1973 Jensen Interceptor MK111

In the care of the seller for the past 37 years, ‘TTG 685M’ is 1973 Jensen Interceptor that’s hasn’t seen rain since 1987. Yup, that’s right; the seller hasn’t ever taken it out in anything other than good weather.

He’s looked after it too, investing the right money with the right people: Restored in 1992 at a cost of £20,331 by renowned marque specialist Jencraft, or the equivalent of almost £44,000 today, Kestrel Classic Cars has also worked on it extensively since 2015 onwards.

Stunning to look at and just as nice to drive, this Interceptor is a life-affirming example of what a classic car relationship looks like when you spend more than half of your life with the car of your dreams.

Originally finished in Royal Blue, the 1992 restoration saw a change of colour to Calypso Red, a BMW colour. Well-maintained over the years, Kestrel Classics tidied the bodywork up a little in 2023, investing 22 hours – and some underbody wax – to bring it back up to the standard the seller demands.

The result is what you get when meticulous curation meets Old School craftsmanship: a shine you could use to shave by on panels that still align beautifully.

The details stack up, too. The bonnet louvres also run straight and true, the door shuts and sills are clean, the contrasting pinstripes are in good order, the lamp lenses are free of damage, the badges are superb, and the chrome is free of rust and pitting.

And that classic shape has been judiciously updated over the years – not that you’d be able to tell at first glance because the changes are subtle: Body-coloured headlamp bezels and front air dam might not sound like much but they, along with electric door mirrors taken from a Jaguar XJS, make a surprising difference to the way the Interceptor looks.

As do the alloy wheels, which aficionados will recognise as having come from a MK4 car. We love the look of them – and they’re in a great condition having been powder coated – but if you prefer the look of the originals then fret not because the factory-fitted wheels have been retained and come with the car.

The 16-inch alloy wheels also benefit from being fitted with a matching set of 225/55R16 Uniroyal Rain Sport tyres, all of which have good tread.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

Of course, as with any car that’s past its half-century, there are a few flaws. There’s a crack in the paint where the nearside wing meets the bonnet with a smaller one on the opposite side, and there is some micro-blistering on the offside rear pillar and a small area on the drivers door where there is also a small scratch, there are also a few stone chips on the front splitter and bonnet, but we are being picky on a car of this age.  

The cream hide interior is every bit as characterful and well-preserved as the coachwork. Nicely patinated but very far from being worn out, it wears its years as lightly as the Savile Row dinner jacket you inherited from your father.

(Which reminds us of Alan Clark’s withering assessment of Michael Heseltine as the sort of man “who buys his own furniture”. He was an objectional man on many levels, but he could be quite funny and Backfire comes highly recommended. )

Shall we start with the worst bit in the cabin and work up? If so, then the driver’s seat bolsters are creased and show some colour loss. The issue isn’t bad but if you were to get it refurbished few would accuse you of being overly fussy.

With that out of the way we can talk about the rest – and it’s all good news from hereon.

The passenger seat and the leather-covered centre console are both in a very good condition, and both front seats sport corduroy headrest pads, which is a lovely period touch.

As for the rear seat, the seller tells us it hasn’t been used since he attended the Ryder Cup at The Belfry in 1993 with some friends.

New front carpets were made and fitted in September 2023, and the all-black Moto-Lita steering wheel might have been fitted when the car was restored in 1992, but you’d never guess it is more than three decades old from its condition.

The gearknob is similarly well preserved, as is the brake pedal and footrest. The instruments and controls are bright and clear too, the top of the dashboard is free of UV-damage, and the pleated leather headlining is clean and taut.

The original Jensen radio does not work, and the original Jensen-branded 8 track stereo did work before it was removed several years ago and is in the boot in case the new owner wants to get it refitted.

The door cards are clean and undamaged, but the driver’s side is a little wrinkly in places.

In fact, the only thing you’ll need to investigate is the water you can see in the passenger footwell. It’s hard to tell if it’s a leak or whether our valeter has just spilled some soapy water in there. We suspect the latter, especially when you remember the car hasn’t seen rain since 1987…

The most recent work includes:

June 2015 – engine overhaul and mechanical recommissioning by Kestrel Classic Cars Limited. We’ve totted the bills up and they come to around £15,000
13.05.2019 – miscellaneous repairs including the suspension, electrical, and air-conditioning systems by Kestrel Classic Cars Limited
01.09.2022 – repairs to the ignition, fuel, suspension, and braking systems by Kestrel Classic Cars Limited
05.10.2022 – repairs to the ignition and engine by Kestrel Classic Cars Limited
22.09.2023 – service by Kestrel Classic Cars Limited including a power steering pump and a ball joint

There is a more complete summary of the work on page 64/65 under the ‘Documentation’ section that details what has been done – and how much it all cost.

Highlights include a rebuilt engine in 2015, a new Edelbrock carburettor, Hi-Torq starter motor, alternator, and refurbished braking system also in 2015, upgraded cooling fans in 2017, new front springs in 2019, a new brake servo in 2022, and a power steering pump in 2023.

And, of course, the overdrive on the gearbox. He bought the last unit the Jensen factory had in 1993 for the princely sum of £1,500. It then sat in a cupboard for the next quarter of a century until he asked Kestrel to fit it in 2018.

To have it fitted cost him just over a thousand pounds but he’s full of praise for the difference it’s made to the way the car drives – and how well it works: “you don’t even notice it cutting in and out”.

As you can see from the electronic switch in the armrest, the new owner will have the option of having the overdrive modified to cut in and out automatically. The seller didn’t bother because it is creamy-smooth anyway but it’s nice to know that upgrade is available.

The most recent service was in September 2023, and he tells us that it “drives well” with “really good brakes”. We suspect everyone else would be raving about how well it performs but then 37 years with a car will inevitably blunt the impact that even 7.2-litres can make.

As you can see, it starts cleanly, idles nicely, shows good oil pressure, and revs very well. It therefore does all you could ask of it, and it does it while making all the right noises and none of the wrong.

Boy, does it make all the right noises.

The engine bay is exactly how you’d expect it to be after reading the list of work that’s been carried out in there: It’s clean and well-ordered, but not so clean you’ll be afraid to use it.

Obsessives will find work to do for sure, but the rest of us would be happy to pop the bonnet at our local classic car show and bask in the approval of our peers.

As for the underside, it’s so well preserved that no MoT tester has ever had cause to mention structural rot and corrosion. It also sports a stainless-steel exhaust system.

As for work to do, there is some flaking underseal to remove and then touch up, plus the usual surface corrosion on things like the spare wheel cradle, but that’s all par for the course.

The Jensen doesn’t have a current MoT certificate but since it only expired in September 2024 – and it passed the last two with no advisories – getting a new one might not be too onerous.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file includes the original production card, the stamped service history booklet, invoices dating back to 1976, including some from Jensen Cars Ltd.

We’ve been bullish about the Interceptor over the years, perhaps focussing more on the numbers than the engineering.

Which is forgivable surely, because some of the numbers are very large indeed.

But this one has encouraged us to pause and reconsider; it’s such a charming old thing and so well loved and maintained, we’re starting to see the model in the same light as we might a Bristol or a contemporary Bentley.

Beautifully engineered and exquisitely conserved, the fact we think the virtual hammer will fall somewhere between £28,000 and £35,000 seems a pitifully small sum to pay for such a striking example.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am- 12pm or 2pm-4pm. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.