Jensen C V8

British Racing Green, cream leather, walnut and chrome… and then somebody decided what it really needed was a bloody great Chrysler V8. That, in a nutshell, is the Jensen C-V8.

There’s something brilliantly unconventional about these cars. From the outside it’s a beautifully proportioned, hand-built 1960s British GT, but underneath that long bonnet sits a big American V8 producing the sort of effortless torque that completely defines the way it drives. And this one drives exceptionally well. Turn the key and the V8 fires readily, settles into that unmistakable burble and from there it’s just effortless.

You don’t need to rev it or work it particularly hard; lean on the throttle and that enormous wave of torque simply pulls the car down the road. The automatic transmission suits it perfectly. It’s quick when you want it to be, but most of the time you find yourself just wafting along enjoying the thing. Inside is possibly even better. Cream leather that has developed a gorgeous natural patina, a beautiful walnut dashboard filled with Smiths instruments, wood-rimmed steering wheel, chrome switchgear and a proper four-seat cabin. It hasn’t been restored to within an inch of its life and is all the better for it. It feels like a very expensive old car that has simply been looked after.

The fibreglass body is also particularly impressive, remaining straight and without the heavy crazing you so often see on cars of this construction. Chrome wire wheels and Vredestein tyres finish it off perfectly.

Mechanically it is excellent and, importantly, it feels excellent. No horrible rattles, shakes or looseness. It feels tight, planted and genuinely enjoyable to drive. Three large binders of history accompany the car, giving a good indication of the care it has received over the years. With only around 500 C-V8s produced, you’re unlikely to park beside another one. A hand-built British GT, a big American V8 and an interior you could happily sit in all afternoon.

They really don’t make cars like this anymore.