Pic of the day

[Chiveroni]

1966 Jensen FF V8 – The World’s First All-Wheel Drive Production Car with an anti-lock braking system.

When the Jensen FF was released in 1966 it made the motoring world sit up and pay attention. The FF was the first production car with all-wheel drive, it was also the first production car with an anti-lock braking system.

To say the model was ahead of its time would be a considerable understatement, though because Jensen only managed to sell 320 of them between 1966 and 1971 very few people have ever even heard of the model, let alone seen one in person.

The Jensen FF was directly based on the body of the much better known Jensen Interceptor, a British built grand tourer with a body styled in Italy by Carrozzeria Touring and a V8 engine supplied by Chrysler.
“FF” stands for “Ferguson Formula,” an all-wheel drive system developed by Ferguson Research Ltd and licensed to Jensen.

The Jensen FF is 5 inches longer than the standard Interceptor, it’s also slightly heavier. It can be visually distinguished from its stablemate by the twin vents on the front fender (there’s only one on the Interceptor), and it’s different front end.

By the time the Jensen FF was released in 1966, Jensen Motors already had a long track history of producing innovative vehicles. The company had been founded back in 1922 as W J Smith & Sons Limited by brothers Alan and Richard Jensen,m and they quickly made a name for themselves with their automotive designs.View attachment 117170

I used to.own an Interceptor. Wonderful car and I miss the induction roar!

 

[Harry]

View attachment 117285

And, as the photo shows, Sans autoroute! I remember heading to the Dordogne in the ‘80’s. We all fell asleep in the car in stationary traffic and woke up to see a clear road ahead and drivers having to pull round us.

 

[philw696]

And, as the photo shows, Sans autoroute! I remember heading to the Dordogne in the ‘80’s. We all fell asleep in the car in stationary traffic and woke up to see a clear road ahead and drivers having to pull round us.

Also back then unless you were in a very expensive car none had aircon so they were quite uncomfortable journeys if you were loaded up for holidays.
Different World today for sure.

 

[Guy]

Also back then unless you were in a very expensive car none had aircon so they were quite uncomfortable journeys if you were loaded up for holidays.
Different World today for sure.

Good point! Past a certain temperature, winding down the windows barely helped! My first car with aircon was an '86 BMW M535.

 

[3hcp]

Good point! Past a certain temperature, winding down the windows barely helped! My first car with zircon was an '86 BMW M535.

Nice car history, like myself gone back to a manual spyder as I don’t like modern computer controlled cars, although would be tempted by a stradale how did it rate compared to your current gransport?

 

[DLax69]

 

[DLax69]

 

[Guy]

Nice car history, like myself gone back to a manual spyder as I don’t like modern computer controlled cars, although would be tempted by a stradale how did it rate compared to your current gransport?

My brief summary of the Strad is that it builds very nicely on the MC GTS with better (fixed) suspension, better (faster) gearbox etc and the gain is somehow better than the sum of parts. On fast open roads it is amazing and would choose another for sure. It is a large, nearly 2 tonne 4 seater (even though some have only two seats) tourer so it is not a sports car, like a 911. The GranSport is and feels much smaller and therefore, in my opinion, is a better sports car. Much noisier and the steering is much faster. Gearchanges are just about fast enough. I am sure there are a few others on here who also had both and can add or contradict me! I have been fortunate that both have been spot on, low mileage cars and I assume as they get older that becomes more of a challenge to source.
your comment regarding computer controlled cars made me smile. I'm currently in Portugal and driving a rental Polo that keeps pulling on the steering wheel as it reads the white lines! Bloody annoying! I think cars for petrolheads peaked around the turn of the century and for the last few years the focus has been on tech that adds no value - touch screens and nanny systems galore. All adding to the unnecessary weight.

 

[DLax69]

 

[Scaf]

Good point! Past a certain temperature, winding down the windows barely helped! My first car with aircon was an '86 BMW M535.

My first car with aircon was 1997

 

[DLax69]

My first car with aircon was 1997

First car with A/C, or first car with A/C that worked...? For me, those would be 1986 and 1993 respectively...though both had hand-cranked windows.

 

[philw696]

My first was a 1981Honda Prelude and it had an electric sunroof but wind up windows quite and impressive car when I had it.

 

[CatmanV2]

My first car with aircon was 1997

Been thinking about this. The Giulietta didn't. Pretty sure the 75s didn't either, so it would be a 156 which would make it about 2007....

C

 

[moonmonkey]

The wheel being reinvented again from Norway anyone tried one ?
View attachment 117314

Best not to be sat on it when you flush

 

[RoaryRati]

My first car with aircon was 1997

My first car was the s2000 bought in 2009 - but it's rarely used as the roof is generally down (and with my spyder it's always on I believe - again a waste as the roof is generally down)

 

[zagatoes30]

First car with aircon was Peugeot 405 GTX, 1995 followed by my first and only new buy an Alfa Romeo 155 in 1997

 

[midlifecrisis]

First Aircon car, Polo 16v 1997, bought tax free and sold it back to the same people for more. Good car that but too small. So I got a ZX9R...

 

[Bladerunner]

On our way back from our Spa trip…this photo was at Castle Boullion in Belgium en route.

 

[Ewan]

I’m re-enacting the start of the Italian Job. Well, the shades are correct, even if the car is not.

 

[Tallman]

First car with aircon was a 1998 E36 BMW 323i, my first new car, at the time not too expensive in South Africa - every car I’ve had since has had airco.