Most classic cars have a distinctive visual feature, and when we see this enormous curving rear window, there’s no doubt we’re looking at a Jensen Interceptor. However, this 1974 model is no ordinary classic. Its original owner was a successful businessman who personalized the vehicle, while its engine bay houses a V8 guaranteed to provide breathtaking performance. The only thing it needs is a new owner. The seller listed it here on Craigslist in Valencia, California. They set their price at $29,900 and are firm on that figure. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Pat L. for using a finely-tuned classic radar to spot this stunning beauty.
I admit this Interceptor sent me on a pretty detailed search before I began to write this article. Certain aspects of its specifications made me wonder whether it was the rare “SP” version or a regular production model with aftermarket updates. I have concluded that it falls into the second category. One piece of the puzzle was this car’s louvered hood, which was an integral part of the SP package. However, the company later offered a slightly different version as a production option on the Interceptor, and this appears to be one of those. The SP also received a vinyl top, and although this car doesn’t wear one, I think we all know how easy removal is if vinyl isn’t to an owner’s taste. The seller indicates this car rolled off the line wearing Burgundy paint, which was probably Code 9039 Carmine. Its original owner, William Klein of the Klein Chocolate Company, performed a color change to its current Black in 1977. The listing suggests it remained untouched since then. The paint shines impressively, with only a few minor marks and chips. There is no evidence of rust, and the seller emphasizes the car’s rust-free status. The original owner removed the badges, but the remaining trim and glass look flawless. The Interceptor rolls on a new set of Minilite wheels, and although they suit the car’s character, I won’t be surprised if the next owner searches for a set of factory wheels to achieve a more “original” appearance.
This Interceptor’s interior contains all the hallmarks of a classic Grand Tourer. That means occupants receive comfortable seating for four people, along with acres of leather and timber trim. The seller indicates the Tan Connolly leather is original, as is the wool carpet. The overall condition is impressive, with no significant wear or defects. The dash looks clean, and the gauges feature clear lenses and crisp markings. The original owner ordered the car with air conditioning, but the seller states this requires upgrading to R134 refrigerant. They also selected the ultra-rare Lear Jet AM/FM radio/8-track player that works perfectly. Other comfort touches include power windows and a power radio antenna. By modern standards, many modern family sedans offer more. However, none have the sheer presence of this classic’s interior.
When Jensen introduced the Interceptor, it slotted Chrysler’s 383ci V8 under the hood. In 1971, the company upgraded to the 440ci V8 from the same manufacturer, giving the driver 350hp under their right foot. This car features its numbers-matching 440, backed by a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission. Although considered more a traditional Grand Tourer than a sports model, the Interceptor could still romp through the ¼-mile in 15.1 seconds before winding its way to 135mph. The specifications of this car saw me don my detective hat to perform some investigative work. The seller indicates its powerplant is a genuine 440 Six-Pack featuring freshly rebuilt Mancini Racing carburetors. Jensen purchased a batch of 440 Six-Pack engines from Chrysler to produce the Interceptor SP. The first rolled off the line in 1971, with the last emerging in 1973. At that time, Chrysler no longer sold the engine in North America due to tightening emission requirements, so did a winning deal with Jensen to off-load excess stock. Jensen produced 232 examples of the SP, although it could not legally sell them in the US. However, Jensen produced one SP in October 1973 that was designated as a “US-Spec” vehicle. Its production date meant it was classed as a 1974 model, and I thought this may have been that car. I’ve concluded that it probably isn’t due to the incorrect hood, lack of appropriate badges, and no signs of a vinyl top. I may be wrong because the fate of that vehicle remains unknown. It will be interesting to gauge reader feedback on that question. That brings me back to the seller’s numbers-matching claim for this car. While that may be true of the engine itself, if this isn’t an SP, someone changed the intake and carburetors. They also added headers to unlock additional ponies, meaning the motor may match or exceed the SP’s figure of 385hp. If that’s the case, it slashes the ¼-mile ET to 14.1 and raises the top speed to 141mph. This Interceptor is in excellent mechanical health and is a turnkey classic ready for immediate enjoyment.
