as one in a series of collaborations between austin and jensen motors of west bromwich, the a40 sports originated when austin's chairman leonard lord saw the jensen interceptor and requested that jensen develop a body that could use the a40 mechanicals. the resulting body-on-frame a40 sports was designed by eric neale, a stylist who had joined jensen in 1946 after working at wolseley motors. during production, a40 sports bodies were built by jensen and transported to austin's longbridge plant for final assembly.