1974 Jensen Interceptor

You might think you’re looking at just another Jensen Interceptor, albeit one that’s been uncommonly well conserved.

But the reality is that ‘AUR 630M’ is a very special car indeed. You see it was returned to, and registered by, Jensen Cars Ltd in 1984, the firm that took over the brand after Jensen itself went bankrupt in 1982.

Ian Orford, the owner of Jensen Cars Ltd, set about reviving the Interceptor and chose this very car to benefit from the changes. The original MK3 was converted into the S4 specifications with the latest Chrysler 5.9-litre/360 cubic inch V8 engine and new legislation-friendly door handles and mirrors.

The wood dash was carried over but with the addition of a digital clock (it was the eighties, after all) and the seats were replaced with electrically adjustable Recaro items that were retrimmed to match the rest of the cabin.

The finished car stayed with the firm until at least 1986 when it applied to the DVLA for the change of engine and colour. It then passed through various hands until it landed with the previous registered keeper, who was clearly smitten as he spent an estimated £50,000-odd on parts and labour.

Nor does the story end there because the current registered keeper has contributed another £15,000. Huge sums, for sure, but the car now features a John Sleath engine (if you know, you know…), a Duncan Watts-rebuilt transmission, the 17-inch alloy wheels that were fitted to the reincarnated Interceptor S and R, a modern air-conditioning system, a retrimmed interior, and a new Webasto Monte Carlo sunroof.

Plus, of course, a considerable amount of documentation to support its history from 1974 to the current day.

The Royal Blue Metallic coachwork presents very well, something the later wheels, good chrome, and recent Webasto roof contribute to in no small part.

It’s a great colour for a car like this too, being timeless, elegant and utterly in keeping with the Interceptor’s role of transporting rich folk across entire continents at indecent speed; Glyndebourne or Saint-Tropez, the Jensen will attract nothing but admiring glances.

The Tudor Webasto ‘Monte Carlo’ sunroof and its headlining were replaced during the restoration at a cost of just over £2,000. The car has only covered around a thousand miles since then, so it is still in a very good condition, sliding to-and-fro as it should.

The 17-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels are the same as those worn by the later Interceptor S and R models and given the owner’s fastidious nature – he spent £15,000 since 2021 in bringing it up to the standard he wanted AFTER Richard Appleyard Engineering concluded it was in an “excellent” condition and worth £52,000 in 2016 – they are, of course, in an unmarked condition.

They also sport recent wheelnuts and centre caps in addition to being fitted with matching Avon ZV7 tyres. These are date-stamped 2016 and have good tread left on them.

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.

The lamp lenses are clear and undamaged, the chromework is largely free of pitting, the window glass is good, and the badges are bright and unsullied.

As for work to do, while the flanks are free of ripples and dinks, some of the panel gaps could be tweaked, especially the boot lid.

There is also some corrosion on the front valance, and a few small bubbles here and there in the paintwork.

The interior is a fabulous amalgam of the seventies and eighties featuring the Interceptor’s familiar controls and instruments supplemented by 80’s icons such as the Grey Recaro seats.

The result is astonishingly effective at updating the cabin into something a mid-eighties aristocrat would have been proud to own.

​Retrimmed in cream hide and expensively curated over the years, they still present very well indeed. The driver’s seat, usually the first place to show wear, is very good. The front passenger’s seat is even better, and the rear seats look practically new. All four occupants are held securely in place with Royal Blue seatbelts.”

​“The (very good) door cards have also been retrimmed in cream with blue leather cappings, and the (equally good) carpets are trimmed in a reversed colour scheme of dark blue with cream binding.

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The centre console and dashboard are trimmed with dark blue hide – and what isn’t hide is walnut. And fabulously glossy and largely undamaged walnut at that.”

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Goodies include intermittent wipers, electric door mirrors and windows, and a modern Sony headunit and Pioneer speakers.

Plus, air-conditioning, which was replaced with a Sanden system in 2020. The Mota-Lita steering wheel was fitted a year later, so is still nigh-on unmarked.

​“As for known faults, the electric reclining mechanism on the front seats doesn’t work and the electric mirrors don’t adjust.”​

​“As we mentioned earlier, the previous registered keeper estimates he spent around £50,000 restoring the Jensen. We haven’t added it all up but the invoices from BLS Developments, Martin Robey, Oil Rag Classics and Automobila, Jensen Service, Autotrim, Graham Whitehouse Autos, etc are on file and detail some of the work that was carried out along with the cost, and it would be worth investing a few moments to peruse them to fully appreciate the quality and scale of the project.”​

And what a job they made of it: The John Sleath engine inhales through an Edelbrock carburettor and exhales through stainless-steel silencers and tailpipes that were supplied by Martin Robey. Power is sent to the rear axle via a gearbox that was rebuilt by Duncan Watts and the rocker covers are Mopar Magnums. It has, in other words, had the right money spent with the right people.

That said, there are a couple of jobs for the new owner to get stuck into because the temperature gauge reads higher than it should, and there is a slight oil leak.

Also, the battery clamp is fitted incorrectly but remedying that would be straightforward.

As for the rest, the seller has asked us to point out: "The car starts and drives with no obvious faults being evident other than those noted. However this vehicle is being auctioned as needing a good going over before any use as there may be additional faults which are not listed."

The Jensen doesn’t have a current MoT certificate,as it is exempt by virtue of its age, however the seller is prepared to put a fresh MOT upon completion of sale, to assure the new owner of the vehicles condition and safety.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the Jensen comes with two sets of keys.

The history file is as voluminous as you’d expect given the Interceptor’s historical importance and includes the Series 4 specification sheets, a factory Statement of Origin, the Customer Preparation Inspection sheets dated 29th April 1974, and maintenance paperwork dating back to 1974.

This converted Jensen Interceptor might need some light fettling to iron out the faults we’ve mentioned but given the scale of the investment in recent years, you should have a sound foundation to build on.

It also looks utterly fabulous, not only in its condition but because it’s finished in one of the very nicest colour schemes we’ve ever seen on the model.

An important part of Jensen history, we estimate it’s going to sell for somewhere between £45,000 and £55,000, which seems a very reasonable sum for what is literally a one-off.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire. To arrange an appointment to view this vehicle 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.