Star of the Show

1965 JENSEN CV8

The Car

The car had been in single family ownership until the current owner purchased it in 2006. The car whilst road legal, was in a rather tired condition, having reached over 250,000 miles, without any form of major restoration or anything other than remedial work. As we are nearing its second trip to Bonneville it’s worth noting the upgrades we originally made and the next round of upgrades following our first visit.

2018 Upgrades

• The original engine stroked to 8.2 litres.
• A 5 speed manual gearbox from a Jaguar XJ6.
• The rear axle has been replaced with a Ford unit to provide a better final drive ratio.
• The front suspension has been modified for better damping.
• The braking system has been improved for better braking.
• The battery and brake servos have been moved to the boot to avoid heat.
• Aerodynamic aids have been added to help keep the car down and straight.
• Full roll cage and fire extinguisher system.

2023 Upgrades

• A 6 speed manual gearbox from a Dodge Viper V10
• A full race clutch system from a NASCAR
• The front suspension has been completely modified to our own design to improve suspension performance and adjustability
• The rear suspension leaf springs have been removed and we are now using coil over rear dampers and a four link set up has now been fitted
• A single large turbocharger complete with ice cooled intercooler has been added
• The cooling system has been adapted by adding an extra 20 gallons of coolant
• The aerodynamics have been completely reworked.
• The fire extinguisher system has been upgraded.
• All of the glass with the exception of the windscreen has been replaced with clear Lexan.
• The injection ECU and related systems have been upgraded.