FF finally functional

A Jensen FF has been restored, in Wales, by DD Hobden. He found it in a poor state just outside Hereford, with the gearbox seized through being run without oil. He has made a good job of rehabilitating this rare 4WD car, replacing all the rusted body panels and effectively treating the Connolly upholstery with a Woolies of Market Deeping leather restorer.

Just prior to our visit the 6.2-litre Chrysler V8 engine had lost a core plug, but spares are obtainable by return of post from a Jensen specialist in Oxfordshire and the big engine, which displayed inlet valves larger than the exhausts in the head which had to be removed, is comparatively easy to re-assemble, with its push-rod valve gear and simple construction. In spite of its size the red segment on the tach is set at 5000rpm.

Jensen was one of the last makers of high-performance cars to abandon cross-ply tyres, a reminder being the substitution on Mr Hobden’s car of wider wheels to take modern tyres. The FF has Dunlop Maxaret anti-lock brakes, and we were reminded also of the time, at a test day, when the pedal kick-back caused the great TH Wisdom to abandon the FF he was driving at the trackside. under the impression that its brakes had something wrong with them. WB