1969 Jensen Interceptor

Lot details
Registration No: YTY857H
Chassis No: 115/3520
Mot Expiry: Jan 2013

Bearing considerable resemblance to the short-lived Brazilian GT car, the exotically named Brasinca Uirapuru, Jensen's replacement for the C-V8 was unveiled in 1966 and, by calling it Interceptor the company revived a name it had first employed in the 1950s. However, the newcomer broke several of the firm's established traditions in that the design was outsourced - to Carrozzeria Touring - rather than penned in-house, and the bodies were made of steel rather than glass reinforced plastic. The early shells were also built in Italy, by Vignale, prior to a production line being established at Jensen's Kelvin Way plant in West Bromwich. Power was supplied by a 6276cc (383ci) Chrysler V8, driving through either a four-speed manual or three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission to an LSD-equipped Salisbury rear axle. The luxurious specification included electric windows, reclining seats, wood-rim steering wheel, radio with twin speakers, electric clock and reversing lights. MKI production ran for some three years before the model was supplanted by the only mildly modified MKII Interceptor. The MKIII variant followed two years later and was still in manufacture when the company entered receivership during 1976, by which time a total of 6,408 Interceptors are understood to have been built.

The right-hand drive MKI Interceptor being offered was supplied new to Rossleigh Jensen Ltd of Glasgow in 1969 and sports Silver bodywork complemented by Black leather upholstery, and is equipped with the optional automatic gearbox. It is described by the vendor as "a truly beautiful Interceptor, which is superb to drive in every respect" and comes complete with: factory inspection sheets, release notice, particulars sheet and dating certificate; invoices amounting to circa £6,000 for work done by marque specialist Richard Appleyard since 2009, and a set of four original Rostyle chrome wheels. 'YTY 857H' is MOT'd until January next year and its odometer currently displays an unwarranted 45,171 miles.