The Jensen Interceptor is one of the better examples of cross-pollination between American and Great Britain as it relates to automotive ventures. A classic British grand tourer powered by a heady American V8 is never a bad combo, and the Interceptor’s handsome styling and Chrysler powerplants made it an instant classic in the motoring community. This garage find 1973 Interceptor III is a 440-powered example that has been off the road for some time, and it is offered here on the Classic Car Auctions website where it will go up for sale later in March with a pre-sale estimate range of £10,000 – £12,000.

Here’s the Interceptor in its natural habitat for the last several years (if not decades). The listing notes that the seller is the son of the late owner, so evidently the big British coupe was laid up for a number of years, possibly while his father was in declining health. The photos don’t tell us a lot, other than it was stored on a concrete floor. I’ve watched enough videos of barn finds in the U.K. with Jonny Smith on the excellent Late Brake Show and many garages throughout England seem to be hiding a forgotten classic. They can also be incredibly damp given the climate over there, and water leaks are not uncommon. No mention is made of pervasive rust, but the floors warrant inspection.

The auctioneer mentions that little documentation comes with the Interceptor, so you’re taking a calculated risk on a car like this. I see what looks like evidence of rodent on the driver’s side carpeting, and even that’s not nesting activity we can see there, I still suspect it’s likely that some intrusion of the four-legged variety has occurred. The dash looks to be in good shape and the leather seats may even bounce back with some chemical treatments; the odometer reading suggests it has just under 63,000 miles. As a needy RHD example, it seems likely this Interceptor will remain in the U.K., unless the attractive “Reef Blue” paint is a must-have for a collector on this side of the pond.

For anyone taking this Interceptor project on, the best news is the ease with which you can likely service the Chrysler-sourced drivetrain. Note, I am not referring to electronics or any other wiring-related needs, but the 440 powerplant is quite robust. The engine makes a healthy 220 horsepower and 349 lb.-ft. of torque when running well, but the vehicle’s curb weight forces it work fairly hard to move that much mass. Still, this was always seen as a sensible GT-style cruiser, and if the rust issues aren’t too extensive, we’d love to see this MKIII Interceptor brought back to life.