View source for Engineering:Jensen 541

{{Infobox automobile
| image        = File:Jensen 541 Deluxe of 1957.JPG
| caption      = Jensen 541 Deluxe of 1957
| name         = Jensen 541
| manufacturer = Jensen
| production   = 1954–1959<br />226 made<ref name="AtoZCars">{{cite book |last=Robson |first=Graham |title=A to Z British cars 1945–1980 |year=2006 |publisher=Herridge |location=Devon, UK |isbn=0-9541063-9-3 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/azbritishcars1940000robs }}</ref>
| designer     = Eric Neale
| class        = [[Engineering:Grand tourer|Grand tourer]]
| body_style   = 2-door, 4-seat [[Engineering:Coupé|coupé]]
| engine       = 4.0&nbsp;L ''Austin D-Series'' [[Engineering:Straight-six engine|I6]]
| transmission = 4-speed [[Engineering:Manual transmission|manual]]
| wheelbase    = {{convert|105|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}<ref name=BritishCars/>
| length       = {{convert|176|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}<ref name=BritishCars>{{cite book |last1=Culshaw |last2=Horrobin |title=Complete Catalogue of British Cars |year=1974 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |isbn=0-333-16689-2}}</ref>
| width        = {{convert|63|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="BritishCars"/>
| height       = {{convert|54|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} <ref name="Motor1955" />
| weight       = {{convert|1220|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="AlleAutosder50er" />
| predecessor  = Jensen Interceptor
| successor    = [[Engineering:Jensen 541R|Jensen 541R]]
| sp = uk
}}

The '''Jensen 541''' is an automobile which was produced by Jensen Motors from 1954 to 1959. It was first exhibited at the London Motor Show in October 1953,<ref name="AlleAutosder50er">{{cite book |last=Gloor |first=Roger |title=Alle Autos der 50er Jahre 1945–1960 |year=2007 |edition=1st |publisher=Motorbuch Verlag |location=Stuttgart |isbn=978-3-613-02808-1}}</ref> and production started in 1954. 

The 541 used fibreglass bodywork mounted on a steel chassis and was fitted with a [[Engineering:Straight-six engine|straight-six engine]], three SU carburettor version of the 4-litre [[Company:Austin Motor Company|Austin]] engine and four speed [[Engineering:Manual transmission|transmission]] with optional [[Engineering:Overdrive (mechanics)|Laycock de Normanville overdrive]].

The body consisted of three major mouldings and the entire front was rear hinged and could be raised for engine access. The doors were aluminium. Suspension was independent at the front using [[Physics:Coil spring|coil spring]]s with a [[Engineering:Panhard rod|Panhard rod]] located [[Engineering:Beam axle|rigid axle]] and [[Physics:Leaf spring|leaf spring]]s at the rear. A choice of wire spoked or steel disc wheels with centre lock fitting was offered.<ref name="Motor1955" /> At first the car had servo assisted {{convert|11|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} [[Engineering:Drum brake|drum brake]]s but from 1956, the newly introduced '''541 Deluxe''' version featured [[Engineering:Dunlop Tyres|Dunlop]] [[Engineering:Disc brake|disc brake]]s both front and rear—the first British four seater thus equipped.

It was also a luxurious car with the well equipped interior featuring leather seats as standard. The individual seats in front separated by a high transmission tunnel and the rear seats had a small centre armrest and could also be tilted forwards to increase luggage space. Standard colours (1955) were black, ivory, imperial crimson, moonbeam grey, Boticelli blue, deep green and Tampico beige.<ref name="Motor1955" />

By employing lightweight materials, Jensen managed to make the car significantly lighter than their contemporary Interceptor model, with a dry weight of {{convert|1220|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} as against the older design's {{convert|1370|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="AlleAutosder50er" /> Performance benefitted.

In 1957 the [[Engineering:Jensen 541R|541 R]] was introduced, and in 1960 the [[Engineering:Jensen 541S|541 S]] arrived with wider bodywork and revised grill styling. Production of the Jensen 541 ended in 1959 and the [[Engineering:Jensen 541S|541 S]] early 1963 when the range was replaced by the C-V8.

==Performance==
The Jensen 541 was a fast car with a claimed {{convert|135|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}} and top speed of {{convert|109|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} (both subsequently increased) at launch.

A car with overdrive tested by the British magazine ''The Motor'' in 1955 had a top speed of {{convert|115.8|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and could accelerate from 0-{{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} in 10.8 seconds. A fuel consumption of {{convert|20.6|mpgimp|L/100 km mpgus}} was recorded. The test car cost £2146 (with the optional overdrive) including taxes. In 1957 Richard Jensen had a 541 deluxe built with a Chrysler Hemi engine but no performance or fuel consumption figures are known for this vehicle.
The basic car cost £1821<ref name="Motor1955">{{cite journal |title=The Jensen 541 (with overdrive)|journal=The Motor |date=14 September 1955}}</ref>

==Drophead Coupé De Ville by Abbott Of Farnham==
Two examples of the 541 were converted into [[Engineering:Convertible|drophead coupé]]s by Abbott of Farnham.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jensen541.com/541oldNews2011.htm |title=Ger ready for summer: drophead 541s |website=jensen541.com |access-date=4 September 2014}}</ref>
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==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:Jensen_541_Prototype.jpg|Jensen 541 Prototype (featuring aluminum bodywork)
File:WPK 541 - 1954 55 Jensen 541 Drophead Coupe.jpg|One of the two Jensen 541s converted into [[Engineering:Convertible|drophead coupé]]s by Abbott of Farnham
</gallery>

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==See also==
* [[Engineering:Jensen 541R|Jensen 541R]]
* [[Engineering:Jensen 541S|Jensen 541S]]

==References==
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Sports cars]]

{{Sourceattribution|Jensen 541}}