This 1972 Jensen Interceptor MKIII has an interesting paint job and an even more intriguing back story, with the seller claiming its low mileage is due to spending years in a police impound. More on that later, but in the meantime, this is a tidy-looking example of one of the more well-executed mash ups of luxury and performance. The Interceptor stuck Chrysler V8 power under the hood with a healthy helping of luxury in the cockpit and styling that still stands apart from the crowd decades later. All told, it was probably a horrible choice for a drug smuggler to use such an eye-catching coupe! Find it here on Facebook Marketplace for $29,000.
The Interceptor is one of those classic cars that seems to offer a ton of value for the money. For me, the styling is still on point, looking absolutely fierce while still providing heavy doses of refinement in the cabin. With styling by Carrozzeria Touring, it’s no accident that it still looks fresh decades later. The GKN alloy wheels also represent an understated but handsome design, and really, the exclamation point is that gigantic rear glass canopy. I would hate to crack it, but outside of such trauma, the hinged glass hatch is worth its weight in stress. The seller doesn’t tell us what color this Jensen was originally, but I do dig the yellow.
This is a true ROW example with its standard right-hand drive configuration. While plenty of these Interceptors were allocated for U.S. market distribution, this one is made all the more interesting for being sold in the UK and exported stateside. If the drug trafficking story holds weight, what was happening with the prior owner they arrived here in a RHD Interceptor stuffed with illegal contraband? This is all fantasy, obviously, since even the seller can’t tell us for sure if being locked up in impound is the reason for its low mileage, but it is an entertaining anecdote all the same. The interior is in wonderful shape, and looks the part of a low-mileage car.
The MKIII Interceptor arrived with a beefy Chrysler-sourced 440 V8, good for a robust 330 horsepower. Given this is a European-market example, I do wonder if it has less restrictive emissions equipment, or if it was later retrofitted when imported. Regardless, this engine will serve you well, along with the reliable Chrysler TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission. The biggest concern on Interceptors is typically rust, and this car looks quite clean down the sides. You’ll want to perform a more robust inspection in-person to assess if there’s any crustiness hiding underneath, but overall, this looks like an intriguing Interceptor, albeit at a price that’s slightly optimistic in today’s market.
Looks great, but only four photos?