The Jensen FF
Conservation and Restoration

See also under Archive for information about our materials and colour code archives

Often it is impossible to retain the original carpets to the car. With generally over three decades of use, they need to be replaced. Since the Jensen FF and Interceptor had Wilton carpets, the exact match can normally be found. Focus has to be given to the edge trim, which may require perseverance to obtain a correct match to the original material. Generally the edge binding was a vinyl, although leather edge binding was an option. When we undertook the replacement of the carpet set to Jensen FF 119/193, the original carpets were in black Wilton with a special blue/green leather edge binding (matching the leather trim). We managed to match this identically.

All carpet and trim sections fitted to Jensen cars were marked to the underside. The carpets were generally crayon marked in red or blue with the chassis number of the car. Occasionally the trimmers roll number was used instead, although this was rarely done. The carpets to 119/193 were red crayon marked with the chassis number 193, and some parts were also marked with what appeared to be the trimmers initials. Finding the identical red crayon, we marked the new carpet set exactly as the originals, before they were fitted. This is a small amount of work to maintain original aspects of the car, which would otherwise be lost.

The same procedure can be used if the car requires replacement trim parts such as door cards, which can be warped or perished due to water ingress. Ideally a, photographic record of any markings found on the car's original trim should be kept within the car's history file.

MK.I / II Jensen Interceptor / FF green undercarpet material

This undercarpet material with a green multi-square impressed finish was utilised for the MK.I / II Jensen Interceptor and FF. Unfortunately this type of undercarpet material is no longer available. With originality being a key issue, we are always pleased to acquire any quantities of this material as new old stock.

Few original Vignale manufactured Jensen cars exist today. Just 10 or 12 Jensen FF cars, and approximately 50 Jensen Interceptors, were manufactured by Vignale in Italy before tooling and manufacture started to take place at West Bromwich. Unfortunately many of those cars have already been scrapped. Apart from those cars scrapped, and due to the fact that at first glance a Vignale manufactured car looks identical to the later West Bromwich manufactured car, some restorations have removed all of the distinguishing Vignale features. It should be noted that apart from a multitude of minor part differences, all Vignale manufactured cars had hand made panels, instead of the pressed panels on West Bromwich manufactured cars.

Keeping true to the methods of Vignale workmanship is essential when restoring a Vignale Jensen. We can offer specialist conservation and restoration advise in respect of Vignale manufactured Jensen cars.

Vignale installed a multitude of special detail to their Vignale-Jensen cars. Once production was moved back to West Bromwich, much of this detail was deemed unnecessary, and was removed from future production. One such detail was the small rubber gaiter, which neatly fitted over the bumper bars to give a more finished appearence. These were typically missing from our Vignale FF. After a two year search, we finally managed to source compatible gaiters for the FF.