Long before all-wheel drive became a marketing staple and motorsport advantage, a British grand touring car quietly introduced the concept to production road vehicles. The Jensen FF, launched in 1966, holds the distinction of being the world’s first all-wheel drive production car, predating later systems popularized by brands such as Audi and Subaru by more than a decade.
Developed by Jensen Motors alongside the better-known Interceptor, the FF combined advanced drivetrain engineering with luxury GT styling. Though nearly indistinguishable from the Interceptor to casual observers, the FF featured the Ferguson Formula all-wheel drive system, which distributed power with a 33 percent front and 67 percent rear split. The system was paired with Dunlop Maxaret mechanical anti-lock brakes, technology previously reserved for aircraft, racing cars, and experimental vehicles.
Jensen Motors entered the FF project with a long background in innovation. Founded in 1922, the company evolved from bespoke coachbuilding into a manufacturer of unconventional postwar grand tourers. Models such as the 541R and CV8 introduced fiberglass body construction and American V8 power, setting the stage for the Interceptor and its more technically ambitious sibling, the FF.
Despite its engineering significance, the Jensen FF faced notable limitations. Design constraints prevented left-hand drive production, eliminating access to the U.S. market and sharply restricting sales. As a result, just 320 examples were built before Jensen Motors ceased trading in 1976 following mounting challenges and the global oil crisis.
The FF’s influence extended far beyond its modest production run. In the late 1970s, engineers studying all-wheel drive systems reportedly sourced a used Jensen FF to examine its layout. The lessons learned would later shape high-performance and motorsport applications, helping establish AWD as a competitive advantage by the 1980s.
One of the most significant surviving examples is a 1967 Jensen FF prototype, one of only 12 cars bodied by Vignale in Italy. Recently restored at a cost of £75,000, the car was returned to factory-correct specifications following comprehensive mechanical rebuilding. The vehicle retains matching numbers and extensive documentation, including its original build sheet and workshop manual.
Finished in Mist Grey metallic with a Steel Blue leather interior, the prototype has remained in a private UK collection since 2018. With relatively few Jensen FFs remaining, the car serves as a reminder that one of the most important drivetrain innovations in automotive history arrived quietly, years before the industry was ready to recognize it.
