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Jensen Interceptor MkIII

Jensen Interceptor MkIII

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Jensen Interceptor MkIIIJensen Interceptor MkIIIJensen Interceptor MkIIIJensen Interceptor MkIIIJensen Interceptor MkIII
Jensen Interceptor MkIIIJensen Interceptor MkIIIJensen Interceptor MkIIIJensen Interceptor MkIIIJensen Interceptor MkIII
Jensen Interceptor MkIIIJensen Interceptor MkIIIJensen Interceptor MkIIIJensen Interceptor MkIIIJensen Interceptor MkIII
Jensen Interceptor MkIIIJensen Interceptor MkIII
Lot number 115
Hammer value £14,000
Description Jensen Interceptor MkIII
Registration ONE 460P
Year 1975
Colour Brienze Blue
Engine size 7,212 cc
Chassis No. 22401760
Engine No. 4C13512

Some cars look powerful, some look expensive and a few, a very few, look genuinely beautiful. To achieve all three at once is a real achievement but it’s a trick that the Interceptor pulls off in spades.

One of the finest GT cars ever made, this handbuilt classic just oozes class fom every pore and makes most other cars look cheap by comparison. Vastly expensive when new, it is still an occasion to see one of the 700 that still survive on the UK’s roads today from the 6,408 made in total.

Small wonder that the Interceptor attracted the glitterati of '60s society when new. Frank Sinatra, Clark Gable, Tony Curtis, Keith Richards, Dusty Springfield, Lord Carrington – the list of famous owners goes on and on, making it all the more amazing that these superb machines are so under-valued today. As rare as any DB Aston, better made and far more potent to boot, they are perhaps the classic car bargain of the modern age.

The last model of the line was the MkIII which came out in 1971 with an even plusher interior, central locking, improved dual-circuit brakes, new GKN alloy wheels and a bigger 7.2-litre engine which produced a mighty 330bhp and 410lb/ft of torque. “The results of pressing the accelerator are pretty electrifying to say the least," wrote Autocar, recording a 0-60 time of 6.4 secs on the way to a top speed of 137mph. "With all that torque on tap and such excellent brakes willing to take any punishment, there are no problems getting along very fast indeed."

First registered in Manchester in August 1975, this MkIII has covered a well documented 82,700 miles in the hands of just six owners. It comes with a large history file from new and was extensively restored by the previous owner between 1989 and 1991 with bills totalling over £50,000. The vendor acquired the car in 1993 and has covered some 3,500 miles since, always keeping the car well-maintained including a gearbox rebuild in 2006 (only 700 miles ago) and a full service with all fluids changed and a new battery fitted earlier this year.

Very little used in the last five years due to illness, the car is said to drive well with an MOT until July 2015 and certainly fired up promptly and ran beautifully as we manoeuvred it for these pictures. The Brienze Blue coachwork remains in good condition as does the cream hide interior although the driver’s seat is now showing signs of wear.

Fitted with a louvred bonnet at some point, the car also has an attractive walnut dash which was an option in place of the usual black vinyl. It also comes with a copy of John Tipler’s definitive book on the model, ‘Jensen Interceptor – The Complete Story’.

With James Bond driving an Interceptor in the new 007 novel ‘Solo’ by William Boyd, we feel sure that interest in this long under-valued model can only go one way…

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