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The 1963 Jensen CV8, famous for its controversial slant-eyed styling, was one of the fastest-accelerating four-seater cars of the '60s. Using a Chrysler 5916 cc, 305 bhp V8 (with Torqueflite three-speed automatic transmission) it easily undercut all the big-gun opposition on price and could attain 120 mph in less than half a minute.
Although it followed established Jensen concepts - steel pressings and box sections to carry the suspension - the CV8's chassis was new. Like many high-class British manufacturers, however, Jensen was not above plundering the parts bins of lowly mass-market firms for brakes and suspension: the front end was modified Austin Westminster. Still, the interior struck the right gents' club tone, with leather, wood and Wilton carpet everywhere.
The model was progressively improved over just four years of production. The Mk II came along in 1964 with a bigger 330 bhp 6.3-litre engine, but the last, and best-looking, of the line was the Mk III of 1965, with its lower scuttle, equal-size lights and dechromed headlight apertures. By this time the Interceptor was well on the way, its beautiful Touring-styled steel body bestowing some much-needed glamour on the ageing CV8 chassis, which was used virtually unchanged. It was heavier, though - by about 2 cwt - and no Interceptor ever quite matched the ferocity of the earlier, glassfibre-bodied car through the gears, although better aerodynamics gave it a higher top speed. The CV8 is also a much rarer car than its successor: only 461 were built (70 Mk I, 250 Mk II and 141 Mk III) compared with almost 6000 Interceptors.
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