

They have made and fitted the carpet for the boot lid. They also made the patterns and trial-fitted the interior carpets before cutting these out and fitting the carpets too. Edges were sewn before the kick panel boards and carpet were made and fitted too.

Sound deadening was cut out and fitted to the bulkhead and to the gearbox tunnel before Brian made a wooden bracket for the interior light. Brian went on to cut out vinyl for the rear pockets and he glued leather to the subframes while fitting the sill carpets.

Painting Jensen Parts And Interior Work

Classic car technician Alan has been busy painting several components of our 1959 Jensen 541R. These were then passed on to Rob who is continuing his work rebuilding this beautiful classic car.

As well as the main body of the car being rebuilt, our interior trim team, Brian and Lydia, have been working hard on the interior. Brian has been cutting and fitting the carpet while Lydia has been getting the boot sorted.

It’s Starting To Look A Lot Like A Jensen

Our 1959 Jensen 541R has continued to make great progress towards being fully restored, leaving the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, and returning to its owner.

As classic car technician Rob continues his work rebuilding this beautiful classic car, Mauro has been painting various components black in preparation for them to be re-fitted to the car soon.

Dash Panel

Classic car technician Brian has been working on part of the interior of our 1959 Jensen 541R.

He continued his work on the dash by sanding the dash panel smooth before covering it in vinyl. The vinyl was marked and cut out before it was glued onto the panel. Holes for the dials were then cut out of the vinyl ready for the dash panel to go back into the car soon.

A Jensen Dash

Classic car technician Brian has been working on our 1959 Jensen 541R and has been making parts for the dash of our rare Jensen.

Brian started his work on our 541R by cutting out vinyl for the dash top. He then sanded the dash smooth before filing out the slots for the air vents. The vinyl cover was glued to the dash top and was trimmed to shape as well as having the air vent slots cut out too.

Once the dash top was covered, Brian undid the ends of the dash crash pad so it could be cut down to fit the car. The crash pad was trial-fitted into the car before having its ends re-covered.

Progress Continues

Rebuild progress on our 1959 Jensen 541R has continued recently with classic car technician Rob still working hard to bring this newly-painted classic back to life.

Rob has now fitted the left-hand wheel arch, and the sills and doors have also been put on. Inside the car, the handbrake lever has been installed too.

The wiper motor has been rebuilt and the rear bumper has been fitted too. The door quarter lights have been assembled and are in place and the dynamator has been fitted. Rob also installed the water pump and fitted the C post trims and lights.

It’s All Coming Together

The rebuild of our 1959 Jensen 541R has continued recently with classic car technician Rob making and fitting the front floors. The boot floor rear panel was fabricated before being bolted and riveted into place. The front hubs were also assembled and installed.

Rob went on to assemble and fit the rear brakes and hubs. The steering rack was put on and the boot lid was fitted. The wiring is progressing well and the right-hand front wheel arch was fitted too.

To allow the gearbox to be removed and replaced from inside the car, without the need to remove the engine, Rob made some modifications to the bulkhead.

As you can see from the images below, things are really starting to take shape on our 541R.

The Rebuild Continues

Work to rebuild our 1959 Jensen 541R has continued recently with classic car technician Rob building up and fitting the front suspension. Along with the suspension, Rob also got the engine back into the car.

The heater motor was built and installed before Rob went on to install the rear shocks too.

A new fuel tank and brake servo were fitted to our classic 541R and the new floors were made and installed as well.

With the rebuild of our 1959 Jensen 541R continuing, it keeps getting better and better to look at and is getting to be more car-like with each passing day.

Rebuilding A Jensen 541R

Classic car technician Rob has continued his work on our 1959 Jensen 541R. He has made and fitted the bulkhead heat shields, as well as bolting the rear axle and front suspension cross member into place.

The engine of this rare Jensen is now also back with the car. Rob actually came up with an innovative new way of getting the engine back into the car and this is something the whole team will look to implement going forwards.

As we are well-known for some of our restoration work on Jensens 541Rs, it shows that the experience the classic car technicians, like Rob, have is allowing them to come up with new ways of restoring these cars and keeping them on the road for as long as possible.

We will certainly be delving deeper into the new engine fitting process very soon but, for now, it is exciting to see our 1959 Jensen 541R coming back together nicely.