The Jensen Interceptor was a lot of things, but what it wasn’t was a classic British sports car. What it offered was the chance for a lucky few people to own an accomplished Grand Tourer that cossetted its occupants in yards of luxurious leather. That isn’t to say that it lacked performance credentials, and when placed head-to-head with its contemporaries, it had the ability to show them a clean set of heals. This 1971 Interceptor Mark III is a tidy example that has been in the possession of its current owner for 33-years. They have decided to part with it, so have listed it for sale here on Craigslist. It is located in Seattle, Washington, and the price has been set at $35,000. I have to say thank you to Barn Finder Pat L for referring this beautiful car to us.

The Interceptor was designed by Carrozzeria Touring, with the vehicle being dominated by the incredible rear window. The Jensen underwent some subtle styling changes during its lifetime, but none of these managed to spoil the beauty of that initial design. The Mark III was introduced in 1971, and it can be very hard to distinguish early examples from the Mark II. This is one of those early cars, with very limited numbers being built during that first year. It has been in the possession of its current owner for 33-years, and it was treated to a repaint in its original Silver Grey in 1986. The paint has held up extremely well, with no signs of any problems or issues. This car is fitted with a black vinyl top, and this presents just as nicely as the rest of the car. There are no signs of any rust issues, with the owner stating that it is a rust-free car that has always been garage-kept. The trim and chrome appear to be in excellent condition. The Interceptor features tinted glass, and this is also free of any obvious flaws or damage.

The Jensen is a numbers-matching car, and features a 383ci Chrysler V8, bolted to an A727 TorqueFlite transmission. Of course, power steering and 4-wheel power disc brakes are also standard features. This particular Mark III is one of the last to be built with a 383 under the hood, as the standard power unit became the 440ci V8 from November 1971. Tightening emissions laws reduced engine power to 250hp, but the Interceptor could still accelerate from 0-60mph in 7.5 seconds and wind out to an eventual top speed of 135mph. From a mechanical standpoint, the Jensen was a pretty tough vehicle, so I’m not that surprised when the owner states that the vehicle runs and drives well.

If this particular Interceptor has a weakness, then it has to be the condition of the front seats. This is a shame because the rest of the interior presents so nicely. The rear seat, the headliner, door trims, dash, and the carpet, are all in exceptional condition for a vehicle of this age. However, the leather on the front seats displays a significant level of cracking, along with bolster wear on the outer edges. A good upholsterer may be able to treat and dye the leather to return it to a fairly presentable state, but short of biting the bullet and having new covers fitted, they won’t ever be perfect. I did undertake a search to see if I could locate new upholstery for the front seats, but I had no luck. However, I managed to locate a company that could supply a replacement set of complete front and rear seats, along with door and rear side trims. You need to swallow hard on that because the price was just short of $7,000…and that was on an exchange basis! Personally, I’d take my time to try and locate a really good upholsterer to see what they could achieve first. As well as a comprehensive array of gauges, the Interceptor features power windows and air conditioning.

Jensen produced 4,255 examples of the Interceptor Mark III, but only 288 of those cars rolled off the line in 1971. Only those cars produced between August and November of that year featured the 383ci V8, which only serves to increase the relative rarity of this vehicle. However, when it comes to the question of rarity with the Interceptor, it plays second-fiddle to the condition when determining a vehicle’s actual value. The fact that this car is original and unmolested, it is rust-free, and it is mechanically sound, are all extremely important attributes. An example in reasonable condition can be found for as little as $20,000, but a really spotless example can fetch prices of $60,000 or more. This car appears to be a great one and is only let down by the condition of the front seat upholstery. With that in mind, even if the next owner did have to have the upholstery on those seats replaced, the $35,000 asking price still looks like it could be fairly competitive.