Highlights
- Exquisitely styled classic grand tourer
- Older restoration still in fine form
- Great mechanical order with legendary V8 powerhouse
- Accompanied by extensive history file
The Appeal
Italian styling, American V8 and perhaps the coolest name ever given to a production car. The Jensen Interceptor can be well surmised simply with the word cool. Bucking the trend of prim and proper traditional British automobiles, the Interceptor instead allows one to envision glorious trips along coastlines throughout continental Europe in pure unadulterated style, with a healthy dose of that ever appealing American influence, and as such has built itself up quite the reputation within the automotive world, often seen as one of the all time great grand tourers.
This later MK III Interceptor comes to us as an older restoration, understood to have been restored by a previous owner in the 1990s. In fine fettle, it does leave some scope for improvement for a new owner but is entirely presentable and usable in its current form and undoubtedly provides an excellent path into the increasingly desirable world of Interceptor ownership.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered 03/09/1973
- Subject to an extensive restoration in the 1980s and 90s by a previous owner, at which time the car was painted red
- A vast collection of photographic evidence and documentation of the process accompanies the car
- The car is then understood to have been returned to its original factory specification of white with a black vinyl roof circa 2014 by a new owner
- Comes with impressive history file consisting of several invoices from Jensen specialists for servicing and maintenance work by previous and the current owner of the car
- Rare Interceptor III owners handbook
- Copies of parts brochures, manuals and technical diagrams also present with the cars documentation
- Tax and MOT exempt due to the car’s historic status
- Despite MOT exemption the vendor has had the car MOT’d which is valid until February 2024
- The car has been in regular use by the current owner who advises they take the car out every day where possible
- V5 registration document present with the vehicle
The Interior
- Good quality black leather upholstery throughout
- Largely original cabin in great overall form
- Clean headlining
- Vast rear boot area ideal for touring
A really rather splendid example, the cabin of this interceptor is in great honest shape, presenting well with a wonderful level of patina to its supple black leather upholstery. In incredibly original form this high quality interior space lends itself wonderfully for longer distances or more regular use.
Seating front and rear is in good order, coated in a rich black leather and wonderfully comfortable, these have been well cared for and are notably lacking in rips or tarnishing. Matching in nicely are a great set of door panels, embellished with a neat and simple set of door furniture and chrome finish trim. Glancing up we see what is an impressively smart contrasting cream headlining, well fitting and rich in its clean cream hue.
Taking precedence within the cabin is the glorious dash panel, packed to the rafters with well aged angular gauges giving the driver just about every conceivable read out about the thumping great Chrysler engine sat in front of them. The dash itself is in excellent shape and does not appear to have fallen victim to sun fading or cracking. The same can be said for the equally brilliant central control panel which is draped in yet more wonderful black leather.
Opening the rear greenhouse style tailgate one is presented with a vast carpeted boot area lending itself perfectly towards touring. The boot itself is clean and entirely well presented much like the rest of the interior space.
Perhaps one of the nicest things about this interior comes in the form of its analogue nature. Full to the brim with gorgeously designed switches and controls, the Interceptor has a wonderfully analogue and solid feel to it despite being rather ahead of its time in terms of innovation. From what we understand the factory air conditioning has been disconnected by a previous owner but the bulk of the aforementioned switchgear is in good working order, including the wonderful Jensen 8 track audio system.
The Exterior
- Beautiful Italian exterior design
- Greenhouse style wrap around rear glass
- High quality chrome trim throughout
- Good bodywork with scope for improvement
With angular American muscle influence and that impeccable wrap around rear glass piece, there's no getting away from it, the Interceptor is a very handsome car. With the task of styling the Jensen given to Italian outfit Carrozzeria Touring the end result was always going to be something rather special and NDD 318M is an excellent case in point.
Understood to have left the factory in a white with black vinyl roof specification, this Interceptor was subject to a colour change during its extensive restoration during the 1980s and 90s where it was refinished in a bright red hue. Whilst the accompanying photographs in the history file suggest that it looked rather special in that colour scheme, the decision was made to return it to original factory spec by a new owner in 2014, and so the Interceptor was refinished in its white paint scheme with black vinyl roof as part of a full body overhaul.
As it stands today the white paintwork is in largely good shape and presents in good honest form, paired with subtle black pinstriping along the sides of the body. It should however be noted that there are some areas of bubbling making themselves known around the rear arches of the car. At present these do not look to be incredibly serious but will most definitely need to be investigated and rectified before they become more prevalent.
The black vinyl top is in great shape and makes a welcome addition to the exterior of the car, as do the lashings of chrome trim found dotted around the bodywork, all of which present smartly and match the general honest appearance of the Interceptor.
At the time of the car’s photoshoot there was an issue with one of the bonnet struts which meant the panel could not be shut flush with the car, however the vendor advises that the car has since gone into a Jensen specialist to have this rectified.
Four wonderful Jensen alloy wheels sit at all four corners and present smartly, with a fifth spare wheel residing on the underside of the car.
The Mechanics
- Thunderous Chrysler 7.2 litre V8
- Recent fitment of new stainless steel exhaust system
- Well maintained in great mechanical order
There's perhaps no other word which suits the mechanical setup of the Interceptor more than “impressive”. Unhinging the bonnet reveals the Jensen’s party piece, a 7.2 litre Chrysler sourced V8 engine. Being a later Interceptor this is the higher capacity 440ci variant making it all the more special. In great overall order, the engine and engine bay present very cleanly, having been regularly maintained by Jensen specialists throughout its lifetime.
The previous owners of the Jensen are understood to have treated it to a small mechanical refurbishment including a new water pump, fuel lines, alternator and steering rack. A new wiring loom is also reported to have been fitted at this time. Under its current ownership the car has been well maintained by Richard Appleyard Engineering LTD, a revered Jensen specialist. Earlier in the year they treated the car to an extensive service and fitted a stainless steel exhaust system, invoices for which are found in the car’s history file.
Having been restored in the 1980s and 90s and then subject to various refurbishments since, the Interceptor presents in great overall order and appears to be solid on the underside. On the road the Jensen is said to provide a wonderful driving experience with an excellent V8 soundtrack, with the current owner reporting to use the car every day where possible since purchase although they do speak of a slight blow believed to be originating from the exhaust manifold area.
Summary
A staple of classic car culture, a piece of art, a true legendary grand tourer. The Jensen Interceptor is comfortably all of the above. A real automotive legend these cars have untold desirability among enthusiasts and as such good examples are snapped up in an instant. This MK III Interceptor provides prospective buyers with a wonderful opportunity to acquire an entirely presentable and usable example in wonderful mechanical order, that has great scope for improvement to become a real show winner.
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