Although the car wears an "M" registration letter (1st of August 1973 to 31st of July 1974), it was completed on the 10th of July, 1973, which was the time of the "L" registration letter (1st of August 1972 to 31st of July 1973).

A conversation with Tony Marshall, the Jensen 541 registrar and ex Jensen export manager revealed that the factory held the car back until  the 1st of August to gain the new letter.

This was due to the peculiar  British  registration system of the time. The letter denoted the year of manufacture, and great pride and snobbery was achieved by having the latest  letter to impress neighbours and friends. As the car was to impress wealthy customers, it was held back to receive the new letter.

It left the factory in Positano yellow, with a vinyl roof, Sundym glass, a Voxson stereo, and rear seat belts, on registration plate "NAD 240 M"

In the intervening years it has lost: The yellow paint, the vinyl roof (VR), the rear seats belts, the Voxson (VX), and now bears the registration "MHE 242 M" . The registration number change is due to the car wearing a private registration plate for many years.

It also lost its original engine, serial number 3C 11703, and was replaced by serial number  3C 12065, which was built in March 1980 by Sturdy and Lowe, a Barnsley based Jensen specialist. The reason for the engine swop is unknown.

The specification of the engine is unknown. Performance, however, is much quicker than a standard 440 MK3, and it is unknown what internal modifications Study and Lowe made during the rebuild.

Richard Calver stated that the car had, for a time, a red velour interior, which may explain the loss of the rear seat belts. Apparently, this interior was so hideous that it made the car un-saleable, and so a black leather interior was reinstated!

This engine has also been replaced by a re-bored police spec 440 block, with 6 Pak high compression pistons, Hemi rods, along with the other items listed below. There was nothing wrong with the previous engine, but as everything else had been rebuilt or refurbished, it seems silly not to rebuild an engine. As we had a spare police spec block in our selection of spares, this was chosen as it has up rated cooling jackets in the block. This goes with the police spec lock up 727 gearbox, which also has up rated internals.

In my time of ownership the car has received:

Suspension:

Polyurethane front suspension bushes.

MK2 front springs (to lower the nose high MK3 stance)

Correctly rated AVO shock absorbers front and rear

Coil overs at the rear

New rear springs and poly bushes.

New bump stops front and rear

Brakes:

New Vented front discs.

New Vented rear discs.

Aeroquip brake hoses.

New stainless steel lined master cylinder.

Reconditioned Servo

4 piston front callipers

Refurbished rear brake callipers

Engine:

Street Demon 750cfm Carburettor.

Edelbrock Inlet Manifold.

Tubular headers.

Mopar Performance adjustable distributor

Polished and ported 906 cylinder heads

High Compression 6 Pak Pistons

1:6 ratio roller rockers

Sandon air con compressor

Transmission:

A lockup 727 gearbox.

A 2:88 rear axle

Electrical:

Central locking.

Double dip and main HID headlight upgrade

Delta fan controller

120A alternator

VW high performance cooling fans

Body:

Two new rear quarter panels.

Full restoration and respray

New fuel tank straps

Interior:

Full interior retrim

New carpets

Wood dash panels

Here is 136-8779 leaving the starting line at Santa Pod drag strip. Even with the lowered MK2 front springs, note the nose high stance under heavy acceleration!

The car as it currently looks

In the following 21 years of ownership it has changed colour (from black to grey), the interior has changed colour (from black to red) and has had just about everything rebuilt or refurbished.

There's always work to be done, and at times frustrating with poor quality parts, but its always enjoyable in the end, with a great driving experience, and some fantastic adventures with the Monday Club boys.

I am writing this on the 10th of July 2023, which is the 50th birthday of 136-8779. Happy birthday old girl. Here's to the next 50 years!