1973 Jensen Interceptor III Restomod
“ Jaw Dropping One-Off Restomod ”
Purchased as a project from Guernsey after lying abandoned for 15 years, ‘Jennifer’ was then subject to a complete, bare-metal restoration that took five years to complete.

Background
The Jensen Interceptor might just be the ultimate 60’s/70’s bruiser: originally fitted with a 6.3-litre Golden Commando V8 engine and an automatic gearbox called the TorqueFlite, the Interceptor – Interceptor! – is as brutal as it is handsome.

Styled by Carrozzeria Touring of Italy, it was handbuilt in the West Midlands between 1966 and 1976 from steel girders by men with proper names like Bob and Steve and George. Hell, even the rear axle was named after an English city that attracts Russian assassins like bears to a bee hive.

Still not enough to tempt you?

Aside from the joy of a world in which we can buy a car with an engine called Golden Commando, we would also point out that Jensen offered a 7.2-litre/440cu/in V8 option, the so-called TNT engine for those of you for whom 383cu/in is too lily-livered.

The larger engine, which you see in the car we’re offering here, endows the Interceptor with a top speed of almost 140mph and a 0-60mph time of 6.9 seconds; this thing is so macho you fill it with five-star testosterone instead of petrol…

Still not satisfied? How about the fact that the FF, or Ferguson Formula, was the first road-going four-wheel-drive production car in the world?

And the first to offer anti-lock brakes and traction control courtesy of the wonderfully named Dunlop Maxaret, a system so advanced it was modelled on that used on the English Electric Lightning, among others.

Yup, you could buy a Jensen with the braking system of a fighter plane.

Just 6,408 were built and the attrition rate was high, which means that survivors are either rotten or will have been restored and treasured. Like this one.

Overview
Purchased as a project from Guernsey after lying abandoned for 15 years, ‘Jennifer’ was then subject to a complete, bare-metal restoration that took five years to complete.

Mind you, this was a Proper Job.

The 7.2-litre V8 engine was disassembled and found to be in good order, and the air-conditioning even still had pressure; taken together, it was believed that the recorded mileage was correct.

Time had taken its toll though, and after being stripped down and assessed, the process of letting new metal let in commenced. Mike Wood of Bones Garage fitted a few new panels too, including the inner and outer sills and the floorpan.

Changes were also made to the Interceptor’s standard panels including subtly widening the front and rear wings, fabricating a more aggressive cowl for the bonnet, modifying the front and rear valances to give a cleaner look, fitting modern door mirrors, and removing the door handles completely.

Because this was no ordinary restoration, it was then painted in Aston Martin Mercury Silver.

The suspension is now via modern coil overs, with a sophisticated four-point linkage at the rear courtesy of the experts at Wisbech Engineering, and Rocket Racing supplied the 17-inch alloy wheels that were needed to accommodate the uprated Fosseway four-pot brake calipers and ventilated discs.

A new three-speed automatic transmission and torque convertor connect the rebuilt engine with the rear axle – and despite its good condition, the opportunity was taken to beef up the engine with uprated timing gear and an electronic ignition system plus an Edelbrock ‘Performer’ package that comprises a replacement camshaft and lifters, roller rockers, a performance inlet manifold and carburettor, aluminium ‘Big Valve’ cylinder heads, and a custom-fabricated stainless-steel exhaust system.

The result is around 315bhp, and an exhaust note that is operatic in its range and intensity.

Of course, the interior received the same tender ministrations and now includes a retro-looking DAB headunit, a Moto-Lita steering wheel, and a lightweight air-conditioning system that runs modern R134a gas.

Sergents Auto Trim Ltd put its skills to good use by fitting modified Jaguar front seats, and its work included black diamond stitching and embossing the Jensen logo on their headrests. The same firm also fitted matching leather door cards along with a black Alcantara headlining with diamond stitching and custom-made carpets.

Nicknamed ‘Jennifer’, it formed part of a private collection for five years before moving in to the seller’s hands a couple of years ago – and even though it was completed about seven years ago, it’s only covered a thousand miles or so since.

Estimate: £45,000 - £60,000

View Current Bid Price HERE