Jensen White Lady
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Manufacturer | Jensen |
Year | 1934 to 1935 |
Type | Prototype chassis number S1/3799 |
Successor | Jensen 541R |
Class | Sports car |
Body style | 4 seat tourer |
Engine | Ford 3.6 litre V-8 |
Transmission | 3 speed manual.overdrive. |
The first Jensen car 'The White Lady ‘was a prototype car from the 1930s.
History
In 1934 the Jensen. The brothers started to design the prototype that was intended to be the first production car. The overall weight and centre of gravity are considerably lower than those of the closed type bodies. Careful attention, and great care had been taken in the design The original White Lady. had sacrificed some practicality for style this had a long aluminium-body, low bonnet line and flowing front wings along with V-sectioned radiator grille ,there also is full accommodation for four persons, for the rear passengers enter by means of the hinged panel, on which are mounted the small deflector screens.
The brothers had originally decided that their first car should be a high-quality four-seater tourer, with and excellent styling and performance, from Ford's 3.6 litre V-8 engine.
Like future Jensen cars luxurious specification and special features, it was built to the Jensen design by Rubery Owen. The main chassis members were not the usual channel-section but were boxed and braced with a robust cruciform centre section along with a steel platform formed the floor of the car This floor panel was welded to the chassis frame, making an extremely strong and very rigid assembly. And extended from the A-pillars right back to the rear cross-member. For the suspension half-elliptic leaf springs at front and rear and vacuum-operated adjustable shock absorbers. The hood is easily raised and lowered, and a full set of all-weather side curtains is provided.
The standard specification Ford engine was now fitted with two SU carburettors mounted on a light alloy inlet manifold. Power transmitted via a standard Ford three-speed gear-box. The Columbia dual-speed rear axle located by radius arms running diagonally to the central cruciform. providing a high overdrive gear. The control for the vacuum control dual axle was mounted on the dashboard fascia. For 1934 the car could perform well a top speed of 90 mph and a 0—60 mph time of just under 19 seconds.
The prototype was exhaustively tested, modified and retested and it was at last put into production on a very limited basis later in 1935.
After taking advice, they decided to produce this car changes would have to be made. Their next prototype was to be the 31/2 Litre Jensen, or the 'S' type.
This model was originally conceived as a traditional four-door saloon and was ready for 1935.The technical specification was the same as the White Lady, but the new body weighed a lot more.
