RESTORING A JENSEN



A Jensen Interceptor gets restorations.

Hopefully theres lot of you wanting to restore a Jensen!
First of all: The jensens might still be quite easy to find, because there's a lot of cars now in need of restoration. Many of the Jensens are now new classic cars and becoming restoration obects as we speak.
Though the owners love their cars, many realize that they can't keep up with the needs of the car.
Restoring a Jensen is not as simple as restoring any other car. Obviously, because not all parts are easy to find, and also because every Jensen is handbuilt, and therefore unike, also regarding sizes and fittings of the metalplates.

So - if you want to save a Jensen - be sure to have enough spirit and money to do so.
And be sure to sell of your car to someone which will not let it rot away.

This page will in due time link up what others have learned by restoring a Jensen, and even other classic cars. Have you got something to tell about your restoration?
Please mail us, and tell your story. We'll try to give out some useful information and do's or don'ts before you start off yourself!



 

THE CAR-RESTORATION RULES The main rules if you are to restore a Jensen, or infact any classic car:   1. Be serious! Know what you're doing.     Don't start off with restoring such a great car if you're not sure you'll be able to do the job. And do the job properly! If you know by yourself that you're not serious enough, then find a rotten car! Actually you should have restored a simple car before starting off with an advanced car like a Jensen. The training will tell you a lot. Add 2 og 3 times of difficulties and time to find the work of a Jensen. If you haven't restored a car before you start off with a Jensen, beware: This is no childs game. This is not your old Beetle! Follow the rules, otherwise you'll regeret afterwards! 2. Be sure to have the cash and time.     Be sure to at least have the double sum of money. Buying the car is not all. The start of the restoration will soon show you that you need twice or three times the money to get the job finished. Restoring a car takes from 1 to 5 years of constantly using sparetime. It all depends on how much you've got of it. 3. Decide originality.     The most attractive classis car is the most original. Decide wether you want the car to be as original as possible, or wether you just like the car for the sports of it. If you want originality, then choose a car with no changes, or rather - the more expensive one. If originality is not that important, then choose a car which is already not kept down to the original parts. This latter car will also be much cheeper to buy, and of course also not as important as to usage. 4. Look for the right car.     Use months! Find a car which is possible to save! There's more cars out there than you believe. Though there's made fewer Jensens than most other cars, many is preserved and still running. You'll find more cars than you can afford! Be sure to decide which car you are lokking for. Which engine. Which year. Which specifications. Be sure to enjoy preparing for the buy. Don't rush. The perfect car is never the first to appear. 5. Become a member of the JOC.     The Jensen Owners Club society is a must for a Jensen-restorer. If you're looking for the right car, you'll find many cars featured in the great members magazine. (8 issues a year.) 6. Find the facilites.     Be sure to have the right facilities to do the job. Restoring a car needs the space of three cars. That means a big garage, or at least a room in addition to a garage. The garage has to have solid concrete floor, and be a generally dry place. A professional garage with good eqipment is solid gold! If necessary buy what you need, even a place to work! 7. Get hold of the books and help.     Get hold of the written stuff. Get the books, wiringdiagrams, the specifications and the usermanuals of the car. Getting help from a devoted friend is also pure gold. It's always easier to be two. 8. Dismantling - murder by numbers!     Put labels on everything, and number all the parts carefully while dismantling the car. Otherwise it'll be almost impossible to put it back the way it was! Do so by all little screws. Don't laugh of this. You'll hat it if it doesn't fit when you are to put it back together! 9. Thoroughness and patience.     Be sure to be thorough. Don't stop being sure what you're doing. Don't start to be sloppy. Don't cheat. Do the job properly. Ask for help before doing silly things. There's alway equipment to loosen bolts or to make something shine. 10. Decide the paintwork.     Where and who is going to do the paintwork? How important is it? Is it going to be the original colour? This is about the finish of the car. Therefore don't rush yourself into a deal on which you regret afterwards. Check out earlier works from the same painters shop. It's a rule that the more expensive - the better. But always check it out! Paint is not always paint. Chech the depth, the spray job, has the paint been running, are there particles of dust in the paintjob? Check also the facility. The painthall should be as tidy as possible. Always make solid contracts in beforehand of the job! 11. Get the parts needed     This is a long run. Finding the correct part, or even possibly get them made is the most exciting part, and also perhaps the most expensive part. Use lots of time and find the right parts. If not produced new, then find someone able to make them. Always make solid contracts in beforehand of the job! 12. Store properly.     All the parts taken from the car, and indeed the new parts bought has to be stored safe from kids, animals, water and thieves. Be sure that the storage location is safe. Don't take chances! 13. Plan the chassis and body work.     When you see what you're up to with the chassis and bodywork, start planning how to work. When you have to remove paint, remember that it should instantly afterwards be covered with paint, to ensure that rust don't get a fresh start at bare metal. Corrotion starts immediately! Don't be silly, and start off on the whole car. Don't be impatient! If possible galvanize the metalparts or the whole bodyshell after fisihing the work. It'll cost you some extra, but is really worth it. It'll at least triple the timelength of the work done. Remove paint and do the job part by part. Then before the real final spayjob, let the paintshop remove the ground paint. 14. Do the finish properly!     It's always difficult to get finished in time. Of course you look forward to present the car. But don't jump the important final work. Don't use an old rusty screw if you can get hold of a new. Use galvanized screws if possible. The finishing is really hard work, but also the really fun part. You see the progress, and shiny bumpers are really making the job worth while. 15. Keep faith!     Don't give up. This is hard work, and not for quitters. If you feel like giving up, search for help! Don't be afraid to ask a friend, or even find a new one with experience. They're out there. Just beleieve it and try! A simple advertisement like: "Restoring a classic sportscar - in need of some help!" could be the answer to your tragedy. If you lose faith, let someone take over in due time. Forget what you've paid so far. Just save the car! Sell it for a reasonable price, rather than let it rot half way done!     More will come! :)           Enjoy! And ensure you've got a radio or stereo to keep you informed about the outside world!

Other good sites to read before restoring:

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/classic_car_article10.htm

Restoring a Jensen Healey:
http://home.nycap.rr.com/mware/restore.htm


Two unsavable Jensen Interceptors in West Bromwich, U.K.
This is no way to store a car!

The moral is:
Let a enthusiast take care of the car before it comes beyond repair.
When you don't have the money to fix the car up anymore, or you don't have the courage or the health, hand the car over, sell it, save it!

 
(All photos courtesy of the www.Jensencars.tk)