By the time this 1974 Jensen Interceptor rolled off the production line, the company was in dire financial trouble. The Jensen-Healey sports car had proved a troublesome beast requiring significant warranty repairs that brought negative publicity. The energy crisis did not help, and a financial downturn was the final nail in the coffin for Jensen. The company fell into receivership in 1975, although a stockpile of parts meant the receivers allowed production to continue to help the financial situation. Interceptor revivals have happened, and it is now possible to buy a totally refurbished vehicle that retains the original’s character while eliminating the reliability and quality control issues. Today, it is common to see a 1974 Interceptor achieve prices beyond $40,000, and while this one isn’t completely original, its condition suggests the seller’s price is competitive. It has been on the market for a short time, and I doubt it will be long before it finds a new home.
I like this car, always thought the Jensen was decent looking car but the Chrysler power train made them an amazing touring car. They had quality issues, but this should have been sorted out by now. This one with a 6 pack should make a lovely sound with your right foot on the floor. Probably not very fuel efficient, but with this car who cares. Sorry Adam the wheels look great, they replicate the mini lite and fit a car of this heritage.
Stance on these always seemed to be a bit saggy in the back.
I’d read a classic car magazine many years ago that stated that the enormous torque of these cars were brutal on the rear suspension and required constant refurbishment over their lives. What a magnificent machine, but you better own a few oil wells to keep it filled.
Kind of like a factory LS6 Chevelle😂
Great article. The primary parts guy in the US is K&D
https://interceptor.org/
Overseas it is Martin Robey
https://www.martinrobey.com/jensen
New buyer will need those sites but other than high underwood heat these cars are fairly robust. I prefer the original wheels. No one cares if your Jensen is not original, many have seen changes over the years. This should sell at the price asked; if you want an Interceptor it is not easy to find a nice one and very expensive if you compromise.
https://nihilistnotes.blogspot.com/search?q=Magnum
The factory had so many problems getting the 6 pack 440s to run reliably in the Inceptor’s surprisingly cramped engine bay and it wasn’t a configuration well-suited to the target market whereas the 4bbl 383s and 440s were ideal. The factory abandoned the project although one customer liked the idea because in late 1973, some months after SP production ended, one was built to special order. Many were converted to use a Carter 4bbl but the ripples of the 1973 soon doomed just about the entire trans-Atlantic ecosystem which had flourish for more than a decade, mating big US V8s with European coachwork.
Ive had 3 six pack cars, and found the carb set up to be very easy to maintain, simple to tune, and overall, pretty spectacular. I wonder how the cramped install would have affected it that much.
What a good looking Interceptor! I’m somewhat familiar with these cars having owned 2 in the mid 80s early 90s. They never got the love or recognition they deserved back then and they could be had for normal guy money. The interiors on these are beautiful and as you settled in and strapped up you truly felt coddled. Not many knew what they were even when you blew by them in the left lane. This one needs nothing but a set of magnaflows to enhance the headers, and keep the minilights which are period correct and go nicely with the louvered hood. I really like this one.
Quite a steal for a splendid, powerful GT car of this calibre. Of course, California 7-digit plates beginning with an 8 (recently issued) always give me pause as do California sellers in general, particularly metro Craigslist types. Being from California, I avoid buying from the metro areas that are overrun with people who have shall we say lost their way. Have had much better experiences buying from the rural parts and our country’s Heartland where people are still mostly honest and sane. But this looks like a beautiful car at a very low price. If it isn’t a salvage title and isn’t hiding a bunch of skeletons in its closet, this is a great deal.
On a positive note, that newer plate likely means a new owner won’t have to jump many hoops to transfer and register the car. While being a California car, since it’s a 1975-prior it’s smog exempt. Another hoop avoided for a California buyer.
440-6 with a/c. Well alright.
Might have been a better car with a small block. Chrysler offered plenty of options there. You know, I would even like a 225, but I am probably a minority lover here as far as that is concerned.
