Jensen P66
Encyclopedia
Jensen P66 is a model range planned by Jensen Motors in the 1960s, which was aborted after two models were made and one was exhibited at the London Motor Show.
It was planned as a replacement for the Austin-Healey 3000, which Jensen were currently assembling at their factory in West Bromwich. BMC were planning to drop the Healey and Jensen asked Eric Neale, their house stylist, to design a replacement for the US market. In a break from their recent tradition of using glassfibre, he used an aluminium body on a steel platform and tube chassis. The engine continued to be a 4.5 litre Chrysler V8 in stock form, or an optional 6.2 litre , similar to that used in the contemporary CV8. The car was priced at £2,200 in the UK against £3,500 for the CV8, and would possibly have been renamed the Interceptor if put into production.
Reception to the convertible car was generally favourable, although the strakes over the wheel arch were criticised in the press as outdated. A hardtop version was also produced with plain wheel arches. The company founders, Richard and Alan Jensen, favoured putting the model into production. The Norcross group had been controlling the company for some years and preferred to adopt an Italian styled body, a view shared by Managing Director Brian Owen and Deputy Chief Engineer Kevin Beattie. They approached Touring of Milan who produced a rival design that was put into production by Vignale as the Interceptor.
After making some changes to the Touring design to make it suitable for tooling, Eric Neale felt that he had no role left in the company and resigned. He was followed by the Jensen brothers.
The convertible P66 was soon broken up, the parts and the other hardtop model being sold on. The second, hardtop, model still exists in concours condition and is used regularly.
It was planned as a replacement for the Austin-Healey 3000, which Jensen were currently assembling at their factory in West Bromwich. BMC were planning to drop the Healey and Jensen asked Eric Neale, their house stylist, to design a replacement for the US market. In a break from their recent tradition of using glassfibre, he used an aluminium body on a steel platform and tube chassis. The engine continued to be a 4.5 litre Chrysler V8 in stock form, or an optional 6.2 litre , similar to that used in the contemporary CV8. The car was priced at £2,200 in the UK against £3,500 for the CV8, and would possibly have been renamed the Interceptor if put into production.
Reception to the convertible car was generally favourable, although the strakes over the wheel arch were criticised in the press as outdated. A hardtop version was also produced with plain wheel arches. The company founders, Richard and Alan Jensen, favoured putting the model into production. The Norcross group had been controlling the company for some years and preferred to adopt an Italian styled body, a view shared by Managing Director Brian Owen and Deputy Chief Engineer Kevin Beattie. They approached Touring of Milan who produced a rival design that was put into production by Vignale as the Interceptor.
After making some changes to the Touring design to make it suitable for tooling, Eric Neale felt that he had no role left in the company and resigned. He was followed by the Jensen brothers.
The convertible P66 was soon broken up, the parts and the other hardtop model being sold on. The second, hardtop, model still exists in concours condition and is used regularly.