Background
The Jenson Interceptor first emerged blinking into the light from the Kelvin Way factory in West Bromwich in 1966.
Then, it looked like nothing we’d seen before.
Now, it looks like nothing we’ve seen since.
Brothers Alan and Richard Jensen first became involved with car design and construction in 1925 when their efforts to improve on the styling and performance of an Austin Seven Chummy attracted much favourable attention. A few Jensen-bodied Fords were produced in the mid-1930s before a more serious manufacturing effort commenced in 1938.
Post-WW2 Jensen kept afloat by producing bodies for other manufacturers, most notably Austin-Healey, while producing its own stylish GTs in limited numbers. It was not until the Interceptor's arrival in 1967 that cars began to leave the West Bromwich factory in large numbers.
From the moment it was launched, owning a Jensen Interceptor was a clear indication that you’d hit the big time.
Amongst the dozens of famous names who ran one we could pick out Tony Curtis, Cliff Richard, Suzi Quatro, Sir Matt Busby, Henry Cooper and both Morecambe and Wise.
Rock ‘n’ roll drummers seemed to be particularly attracted to them - Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham had a white one and Ginger Baker of Cream had three.
It’s still very easy to see the appeal. Take a long, low, GT profile from an Italian styling house and team it with an immense 6276cc Chrysler V8, then cocoon the occupants in comfortable leather chairs.
Offer the whole lot in a wide variety of eye-catching paint schemes and the end product was less snooty and exorbitant than an Aston or a Bentley, but more luxurious and exclusive than a Jaguar. Something of a sweet spot, then – in both the UK and US markets.
The thunderous 330bhp engine, usually matched to a bullet-proof three-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission, sent 425lb-ft of torque in great waves to a limited-slip-differential equipped rear end.
The Interceptor may have been the size and weight of a Grimsby fishing trawler but its occupants could still get to 60mph in 6.4 seconds on their way to a top speed of about 140mph.
Four-wheel servo-assisted Dunlop discs looked after the braking while the ride quality could be varied using the dashboard controls for the Armstrong ‘Selectaride’ dampers.
Series II models incorporated revised front suspension, Girling brakes, and a redesigned interior, while the Series III, introduced in October 1971, came with better seats, central locking, and GKN alloy wheels.
Emissions legislation in the USA prompted Jensen to adopt Chrysler’s bigger 7212cc engine for the Series III in order to keep the performance up.
