1973 Jensen Interceptor MK III

UK-supplied on the 21st November 1973 to the first of four owners, the current since 2013

Showing an odometer reading of 45,300 which is partly corroborated by period service receipts

Well maintained over the years with receipts from Cropredy Bridge Jenson specialists and others

Restored by our vendor, a J.O.C. member, who owns a well-regarded collection of British marques

The detailed history file shows receipts going back to 1983 with recent mechanical and interior works

Smartly presented in this colour combination, the Interceptor is a credible contender to an early Aston V8.

The Jensen Interceptor was a sporting GT-class car, hand-built in the UK by Jensen Motors between 1966 and 1976. The car broke with a Jensen tradition by having a steel bodyshell instead of a glass-reinforced plastic one and by having the body designed by an outside firm, Carrozzeria Touring of Italy, the firm more frequently associated with the likes of Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Maserati and Alfa Romeo.

The engine was a Chrysler V8, initially of 6276cc, with optional manual transmission, but the more common choice was the TorqueFlite automatic transmission, driving the rear wheels through a limited slip differential and a conventional Salisbury rear axle. The engine grew to 7212cc in late 1971 and it acquired 4-barrel carburation.

The original specification included electric windows, reclining front seats, a wood-rimmed steering wheel, radio with twin speakers, reversing lights and an electric clock. Power steering was included as standard from September 1968. The Mark II Interceptor was announced in October 1969 with revised frontal styling and vented disc brakes, and shortly afterwards, in 1971, came the Mark III. It had revised seats, fully cast alloy wheels and further improvements.

First registered on the 21st November 1973 to the first of four owners, we can assume from older versions of the V5 and old service receipts that the first owner was likely to be a Mr D. Gill. The car was subsequently registered under the name of William Roderick Gill in 1998, most likely a family member, who sold the car through Cropredy Bridge, the Jensen specialists, in 1998 to a Mr J. F. Chedgey of St. Mellons, Cardiff. Our vendor took ownership on the 8th March 2013 and the Jenson joined his collection of British marques that includes, amongst others, a Jaguar XJ220. Our vendor, an active member of both the Jaguar Enthusiast Club and Jensen Owners Club undertook a programme of extensive restoration works.

The works included interior refurbishment to the leather and new Wilton carpeting, an original Jensen 8-Track Player was sourced, refurbished and converted to MP3 and connected to all new speakers. The engine was serviced, with, oil and air filter and plugs, leads and belts fitted. New stainless steel downpipe exhausts and silencer boxes were fitted, the wheels were refurbished, new inserts fitted, and shod with new 205/70VR15 Vredestein Classic Tyres. After a full respray in 2013, the exterior trim was attended to with the front bumper re-chromed to match the new rear bumper, new door handles and tread plates. A new windscreen was installed and bonnet, boot and window seals fitted.

Now showing some 45,300 miles, the mileage is partly corroborated by the period invoices, with mileage recorded as 27,873 in 1983, another from 1985 showing 32,000 miles, in 1988 the mileage was recorded at 41,517 and in 1993 the odometer reading was noted as 41,800. Previous MoT Certificates show that in 1996 the mileage read 42,943 through to the current reading of some 45,300. Our vendor, a true enthusiast, will conduct a series of test drives in the run up to the sale to ensure is running at its best.

The Interceptor will be presented to auction with an MoT valid until October 2019, a lovely history file brimming with period receipts, handbook, service book, workshop and engine manuals, a full set of keys plus spares, and a Jensen jack and tool roll.