Apparently a lot of readers like to be photographed with their vehicles. Here’s Reggie Cormack with a spiffy car. His notes are indented:
I noticed today in the Hili Dialogue that the irascible Ginger Baker owned, ran and probably crashed his Jensen Interceptor. Well, here I am with my earlier model, a 1965 Jensen CV8, one of less than 500 built. This magnificent car has a Chrysler Golden Commando 6.3 litre V8 engine capable of taking the car from 0 – 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. Back in 1965 on U.K. roads, that was fairly swift.
It’s shown here at a Jensen meeting to celebrate the cars’ 50th anniversary. It was a last-minute decision to go from the North of Scotland (Ceiling Cat’s country) down to Burghley House near-ish London. After two days of hilarious mishaps and breakdowns we arrived just as everyone was leaving.
The best looking car ever? Well, maybe not as it received a fairly mixed set of reviews when launched. But just look at those sweeping lines, sinuous curves and double off-set headlights. I think that it has stood the test of time rather well. In fact, better than myself.
That car’s too small for a V8! Talk about a muscle car…It’s a beauty, thanks for sharing.
Best looking car ever? I would say that’s the Jaguar, but this one is a close second. Mishaps and breakdowns? Yup, just like a Jag. A sleek beauty on the road, but not suitable for road trips. (Sigh) Congratulations to Mr. Cormack for making it to the venue, however late, and thanks for sharing!
Great looking car. The “mishaps and breakdowns” have me a bit concerned. Do you mean it doesn’t run well? Could James Bond rely on it for a harrowing escape?
Excellent example of a Jensen. Nice color, and I like those headlights! I still remember driving a 74 Fiat, and pulling off the road for a quick scrape of the points to keep it running. Fun times.
I had a thing for Austin Healeys, but maybe they are not in the same category. Anyway, the Jensen is a beaut!
Nice car!
I just tumbled to the recognition that the UK doesn’t salt roads in the winter (to my knowledge) and this must greatly increase the survivability of these nice old cars. Kind of like Cuba, I suppose. 😉
We do actually. It’s called ‘gritting’ for some reason, but it’s really rock salt. We are getting fewer serious freezes or snowstorms these days, but whenever they are forecast, the gritting lorries are out.
And then there are the inevitable complaints that ‘they haven’t done my road yet’. The one thing that binds the inhabitants of these isles together is the ability to moan!
There goes that idea! 😉
As a long time resident of the UK, and quite a sports car enthusiast, the highest accolade I’ve heard said for a British sports car that’s being sold here here is “it’s a California re-import”
Luckily, in New Zealand we (or ‘they’) don’t. At least so far as I know. The ‘grit’ really is just grit.
That said, in freezing conditions, I feel much safer on a gravel road – which usually comes pre-gritted, so to speak. Much more predictable.
cr
The best-preserved cars in the UK are in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales. The Gulf Stream reduces the incidence of frost and show, and the high rainfall rapidly washes away any salt that is used. One of the worst areas is Kent in south-east England, for pretty well the opposite reasons.
Very cool and unusual car. Did the breakdowns have anything to do with Lucas electrics? 🙂
Probably needed some Genuine Replacement Smoke
Lovely car. Pretty lines. Proper colour.
Great car! I’m guessing that your Scotland to London trip will have cost a few bob in fuel!
Best looking car ever? I go with the Jaguar XKE. Also probably the most unreliable car ever made. An owner I knew said having a Jag proved you were rich, because it showed you had enough money to own another car that you actually relied on.
I have to agree enthusiastically, the E-type was a classic in its looks. It was also staggeringly fast at a price many people could actually afford – in the Ferrari/Maserati class for performance, cars that cost around ten times as much.
cr
Spiffy looking & the car looks great too!
A friend in Jamaica (so hear this in a heavy accent) said of the Jaguar E-type:
“Can pass everyting on de road man,
but can’t pass de garage!”
Wasn’t clear if this was about petrol (gas) consumption or its lack of reliability?
A very cool car! As a kid I used to draw imaginary sports cars and most of them looked a lot like your Jensen.
My first car ever was a ’67 Sunbeam Alpine that, if I remember correctly, I got for $700 back in ’73 or so in Southern California so it had the benefit of good weather. Although it leaked a fair amount of oil, it was fairly reliable as English cars went back then.
I did have one memorable incident in the Alpine. I was coasting down a long downhill stretch on the freeway (Sepulveda Pass on 405 North). When I got to the bottom and had to hit the gas again, the pedal went to the floor and nothing happened. The vibration and lack of tension had caused the linkage between the pedal and the carburetor to fall apart. I used one of my girlfriend’s hair pins to fix it and drove on.
Nice car.
I had a 1970 interceptor at on stage with the same 383 engine.
Nice oomph.
Boys and their toys…. 😉
It’s great to see the things the readers are passionate about.