The Jensen Interceptor was the first model produced by Jensen Motors after the founders left – and, in fact, their leave-taking had a lot to do with the design of this car. The breach was incited by their board’s appointment of Carrozzeria Touring to style the Interceptor – not only was this an outside firm, it wasn’t even a British firm. Worse, the construction was outsourced to Vignale at first. Adding momentum to the breakup, Richard Jensen was experiencing health problems. Amidst this chaos, Jensen managed to launch what was to become its best-seller to date, favored by celebrities and lesser-known but still well-heeled buyers alike. Here on eBay is a Jensen Interceptor Mk III, produced in the transition month of August 1971, when an update to the engine was executed. Bidding has reached $10,099, with a Buy-It-Now still in play at $14,800. The car is located in Worland, Wyoming, and it does run and drive. Curvette, we appreciate the great tip!
Thanks to US regulations issued in the late 1960s, Jensen had to either install horsepower-sapping emissions controls on the Chrysler 383 cu. in. V8 it had been using, or shift to a more potent option that could wear smog equipment without petering out. The company tried detuning the 383 by reducing the compression ratio, but the Interceptor tipped the scales at about 4000 lbs: the loss of horsepower made the big sedan unbearably slow. So the company stepped up to Chrysler’s 300+ horsepower 440 cu. in. V8, thereby retaining the performance that helped make the Interceptor a best seller. The 440 was installed starting in August 1971, the production date of this car. The seller indicates that what we see in this engine bay is a 383, leaving us to wonder if it’s one of the lesser 383s that Jensen tried to pass off as good enough. The engine’s compression test results are “very good” and the master cylinder and brakes are new. The tires are five years old but have almost no miles – a hint that the car hasn’t been used much. Almost all US cars were delivered with Chrysler’s three-speed Torqueflite automatic.
The interior is a reminder that the Jensen is a hand-built luxury car, swathed in Wilton wool and Connolly leather. Kudos to the owners of this car for keeping the light-colored upholstery in good condition – not an easy task and a big favor to the next owner since there are about seven hides in here. I particularly like the rear seats, which, if anything, are more “bucket-y” than the fronts. The seller notes that the power windows are “slow or not working”.
The hatchback is not everyone’s cup of tea, but whether the shape is appealing to you or not, the cosmetics here seem solid. The paint is decent, the trim is bright and intact, those wheels are factory-correct, and as we’ve seen, the interior is spiffy. Good examples powered by the 383 sell in the mid $20s, while 440-equipped cars can easily breach $60k. If I were considering this car, I would get myself to Wyoming to drive it and test the electric accessories. These are complicated cars despite the American drivetrain, and even a give-away price like the current bid can lead the buyer down a ruinous path.
Might be wrong but the front seats are far too nice to be leather. Compared to the rear, which usually have worn much less, they are too shiny. Front seats probably have had a retrim in vinyl.
They look like leather to me.
Agree with Dion and the steering wheel horn bar should be black..Lewis.
for anyone who knows this marque, they were notoriously wonderful new, and extremely problematic. parts are tough to source, costs are outrageously high. run will robinson! run!
Everyone says this but it’s not really true. Martin Robey in the UK and K&D in the US have most parts, along with some other sellers, and the mechanicals are Chrysler. Some parts are slightly pricey but most are not and compared to other 70’s handbuilt cars they are a bargain. Yes at 50 years old with a hot engine bay they have their electrical foibles but like most 70’s cars it’s largely easy to access and fix, having just gone through a lot of cleanup on my ’74. Avoiding body rot is the #1 issue as they are handbuilt and expensive to have repaired, especially the rockers, and then #2 is avoiding a shot interior as that must be hand done as well. It helps do to your own basic work and the owner’s forum is very helpful for quickly solving problems. Assuming no major rot here this looks like a good drivable car for someone to bat cleanup on.
Owned one while living in the UK, great car when not breaking down caused by electrical gremlins, anyhow it had the 383 and was a tad slow especially if overtaking on narrow British roads. This seems a good buy but buyer beware and Matthew is right when mentioning parts availability and costly.
I have admired these since the 70s. A friend regularly drove one to high school while his dad was “away” (for embezzling), and I got a few wild rides.
Over the years I have been tempted to take on several “barn find” Interceptors, but all were too far gone to be saved. These cars are absolutely notorious for rust & rot in the unibody, subframe and torque boxes. Much of the rot can be hidden…. Very difficult and expensive to repair.
The car here looks like a potentially good driver, although the lack of decent undercarriage photos gives me great concern. If it were local, I would want to closely inspect this car on a lift before making an offer. While I’m not particularly fond of the “resale red” paint job (it is probably not the original colour), I might make an offer if the price was right.
These remind me of Jag XJS models (I owned several) in that they can easily cost far more to restore than they will ever be worth.
I have been fortunate to have owned most of the cars on my bucket list. The Interceptor is one of a few left on the list. By now I have learned to buy very carefully.
I see signs of overspray around the edges underhood and untidy masking around the manufacturer’s plate, but there also appears to be a slight color mismatch between the front fenders vs. the doors and everything behind, so I’d suspect at least some front end damage and/or corrosion has been repaired. Which still leaves it unclear if the red on the back half of the car was original or an earlier respray.
I had to pass on the opportunity to buy an Interceptor convertible in the late 70’s. The owner was going to run for City Treasurer and knew it was a bad look to be driving it.
I was not thinking of the investment potential, and of course deeply regretted the decision
The world needs more Jensen Interceptors!
Frank Barrett for president! I say this because it seems so rare and unusual to agree with any public statement in recent times
Frank Barrett for president! I say this because it seems so rare and unusual to agree with any public statement in recent times
I thought every Interceptor was AWD, but I guess that was just a special version of it, the “FF” (according to Google AI).
Correct, the FF was the first passenger car with AWD and antilock brakes! RHD only as the AWD part of the trans was mounted off to one side. Distinguished by a slightly longer nose and two side vents. Look up the FFF prototype which used all this with a built 426, performance was nuts!
In my opinion the best name ever affixed to a car.
And actually recycled. When the Jensen brothers ran Jensen, the company produced the first Interceptor in 1950; production ran through 1957. That was back in the fiberglass body days. A big old 4-liter Austin six powered it – the engine might have just been a six, but it really motivated the early fiberglass Jensens. Same formula was used with the 541….
A nice example but correct me if wrong, the air cleaner assembly looks to be from a Pontiac 400 from a Firebird
It’s whatever Jensen used, mine is the same.
Auction ended at $10,099.
Reserve Not Met.
5 bids.
It’s been relisted at “NO RESERVE” but starts at $12,800.
That sounds like a reserve to me.