The Jensen 541
Designed by Eric Neale, the Jensen 541 prototype was first exhibited at the Earls Court London Motor Show in 1953. Full production commenced in 1954 and continued until 1963. Although production ran for 9 years, only 546 cars of all model types were manufactured.
The original aluminium bodied 541 prototype from the 1953 motor show can still be seen on display at the Tampa Bay Auto Museum in the United States.
The Jensen 541 claimed some manufacturing “firsts” for a British car. The 541 Deluxe was the first British four seater car with all round disc brakes as standard. The Jensen 541S is also notable for being the first British car to have seat belts fitted as standard equipment. Additionally, the 541 was an early pioneer in the use of the fibreglass bodies, with the majority of the bodywork produced in this new lightweight material. Today the 541 is a rare sight on British roads. |
541 Model Types
Jensen 541
Available: 1955-1959 Engine: 3993cc DS5 Transmission: 4 speed manual (Austin) gearbox. Optional Laycock de Normanville Overdrive Number Produced: 173 Optional Extras: High-compression cylinder head and twin exhaust system, Overdrive, Rev-counter, Windscreen washer, Heater, 15" wire spoked wheels and High-power headlamps. |
Identifying the model
The easiest way to identify the different 541 model types is simply to look at the model name within the chrome circle on the front air intake of the car.
But to help with identifying from a distance, the following information should help.
541 and 541 Deluxe
The 541 and 541 Deluxe are basically the same car, however the 541 Deluxe has all of the available extras as standard. A 541 Deluxe will always have wire wheels, but so do some standard 541 cars as they were available as an optional extra. Therefore, they are difficult to tell apart from each other with a casual glance, but they can both be differentiated from the 541R and 541S as follows:
- Bumpers do not have over-riders
- Small “eyebrow” over the rear wheel arch
- Square rear number plate
- Bottom hinged boot with boot handle at the top of the boot.
- Chrome detail on side wing does not continue into the side door.
- Bonnet top does not have vents or raised mouldings. (Although some now do since replacement 541R bonnets were often fitted due to accident damage)
541R
Although very similar to the 541, the 541R can be identified by looking for the following characteristics:
- Larger “eyebrows” over the rear wheel arch
- Over-riders on the bumpers
- Oblong rear number plate
- Top hinged boot lid with handle at bottom of lid close to rear bumper
- Chrome “strake” on the side wing extends into the side door.
- Bonnet with raised mouldings and air intake.
541S
The 541S is probably the easiest of the models to identify as the body was significantly updated from the earlier 541 and 541R models. The body was larger all round by about 4 inches, but the more obvious differences are as follows:
- Front air intake is a grill (no swivelling flap)
- Bonnet has an air intake at the front
- Rear light clusters are arranged horizontally
- Rear window is a different shape from the 541/541R and has no indicators close to rear window
Engines & Transmissions
Power is provided by a six cylinder, 4 litre (3993cc) Austin engine with 3 SU carburettors. This engine was originally used in the Austin Sheerline Limousine and had previously been used by Jensen in their original Interceptor model, although this only breathed through a single carburettor.
The Jensen version of this straight 6 engine is known as the DS5. A small number of the initial 541R vehicles (40 vehicles) were fitted with the more powerful version of the same engine called the DS7, which has a higher power output using twin carburettors. However, the DS7 was quietly phased out and the majority of the later 541R vehicles and the 541S were again fitted with the DS5 instead. A DS7 fitted vehicle can be spotted by the fact that the exhaust pipes emerge from rear offside of the vehicle, whereas the DS5 pipes exit on the near side. The DS5 and DS7 engines are very low revving engines with a very high torque output.
The gearbox initially used was an Austin 4 speed manual gearbox, with the option of a Laycock de Normanville overdrive. The 541 Deluxe had the overdrive as a standard feature. After Austin stopped supplying the 4 speed gearbox, the 541R used a 4 Speed Moss gearbox as used by Jaguar, again with an option for Overdrive. The 541S has a Rolls Royce modified GM Hydramatic automatic gearbox as standard, although there were 20 built with manual gearboxes.
The Jensen version of this straight 6 engine is known as the DS5. A small number of the initial 541R vehicles (40 vehicles) were fitted with the more powerful version of the same engine called the DS7, which has a higher power output using twin carburettors. However, the DS7 was quietly phased out and the majority of the later 541R vehicles and the 541S were again fitted with the DS5 instead. A DS7 fitted vehicle can be spotted by the fact that the exhaust pipes emerge from rear offside of the vehicle, whereas the DS5 pipes exit on the near side. The DS5 and DS7 engines are very low revving engines with a very high torque output.
The gearbox initially used was an Austin 4 speed manual gearbox, with the option of a Laycock de Normanville overdrive. The 541 Deluxe had the overdrive as a standard feature. After Austin stopped supplying the 4 speed gearbox, the 541R used a 4 Speed Moss gearbox as used by Jaguar, again with an option for Overdrive. The 541S has a Rolls Royce modified GM Hydramatic automatic gearbox as standard, although there were 20 built with manual gearboxes.
The Chassis & Bodywork
The 541 has a steel chassis with the 3 piece fibreglass body mounted atop (Rear end, main body/roof and front hinged bonnet), the doors were aluminium. The chassis incorporates steel tubes, with the left hand tube used to provide the brake servo vacuum.
One of the most striking design features of the 541 is the front air intake which consists of a solid flap which when closed allows the engine to heat up rapidly. The flap can be swivelled open by the driver via a control lever under the dashboard when the engine has reached operating temperature to allow air to cool the radiator behind.
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When the 541R was introduced, the most obvious change to the body was the introduction of larger “eyebrows” over the rear wheel arches. This necessitated a change to the boot lid, which became a top-hinged design and the square rear number plate recess of the 541 became oblong on the 541R.
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