A precious thing. As these where always as one of my favour classics
i prefer the smaller engine which offers still enough hp for a spritied
drive. I wonder these never got the ugly u.s. 5mph bumpers but lucky
they never got them like the Jensen Healey or MG B.
We keep in memory actual gas prices old large V8 powered
cars like this can stick on a dealer exhibition like a RR silver shadow
II, but the Rolls suffers a complicate hydraulic system and expensive
spare parts. Welcome to my world.
Looking back it could have been a nice Bond movie car and the
proverb ‘win on sunday sell on monday’ would certainly had helped
Jensen to sell many more of them. Especially the beautiful convertible!
Only thing that would make it better is if it was one of the 4wd models. Plus being a legit 6pack car. There was a Blue/black interior, 440, rhd 4wd car in an Oakland body shop near 19th street & Broadway until @2009/10. They closed, had auction while building was sold. Don’t know what happed to it, but it was very interesting car. I like this one….Some day!
That had better have one hell of an air-conditioning unit stuffed in there.
Paint the Wheels Black
I have a 70 Charger R/T with the standard 440 4bbl that produces 375 bhp and 490 torque. I believe the 6-pack version is 390 bhp. Of course, most ratings back then were conservative for insurance reasons.
This ad caught my eye because of the engine because I thought that I might have seen this car before. Then – the mention of Bill Klein of Klein Chocolate Co. in Elizabethtown, PA (subsequently purchased by M&M/Mars). This is THAT Interceptor! Bill was a family friend and he took me for a ride in this car circa 1975 when it was burgundy. For the 13/14 year old me, that ride was the thrill of a lifetime. Glad I lived thru that joy ride to reminisce about it all these decades later. Cool car – never heard of nor saw one before that day. Still a beautiful sight to see!
Regarding the vinyl top, it seems when the 77 repaint occurred the top could have went with the original paint?
I’d think the VIN or something could provide the Sanskrit coding to decipher the cars origin story?
Sexy beast regardless and a swell write up.
Interesting stipulation: “Purchases: Cash in hand – In person only.”
.
This looks as nice of a Jensen Interceptor that you might find. I have had a lot of history with these cars buying and selling them. As described on C/L, Italian Styling, British engineering and American Drive Train and topped off with Lucas Electrical. What could possibly go wrong? LOTS and I thought I would never own one ,but this one is tempting, I think it’s the Hot Rodder in me, because that’s what this car is. A little bit of the best and worst of parts.
Gone
The coupe is only good looking from the front, those rear haunches and that pregnant looking glass window is terrible when compared to the convertible
Lovely car. But I always chuckle when I see some very minor item on a super car like this hasn’t been attended to. The Seller notes that the A/C needs to be converted to R134. So, go ahead and have a garage do it before selling it. It’s such an easy thing to have done and everyone would know whether and how the A/C system works.
It would be easy to track the original specs and delivery info, as Jensen UK is still alive and has every single Jensen Interceptor ever produced documented.
All original build details and paperwork are still available. Bit like the Marti-Report available for Ford Mustang from 67 onwards.
Under hood heat was the enemy!! My 73, which I drove from 75 till 80, could kill a battery in short order along with much of the under hood wiring. Insulating the battery box helped a bit but was still a problem. But I have to say – women loved that car!!
the listing has been deleted…..I guess it sold?
I would buy it just for the 8 track player. Miss those.
My restoration/service shop specialized in British luxury cars, repairing more than a few Jensen V8 cars, and I owned an earlier 383 version, chocolate brown and dark brown leather. Also owned a 4WD version known as the FF, but I never had that one on the road due to massive tin worm issues. Ended up selling it back to the UK as it was RHD.
When sorted out and running well, these are a joy to drive, especially on long distance drives on high speed roads.
All ways liked the way these looked (inside/out). Never certain re drive train (just an unknown to me). 1st I heard “4WD”. Now that’s era innovative. Will need to find it’s design/configuration, supplier, etc. Expecting a fun read~