Jensen Shite

[Royale80]

Reason I love them is when around 7/8 ish - the local shopkeeper Mike had a brand new white L reg one. Must have been money in sweets!! Us schoolkids used to swoon over it. He drove it every day.

[JeeExEll]

Do not paint.

For sale.

https://share.google/43tN6mnrWkFFPB7aX

[Asimo]

My first "good" job; the chief engineer drove a 'B' suffix doom-maroon CV8. 

I'd never seen one before, didn't know spit about them.

But he was a fantastically creative electronic design genius.

And I've liked the CV8 ever since.

(Noel Ed****s and that jumping tragedy killed the Interceptor for me. And the rust. The only bit of an Interceptor that doesn't rust seems to be the glass...)

[chaseracer]

4 hours ago, JeeExEll said:

Do not paint.

For sale.

https://share.google/43tN6mnrWkFFPB7aX

Yeah, that's got all the paint it needs... 😎

[Gompo]

Saw this one through work - Apparently one of the earliest surviving cars still in original/unrestored condition. That might be wrong though. I'll admit, before seeing this car I didn't realise they were fibreglass. 

[Dippy]

Dont worry fibreglass cars can still rust ☹️ let me introduce the next car currently in the workshop.

Another CV8 which used to belong to a friend of mine and changed hands as he had 2 off them, this one was mechanically pretty good with lots of “patina” to the body and trim. The paintwork had maxiblistering all over it (ive never seen any this big). The chrome was past its best and the interior of the car had been very damp at some point in its life as the carpets were all rotten as were all the trim backboards and the interior chrome was more rusty than the external chrome.

Anyway it arrived with me to sort out a few mechanicals as the new owner wanted it perfect and to go for a respray, the mechanicals list started to grow quickly as the owner decided he wanted a full engine rebuild a new wiring loom and lots of other work which were not strictly necessary but would ensure the car would be good for many years to come. It had previously had a gearbox rebuild, new s/s fuel tank and brake callipers refurbished under its last owner.

Whilst on my ramp being stripped for the bodywork the underneath looked pretty good with only a few minor repairs needed, but when it went to the bodyshop it was decided to remove the body from the chassis to do the job properly and many horrors were discovered then. The metalwork that could not be seen like the tops of the sills was non existent, it was then decided to fully strip  the chassis and put on a rotisserie, the chassis was then shotblasted revealing even more problems including many pinholes in the floors and now we were into a major restoration. Lucky for me I had recently found this great bodywork guy who did welding and paint so I knew it was in safe hands.

Here are the photos of the bodywork progressing.

[Tickman]

Wow

[motorpunk]

CV8 = yum.

Great thread.

[Dippy]

No rest even at the weekend as the trimmer came to fit the new headlining and dropped off the re trimmed dash which I started to assemble ready for fitting. I think it looks beautiful with it new burr veneer.

After a long wait to get the headliner sorted the glass can now go back in and the car will be weathertight at last and with the brakes finished and bled last week hopefully I can soon take it for a test drive.

[doug]

Just watched this. Sad ending.

 

 

[Royale80]

On 01/03/2026 at 12:04, Royale80 said:

Reason I love them is when around 7/8 ish - the local shopkeeper Mike had a brand new white L reg one. Must have been money in sweets!! Us schoolkids used to swoon over it. He drove it every day.

Was always reversed in where the BMW is. Didn't seem to poke out much back in the day!!

[Dippy]

The sun was out yesterday so I gave my car a clean as Im going to the NEC next week and as it only uses slightly more fuel than my Landcruiser why not.

[eddyramrod]

There aren't enough Like buttons....

[Saabnut]

13 hours ago, Dippy said:

The sun was out yesterday so I gave my car a clean as Im going to the NEC next week and as it only uses slightly more fuel than my Landcruiser why not.

Which stand? I shall be on 5-155 UKSaabs

[Dippy]

9 hours ago, Saabnut said:

Which stand? I shall be on 5-155 UKSaabs

I am helping out on the Jensen Owners Club stand although my car will not be on the stand as it doesnt need any work doing. Im just using the car to get there and back.

I will be there generally helping out and giving demonstrations on basic auto electrical fault finding and use of test equipment.

[Saabnut]

10 hours ago, Dippy said:

I am helping out on the Jensen Owners Club stand although my car will not be on the stand as it doesnt need any work doing. Im just using the car to get there and back.

I will be there generally helping out and giving demonstrations on basic auto electrical fault finding and use of test equipment.

I will try to call to say hello, and you will be welcome on our stand. Ask for Nick (or TFatC as I am known in the Saab world)  

[Dippy]

On 16/03/2026 at 20:11, Saabnut said:

I will try to call to say hello, and you will be welcome on our stand. Ask for Nick (or TFatC as I am known in the Saab world)  

We are also in Hall 5 stand 775 you can tell me all about Saabs, Ive never owned one but always liked them.

[Saabnut]

9 hours ago, Dippy said:

We are also in Hall 5 stand 775 you can tell me all about Saabs, Ive never owned one but always liked them.

Careful what you wish for - I have brought my anorak 😀

[5speedracer]

On 28/02/2026 at 15:50, bezzabsa said:

lottery win cars... would love a modernised one, modern suspension and possibly an ls with or without supercharger

@bezzabsa @Dippy Are you following the one Retropower are doing on their YT channel ?

[Angrydicky]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing! A 541 would definitely be on my bucket list if unlimited funds were available.

[bezzabsa]

5 hours ago, 5speedracer said:

@bezzabsa @Dippy Are you following the one Retropower are doing on their YT channel ?

no?... got a link????

[5speedracer]

17 hours ago, bezzabsa said:

no?... got a link????

They started it a couple of years ago, now getting towards the finish line. 

 

[Dippy]

Lots of work on the CV8 again, lots of niggles sorted and dashboard now in with all electrics working. I fitted a full new loom and as usual there were a few wires an inch or 2 short which is annoying as I hate extra connections they are just more potential problems.

The trimmer finally finished a batch of parts so trim now going in which is fairly time consuming work on a Jensen but its now looking like the finish line is in sight.

[danthecapriman]

Fantastic work, as always @Dippy👍

[Dippy]

Well the Gunmetal Grey CV8 is finished for now but coming back later in the year when the trimmer finishes the rest of the trim. The owner was desperate to get it back and it is currently on the Isle of White with many other Jensens. Here it is on its test drive.

Today was a big tidy up in the workshop and move the cars around after giving them a wash, heres whats left

The lovely Copper Brown Interceptor which I shall be finishing work in the engine bay ready for the engine and gearbox to be refitted.

The Silver Interceptor that has been here a long time and the owner now has some more funds so a new fuel tank and original 8 track with modern upgrades to fit next. 

The Blue CV8 which is now running well after a cam swap and decoke, just waiting on a bespoke made radiator then its ready to go.

Another arrival in a couple of weeks, a car I restored 8 years ago returning after a change of owner for a full service and a few tweeks to his taste (new audio head unit, steering wheel and mods to rear seats so his very big dog can get in).

[danthecapriman]

Beautiful cars. 
That copper/bronze is a really lovely colour. Suits the car well.

[Dippy]

1 hour ago, danthecapriman said:

Beautiful cars. 
That copper/bronze is a really lovely colour. Suits the car well.

Thanks, the Copper Bronze is my favourite colour for a MK3.

[Dippy]

I have made a youtube video with my yearly roundup of the workshop if anyone is interested.

 

https://youtu.be/Mk1Vy8CO1YI?si=S9u6QiErv2gOgTAD