It is not uncommon for car enthusiasts to sit together and discuss the great cars of our times. During these conversations, names will pass their lips that have long ago secured their places in the history books and captivated enthusiasts in such a way as to guarantee the interest of people reading ten, twenty and even fifty years from now. Think of them now: Bugatti, Chevrolet, Rolls Royce, Volkswagen, Ferrari, and Jensen. They all roll off the tongue and make us aware that here is a medium that deserves our attention. The classic … hang on, did that just say “Jensen”? Yes, yes it did. What gives?
It is a little-known, but wonderful car that has been greatly admired by a seemingly small number of people. The Jensen 541S has never had the mass appreciation that is reserved for vehicles such as the Ferrari Testarossa, nor the Bugatti Veyron, and yet it is a car that is very much loved by those who own them or have spent some time either driving or learning about them. And this is not down to some kitsch ironic love, either, it is all in respect of just how good the 541S has proven to be since its heyday of the 1950s. Perhaps the reason for its lack of profile among all but the hardiest car buffs is that there were only 127 made. There may not be many of them, when it comes to quantity, but those that were made and those that survive bear testament to the quality.