Hensen M30
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The Hensen M30 is a British sports car, a few copies of which were produced by Hensen Automotive from 1983 to 1985 . Some vehicles were completed at the factory, others were delivered as a kit .
background
Hensen Automotive was founded by night club owner Hugo Henricksen. Henricksen had owned several kit cars since the 1970s, which were completed from American kits. With the M30, he designed his first own car, which he offered to interested customers for sale from 1983. The M30 was presented as a car that placed particular emphasis on safety. Production ended in 1985. Hensen sold the construction of the M30 in 1985 to the British kit-car manufacturer Eagle Cars; but no further series production came about here. Five years later, Henricksen considered resuming production of the M30 with a view to the American market; However, since there was insufficient customer interest here, the revival of the project failed.
Technology of the M30
The Hensen M30 was a two-door closed sports car with a hatchback body. The vehicle rested on a massive, “solid” steel lattice frame that Henricksen had designed with the greatest possible safety in mind. The body was made of plastic. In retrospect, the design is viewed rather critically; it is described as that of a typical muscle car . The very long and almost horizontal front section, which was reminiscent of that of the Lancia Beta Montecarlo in its design, was striking . Details such as headlights and other attachments varied from case to case.
Technically, the M30 used many components from the Ford Granada (first series) . The 3.0 liter six-cylinder V-engine (type Essex), which was planned to be installed at the factory, also came from Ford.
production
In three years, 17 copies of the Hensen M30 were made. The first six vehicles were completed by Hensen, the remaining examples were delivered as a kit.
Most customers modified individual body parts according to personal ideas. Some of the lighting units from Mercedes-Benz were installed, others individualized the cockpit. In the course of time, some owners also changed the engine, at least one of which was temporarily equipped with a 3.5-liter eight-cylinder Rover engine.
Modification: Hensen M70
The design of the M30 could alternatively be equipped with a 7.0 liter eight-cylinder engine from Ford USA. In this version, the vehicle was named Hensen M70, based on the displacement of the engine. It is not clear whether the M70 was actually produced in the factory.
literature
- Steve Hole: AZ of Kit Cars. The definite encyclopaedie of the UK's kit car industry since 1949. Haynes Publishing, Sparkford 2012, ISBN 9781844256778 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b The Hensen M30 on the website www.classic-kitcars.com (accessed on July 31, 2014).
- ↑ Steve Hole: AZ of Kit Cars. The definite encyclopaedie of the UK's kit car industry since 1949 , Haynes Publishing, Sparkford 2012, ISBN 9781844256778 , p. 119.
- ↑ Private website on the Hensen M30 with images and descriptions of individual copies (accessed on July 31, 2014).