Description
This very original and extremely rare Interceptor, bearing chassis 117-2605, was manufactured in 1967. It was one of the first LHD (left hand drive) Jensen Interceptor ever built. The car was finished in charcoal grey/ brown with tan leather interior and was destined for the Belgian market where it was sold new to its first owner. The body of the Interceptors was designed by Carrozzeria Touring (Italy), rather than the in-house design team. The engine was provided by Chrysler from the US, making the Interceptor a unique blend of British-built, Italian-designed, US-powered sport vehicle. Moreover, the body of this specific Jensen was also built also by Italians (by Vignale a coachbuilder from Torino and a competitor of Touring).
This car is the number 22 of the only 32 units sent from West Bromwich to Carrozzeria Vignale for body assembly. According to the Jensen Museum, out of the 32 only 13 Vignale/ Sincar cars survived today. The motorized chassis was sent on May 8, 1967 to Italy. The Jensen factory in England had actually nothing to do with these cars other than supplying the chassis and drive trains in the form of what is often called ‘motorized chassis’. Indeed, the very early LHD-117 bodies and trims were hand-built by Carrozzeria Vignale in the Grugliasco (Torino) factory. Although the completed cars bore the Jensen name, they were to all intents and purposes Vignale cars. The paint and leather are Italian and there are no records or color codes from this period due to the very limited production number of 32 cars.
The Vignale #22 car was completed in summer 1967. Carrozzeria Vignale sent the bodied chassis to it’s agent Sincar (hence the name ‘SinCar-117’), who was in charge of the sale on mainland Europe. The car arrived from Torino somewhere in 1968 at the (new) Belgian importer, Beherman Demoen, Rue Vanderstraeten 11, 1080 Brussels. Beherman started importing and distributing Jensen in Belgium in 1968 and sold in total 20 Mark-1 Interceptors (most of which Vignale cars). Surprisingly Belgium was the third largest market for Jensen at that time, after the UK and Ireland, probably due to the active marketing actions of Beherman. Also, out of the very rare 32 Vignale cars, about half (and at least 14) were exported to Belgium. On 17/ 09/ 1968 the car’s battery had to be changed at the Beherman garage, indicating that the car had been immobilized for a long period, probably one year. It is unclear why the car was only sold more than 1 year after being produced. Beherman sold the car to its first owner on 19/ 09/ 1968.
The first owner was MB, a well known International Patent Attorney in Brussels. MB was living with his Austrian wife Patsi in Ixelles, Avenue Depage 13, 1050 Brussels. The car was officially registered on 19/ 09/ 1968 as ‘first registration’ under Belgian license plate ‘D4477’. Bede kept the car for only 2 years (1968-’70). He had an illness that had afflicted him for long time and he passed away in February 1973.
In September 1970 the Jensen was bought by the second owner JV. The car was registered on 20/ 09/ 1970 under Belgian license plate ‘AE. 521’. Based on the previous usage, we estimate that the car had about 32. 000 km at the time of its purchase in September 1970.
JV used the car for about three years, i. e. till the end of 1973. The exterior was repainted during that time, probably in 1973. The car had been driven 70. 000 km and was subsequently dry stored. He thus drove an average 13. 000 km per year with the Jensen.
The Jensen (117-2605) was stored in JV's collection, first in the company’s distribution warehouse. The Jensen became the first car of his car collection. The Jensen remained in storage for 37 years. In the summer 2010, JV sold most of his vintage cars, but he kept his favorite, this very early and original Jensen Interceptor MK1. He had the car restarted by an oldtimer specialist and gave the car to his son, thus keeping the car in the family since 1970.
On 10/ 03/ 2011 the car re-passed the technical control (MOT), still under its original license plate “AE-521” and with 70. 283 km on the odometer. In March 2011 the car was re-registered with new Belgian license plate.
The SinCar-117 remains in its original body color and trim. Over the years several repairs and improvements have been executed to enhance the reliability, security and performance of the car. The body has not been repaired so far.
This is not only one of the 13 remaining Jensen Sincar/ Vignale, it is above all the only one that remains 100% original. The car has never been restored, it has only been driven 83. 000 KM, dry stored for 37 years, and it kept all its original features as produced by Vignale in Italy in 1967. The car is therefore highly collectable. While it is mechanically very sound (excellent driver & road legal) it will need body and paint work on the front wings. But no full restoration would be necessary, i. e. to keep its full originality and great patina. "Things are only original once".
