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Jensen FF
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The Jensen FF was a four-wheel drive (4WD) Grand Tourer (GT) car produced by the British manufacturer Jensen Motors between 1966 and 1971. Far preceding the Audi Quattro, it was the first non all-terrain production car equipped with 4WD and an anti-lock braking system — the Dunlop Maxaret electro-mechanical system used hitherto only on aircraft, trucks, or racing cars. An experimental system was first fitted to a CV-8, but this did not go into production.
The letters FF stand for Ferguson Formula, Ferguson being the inventor of the full-time four-wheel drive system employed on the Jensen FF; the first on a production sports car.
It is related to the similar-looking, rear-wheel drive, Jensen Interceptor, but is longer, and mechanically very different.
ough it was a highly influential vehicle in a technical sense, the FF was not all that commercially successful.
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Encyclopedia
The Jensen FF was a four-wheel drive (4WD) Grand Tourer (GT) car produced by the British manufacturer Jensen Motors between 1966 and 1971. Far preceding the Audi Quattro, it was the first non all-terrain production car equipped with 4WD and an anti-lock braking system — the Dunlop Maxaret electro-mechanical system used hitherto only on aircraft, trucks, or racing cars. An experimental system was first fitted to a CV-8, but this did not go into production.
The letters FF stand for Ferguson Formula, Ferguson being the inventor of the full-time four-wheel drive system employed on the Jensen FF; the first on a production sports car.
It is related to the similar-looking, rear-wheel drive, Jensen Interceptor, but is longer, and mechanically very different.
Reception and sales
Although it was a highly influential vehicle in a technical sense, the FF was not all that commercially successful. Its price was high — about 30% higher than the Jensen Interceptor, and more than that of luxury GTs from much more prestigious makes.
The FF also suffered from a design problem, and not one easily cured: the system was set up for a driver in the right hand seat, and no considerations had been made to making it left-hand drive. In particular, the central transfer case and both propeller shafts protruded into the left-hand seat space. The steering gear and brake servo were fitted on the right-hand side, and there was no space for them on the left. By the early 1970s, Jensen's primary markets were overseas (particularly the United States), and the FF could not be sold there.
Appearance
The FF may be distinguished from the Interceptor by a few styling cues, the most obvious being the twin (rather than single) diagonal air vents on the front wing, just rear of the wheel-arches. The frontal appearance was revised in September 1968.
Only saloon (sedan) cars were made, there were no convertibles.
Derivatives
One experimental Ferguson FF was built in 1968 with a 7 litre (426 cubic inch) Hemi engine imported from Chrysler in the U.S. Further Hemi engine equipped models were not built, due to the limits of the suspension at extremely high speeds, and the cost of importing the Hemi engine into Britain was deemed too great.
An "SP FF" version is rumoured to have been made at some point in the production run. This version was equipped with a 7.2 litre (440 cubic inch) engine with a "Six Pack" induction system (three 2-barrel carburettors) as well as four-wheel drive. Less than ten are assumed to have been built.
Appearances in media
Modesty Blaise comic strips regularly featured her driving an FF, until a story where two villains push it over a cliff - while mentioning to each other that it is a shame to do such a thing to a hand-built car.
Models
Dinky Toys produced a die-cast model of the FF, available in both made-up, and kit form. Playart also produced a 1:64 scale FF (with opening hood), possibly scaled down from the Dinky model.
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