Staff Car Sagas
James’ DS wakes from slumber.
Work since last report
Brought back to the PC workshop. Heater blower restored. Bonnet struts and boot struts on. Valance dink sorted. After it’s prolonged holiday at Culverland Classics near Southampton, the Jensen made a starring appearence on the Practical Classics Resto Show promotional stand at the NEC Classic Motor Show in November, followed by a return to our place.
It was great to have it back home again and so much closer to completion than when it left. The Culverland boys had done everything I asked of them, sorting the dashboard and electrics while I visited to strap shiny new bits on as they came available.
But now I had to get serious. I need the car ready for completion live on stage at the PC Resto Show (March 31-April 2) and, it having been such a high profile magazine fixture for the last five years, failure was not an option.
So the big job of completing the beast started. Step by step, in the correct order. I started with the heater blower. I deconstructed it, cleaned everything and built it back up. At the same time I called Fen Air for an air conditioning conversation. Pat is the gaffer at Fen and he will be fitting the whole system live at the NEC in March. Next I started work on making sure we could get access to the engine and boot areas without losing fingers or risking concussion. As with many OE parts, the original Jensen bonnet stay ‘rams’ are bonkers expensive. So I shelled
out £100 to KD Enterprises in the USA for a pair of uprated struts. They work a treat. At the rear end the hefty hatch was dealt with by John Simpson and Matt Tomkins as they compressed the springs and attached the stays that will lift the classic world’s mightiest rear. We might be on the home stretch.