Jensen Interceptor
Encyclopedia
The Jensen Interceptor was a sporting GT
-class car hand-built in the United Kingdom
by Jensen Motors
between 1966 and 1976. The Interceptor name had been used previously by Jensen for an earlier car
made between 1950 and 1957. The car broke with Jensen tradition by having a steel bodyshell instead of glass-reinforced plastic
and by having the body designed by an outside firm, Carrozzeria Touring
of Italy, rather than the in-house staff. The early bodies were Italian-built, by Vignale
, before production by Jensen themselves began – with subtle body modifications – in West Bromwich
.
(Mark I, only 22 built) or TorqueFlite automatic transmission
s driving the rear wheels through a limited slip differential in a conventional Salisbury rear axle. The engine grew to 7212 cc (440 c.i.) in late 1971 with 4-barrel carburation. The SP (Six-Pack) model of 1971–73 offered 3x2-barrel carburation; only 232 were built and had the distinction of being the most powerful car ever to have been made by Jensen (390 hp).
The Interceptor took its styling cues from the Brasinca Uirapuru
,
with a distinctive large, curving wrap-around rear window that doubled as a tailgate
. 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 was announced in October 1969, revised frontal styling and vented disc brakes. The Mark III of 1971 had revised seats, fully cast alloy wheels plus some other improvements. The Mark III was divided to G-, H-, J-series and 'S4-series', depending on the production years. The 'S4-series' version of Interceptor III was the most luxurious Jensen built.
The Interceptor was briefly re-introduced in the 1980s as the Series 4 (S4), as a low-volume 'specialist' motor car in much the same way Bristol
continue to market and manufacture their cars. Though the body remained essentially the same, a newer, so called 'cleaner', engine was used and the interior slightly re-designed with the addition of 'sports' front seats as opposed to the armchair style of the earlier models.
It wasn't to be, however. The then owner sold up in 1988 to an engineering company believed to be in a stronger position to manufacture the car which lasted until 1993, and they did commence development work on a series 5 (S5) Interceptor until once again receivers were called in.
Rarer still is the Coupé version with just 60 made, derived from the convertible and introduced in 1975, just a year before the company's demise. It could be said though this version detracted from the rakish, stylish looks of the GT.
, in the shape of the 1967 Jensen FF (Ferguson
Formula). At the time it was hailed as a remarkable development, coming also with anti-lock brakes and traction control
. The car is four inches (100 mm) longer than the Interceptor, although it looks very similar, with a tell-tale addition of extra side vents ahead of the doors on the front flanks (resulting in two vents per side rather than one). Press from the time quote "drag-strip" performance when describing the car. In total 320 FFs were produced; 195 Mark I, 110 Mark II and 15 Mark III.
In May 2010, Jensen International Automotive was set up, with the financial backing and know-how of Carphone Warehouse founder and chairman Charles Dunstone who joined its board of directors. A small number of Jensen Interceptor Ss, which had started production under a previous company, are being completed by Jensen International Automotive (JIA), in parallel with JIA's own production of the new Jensen Interceptor R; deliveries of the latter have started (beginning of 2011) at the Oxfordshire-based manufacturer and restorer. Tony Banham is JIA's Managing Director.
Grand tourer
A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement....
-class car hand-built in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by Jensen Motors
Jensen Motors
Jensen Motors Ltd was a British manufacturer of sports cars and commercial vehicles, based in the Lyng – West Bromwich...
between 1966 and 1976. The Interceptor name had been used previously by Jensen for an earlier car
Jensen Interceptor (1950)
The first generation of Jensen Interceptor was the second car to be made by Jensen Motors after World War II and was produced from 1950 to 1957. Jensen later reused the name for a different car ....
made between 1950 and 1957. The car broke with Jensen tradition by having a steel bodyshell instead of glass-reinforced plastic
Glass-reinforced plastic
Fiberglass , is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass. It is also known as GFK ....
and by having the body designed by an outside firm, Carrozzeria Touring
Carrozzeria Touring
Carrozzeria Touring is an automobile coachbuilder established on March 25, 1926 in Milan, Italy by Felice Bianchi Anderloni and Gaetano Ponzoni...
of Italy, rather than the in-house staff. The early bodies were Italian-built, by Vignale
Vignale
Vignale was an Italian automobile coachbuilder company. Carrozzeria Alfredo Vignale was established in 1948 at Via Cigliano, Turin by Alfredo Vignale in Grugliasco, near Turin ....
