Pre War

In 1937, a smaller version of the saloon was offered. Known as the 2¼ Litre and using the ‘baby’ Ford V8 motor, it was somewhat underpowered but still very expensive so not popular. Only three were made. It was supplanted in 1938 by another small car known as a 2¼ Litre, this time a drophead powered by a Steyr six-cylinder engine. Only one was made. Also in 1938, the Jensens unveiled the largest passenger car ever to bear their name, the 4¼ Litre. It was offered, like the 3½ Litre, in tourer, saloon and drophead body styles. One fixed-head coupé was also made. This model was normally powered by a Nash straight-8 motor but one was made specially in LHD with a V12 Lincoln motor. The war halted production of passenger cars as the factory’s attentions turned to the manufacture of military components. Although three final cars to the pre-war design were made in 1945 and 1946, the Jensen brothers had by then developed a new design for the postwar period. In total, 68 Jensen cars of all models and variations were made to the pre-war pattern. About a third survive, including the fully restored 3½ Litre tourer pictured.