After five months of work, Corky’s car is back on the road.
Now that is a profile that is hard to miss. Pelle Petterson created these lines while at the Pratt Institute in New York between 1955 and 1957. In 1961, the first car was built by the Jensen factory. This car was completed in October 24th, 1962.
Tail fins were all the rage in America in the fifties and Pelle made sure the new Volvo sports car had them too.
Haakon Hanson or “Corky” as he is affectionately called bought the car new from Bonesteele Motors in Salem, Oregon in 1963.
The car was used as a daily driver for many years. Corky’s wife used the car for commuting to work for over twenty years.
In 1985, the car was refurbished with rust repaired and resprayed in code 69 white with an added pearl clear coat. Also, front and rear bumpers were re-chromed. After that, the car was used only for car shows and meets.
It was parked around 2000 and sat until your editor brought it home in December 2022.
The car got new carpeting and all of the interior was removed and cleaned.
Interior type code 301 calls for gray carpet and red seat.
The Jensen wheel covers are still with the car. After a polish and detailing, they look like it’s 1962 again.
All Jensen cars for US market got these cool slash cut exhaust tips.
I think it was Swedish regulations that created the later “S” style tips. The Swedish authorities wanted the exhaust to emanate behind the bumper and to the side of the car.
Corky was proud of owning an early Jensen car so he had this license frame made.
After a fair amount of work, the car is ready to show and enjoy again.