, before production by Jensen themselves began – with subtle body modifications – in West Bromwich
West Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
.
Model history and specifications
The engine was a Chrysler V8 initially of 6276 cc (383 c.i.) with optional manualManual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
(Mark I, only 22 built) or TorqueFlite automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
s driving the rear wheels through a limited slip differential in a conventional Salisbury rear axle. The engine grew to 7212 cc (440 c.i.) in late 1971 with 4-barrel carburation. The SP (Six-Pack) model of 1971–73 offered 3x2-barrel carburation; only 232 were built and had the distinction of being the most powerful car ever to have been made by Jensen (390 hp).
The Interceptor took its styling cues from the Brasinca Uirapuru
Brasinca Uirapuru
The Brasinca Uirapuru was a GT-class sports coupe manufactured in Brazil between 1964 and 1966. Only 73 examples of the model were ever made because of the high production costs....
,
with a distinctive large, curving wrap-around rear window that doubled as a tailgate
Tailgate
Tailgate is an American English word denoting the door or 'gate' at the back of a wagon, pickup truck, SUV or other similar type of vehicle that is hinged at the bottom and can be opened for the convenience in loading cargo into the rear of the vehicle...
. 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
Power steering
Power steering helps drivers steer vehicles by augmenting steering effort of the steering wheel.Hydraulic or electric actuators add controlled energy to the steering mechanism, so the driver needs to provide only modest effort regardless of conditions. Power steering helps considerably when a...
was included as standard from September 1968.
The Mark II was announced in October 1969, revised frontal styling and vented disc brakes. The Mark III of 1971 had revised seats, fully cast alloy wheels plus some other improvements. The Mark III was divided to G-, H-, J-series and 'S4-series', depending on the production years. The 'S4-series' version of Interceptor III was the most luxurious Jensen built.
The Interceptor was briefly re-introduced in the 1980s as the Series 4 (S4), as a low-volume 'specialist' motor car in much the same way Bristol
Bristol Cars
Bristol Cars is a manufacturer of hand-built luxury cars headquartered in Patchway, near Bristol, United Kingdom. Bristol have always been a low-volume manufacturer; the most recent published official production figures were for 1982, which stated that 104 cars were produced in that year...
continue to market and manufacture their cars. Though the body remained essentially the same, a newer, so called 'cleaner', engine was used and the interior slightly re-designed with the addition of 'sports' front seats as opposed to the armchair style of the earlier models.
It wasn't to be, however. The then owner sold up in 1988 to an engineering company believed to be in a stronger position to manufacture the car which lasted until 1993, and they did commence development work on a series 5 (S5) Interceptor until once again receivers were called in.
Variants
A convertible with powered soft top was introduced in 1974 mainly intended for the American market but also sold in Europe. 267 convertibles were made.Rarer still is the Coupé version with just 60 made, derived from the convertible and introduced in 1975, just a year before the company's demise. It could be said though this version detracted from the rakish, stylish looks of the GT.
Jensen FF
Jensen were one of the first manufacturers to equip a production car with four-wheel driveFour-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
, in the shape of the 1967 Jensen FF (Ferguson
Ferguson Research Ltd.
Harry Ferguson Research Limited was a British company founded by Harry Ferguson who was mostly known as "the father of the modern farm tractor"...
Formula). At the time it was hailed as a remarkable development, coming also with anti-lock brakes and traction control
Traction control system
A traction control system , also known as anti-slip regulation , is typically a secondary function of the anti-lock braking system on production motor vehicles, designed to prevent loss of traction of driven road wheels...
. The car is four inches (100 mm) longer than the Interceptor, although it looks very similar, with a tell-tale addition of extra side vents ahead of the doors on the front flanks (resulting in two vents per side rather than one). Press from the time quote "drag-strip" performance when describing the car. In total 320 FFs were produced; 195 Mark I, 110 Mark II and 15 Mark III.
The Jensen Interceptor R
There were plans, in 2007, for a Jensen specialist based at Cropredy Bridge to rebuild original Interceptors using modern components.In May 2010, Jensen International Automotive was set up, with the financial backing and know-how of Carphone Warehouse founder and chairman Charles Dunstone who joined its board of directors. A small number of Jensen Interceptor Ss, which had started production under a previous company, are being completed by Jensen International Automotive (JIA), in parallel with JIA's own production of the new Jensen Interceptor R; deliveries of the latter have started (beginning of 2011) at the Oxfordshire-based manufacturer and restorer. Tony Banham is JIA's Managing Director.