Solved - NEH 959: Jensen 504 - prototype for new Austin sports car - 1952

Carnut · February 18, 2011, 07:40:16 AM

1 point for identifying this car correctly:

Carnut · March 10, 2011, 05:14:44 AM

Experts?

barrett · March 10, 2011, 07:31:58 AM

I've been waiting for this one

It's the Jensen 504, designed by Eric Neale. It was hoped that this would lead to an agreement with Austin to help build the car in large numbers, but the prototype wasn't ready in time for the motor show and the Healey 100 was making it's debut, and the rest is history...
The first car was a convertable and the coupe dates from slightly later, although I'm unsure if it was the same car or a different one altogether

Carnut · March 10, 2011, 09:58:12 AM

That is indeed what it is.
To enlarge a little though, it was not intended to be a Jensen as such. For the Jensen design Jensen had asked Leonard Lord for an A70 chassis, which he readily agreed to provided Jensen would design them a body for a sporting car to sit on their A40 chassis, and that is what this is a prototype for. Unfortunately the design wasn't ready in time for the motor show, as you say, where Lord spotted the Healey 100 and forgot all about his Jensen-designed car......!
The design on the A70 chassis went on to become the 541/first Interceptor, but Jensen did still produce a body for Austin to mount on their A40 chassis, the A40 Sports, about 3200 of which were produced and which didn't look like the puzzle car at all. The puzzle car is also variously described as a prototype for that car.
The other car you have pictured has also previously been a puzzle on AP (one of mine actually!)

woodinsight · October 05, 2011, 11:03:21 AM

Here it is as a sketch

Carnut · February 14, 2014, 05:47:09 AM

Here's a rear view of the puzzle car and a better version of the puzzle photo:

SACO · January 28, 2015, 01:39:54 AM

What's this, from when, for 1 point ?

SACO · February 05, 2015, 02:55:55 AM

Experts !

frederick59 · February 09, 2015, 01:56:47 PM

German car?

SACO · February 10, 2015, 05:34:27 AM

Not a German car !

frederick59 · February 10, 2015, 09:08:23 AM

British car?

SACO · February 10, 2015, 10:41:27 AM

Yes !

frederick59 · February 10, 2015, 11:08:54 AM

based on a Triumph Spitfire MK 1?

SACO · February 10, 2015, 12:17:38 PM

Not based on a Triumph Spitfire !

Ecnelis · February 10, 2015, 01:03:56 PM

One-off?

SACO · February 10, 2015, 02:08:40 PM

Yes !

SACO · February 20, 2015, 06:36:43 AM

Pros !

oko94 · February 20, 2015, 06:37:46 AM

MGA-based ?

Wendax · February 20, 2015, 06:38:08 AM

Jensen BMC prototype from 1953

SACO · February 20, 2015, 07:20:35 AM

Perfect ! Jensen BMC prototype from 1953
Another point for Wendax !

Wendax · February 20, 2015, 07:45:04 AM

That front view rang a bell: http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=15621

Carnut · February 20, 2015, 07:55:06 AM

Merged.
This one was solved in under 1.5 minutes on the Pro's board!
Just how quick do you have to be to beat Wendax?!

News:

Solved - NEH 959: Jensen 504 - prototype for new Austin sports car - 1952