1975 Jensen Interceptor S III

Description

• UNSOLD at auction March 2023
• 7.2-litre V8 
• Meticulously overhauled 
• Originally sold by Charles Follet Ltd London 
• Automatic 
• Air conditioning 
• Optional Tinted glass 
• Full leather interior 
• Original radio 
• Electric windows 

 Sit at the wheel of this Jensen Interceptor S III. You’ll smile as it barks into life, with a twist of the key. 

Then it gets interesting. You’ll be blown away by the addictive noise and colossal ability of this GT. A 0-60 time of 6-7 seconds in a classic car, when most of its peers struggled to crack the ton. This S III Jensen is just getting into its stride at the legal limit.  

Interceptor. Even the name is audacious. But this car lives up to it.  Fantastic Italian styling by Carrozzeria Touring and of course the monstrous 7.2-litre V8. A big, imposing grand tourer with a powerful engine and a sumptuous interior. The Interceptor is an amazing British classic that has few equals. 

History 

• Registered new 1 January 1975 
• Supplied by Charles Follet, London 
• Restored and overhauled 

A UK registered car.  We have been advised by our vendor that  the Jensen was originally registered in the UK in 1975 before being taken to South Africa and registered there in the early 1980’s by the 2^nd owner . It was in his ownership until his death. His son then took on the car to have the restoration work completed before selling.

Our vendor purchased the Jensen from Crossley & Webb, a well-known and respected company in Cape Town SA, and the car was then brought back to the UK and re-registered here in November 2022.

The car underwent a full restoration in South Africa which included mechanically, amongst other things: Suspension joints greased, new brakes, gearbox rebuild, engine top and tailed. There is no rust on the underside.

When our vendor got the car on the ramp, he was not 100% happy with the door seals so they have been redone since returning to the UK.

*Due to South African laws at the time of export, the mph speedometer had to be changed to kmph and that is still retained in the car – the new owner may wish to revert back to the UK speedo. The mileage cannot therefore be confirmed to be genuine at 10,755 km.*

Inside 

• Re-trimmed 
• Soft light great leather 
• Acres of chrome 
• Beautiful switchgear 
• Exceptional condition throughout 
• Lambswool seat inserts 

The interior of the Jensen Interceptor was always special. In this kind of condition, you do get to appreciate just how special.  

All the work carried out inside has used high quality materials. As far as possible the refurbishments have kept the interior of the Jensen all original. Thoughtful details like the original seller dealer plaques go a long way. The door cards, centre console, headlining and all of the trim present beautifully. The wide dashboard, finished in black, looks fantastic. The combination of the angled dials and 3 spoke metal and leather steering wheel is a pure delight. 

Factory extras include electric windows, full tinted glass, full grey leather seats with original sheep skin inserts, air conditioning, chrome door seal trims and chrome kick plates. 

Luxurious, but with a characteristically sporty feel the interior of the Interceptor provides a fantastic driving experience. Do they come much better than this? 

Outside 

• Exceptional condition 
• Full bare metal respray 
• Fantastic Italian GT styling 
• GKN Alloys 
• Bonnet Louvres 

For the body and design of the new Jensen Interceptor, the Company went to Vignale’s drawing board and the workshops of Touring of Milan. They produced a design which was exceptionally stylish. The massively curved rear window was ahead of its time, influencing cars such as the Porsche 924, Citroën SM, and several others. It gave the Interceptor a timeless quality. The overall balance of the body was superb, and unlike many rival GTs of the time, the Interceptor had four seats and a great deal of luggage space. 

In the final versions, the Interceptor was again given some minor changes in appearance, the most notable being new cast-aluminium surrounds for the headlamps, and the incorporation of the side repeater flashers in the side grilles. Under the skin, more significant changes were the introduction of centralised locking and ventilated front disc brakes. In this form, the Jensen Interceptor became the S III. 

Thanks to the extensive work that has been carried out, this Interceptor looks superb. 

Mechanicals 

That 7.2-litre V8 engine engine is the main event, though. It rumbles like rolling thunder and it pulls like an express train. Effortlessly smooth with a fabulous soundtrack 

Mechanically, the Jensen Interceptor is pretty painless. These cars are mechanically tough and relatively straightforward.  The Torqueflite three speed auto is extremely strong and known for its endurance. 

The big V8 starts easily and sounds simply fantastic through the twin pipes. There are no unusual noises, and the engine idles smoothly. Our vendor tells us that the Interceptor drives very well. There is a gorgeous video of the Interceptor on the move, so you can see for yourself.  

Our view 

Our vendor tells us, “This Interceptor has undergone a no expense spared restoration using all original parts and is in exceptional condition”. 

Does a Jensen Interceptor come any better than this one? From the stunning paint job to the plush retrimmed interior, it is beautiful throughout. And then there is that engine. The 7.2-litre V8 looks and sounds fantastic. 

Aficionados will tell you the Mk III Series 4/5 models built between ’74 – ‘76 are the ones to have. They’d be correct. For the rest of us, a Jensen in pristine condition with huge sums spent on it, by somebody else, is the best one. With this one, you get the best of both worlds. 

The best Jensen on the market right now? Probably.  

Please remember, our site uses anti-sniping software which ensures fairness to all bidders. So, if a bid for a lot is received in the last minute, the auction will go into a 2-minute overtime period for each subsequent bid.

Vehicle Location: Newcastle NE6– it’s the responsibility of the buyer to make collection / transportation arrangements directly with the vendor.

Have a question about this Jensen Interceptor? Please contact the Evoke team at auction@evoke-classics.com and we will speak to the vendor on your behalf.

Guide Prices?

We’re different. But you know that. And we’re always honest. In a sector where no two classics are same, how does anyone put a ‘guide’.

Well, everyone knows the broad value of classic, let’s all be honest. So we don’t need to tell you what you already know, do we.

The ‘market’ decides and the old cliché that ‘it’s worth what someone wants to pay’ is no less true. So why kid everyone!

But, because we are different, if it really does matter to you, that’s fine, we want you to be happy. Just drop us a line at auction@evoke-classics.com and one of us will be delighted to ring you back and discuss, it’s what we do.

Tedious but it’s vital you read this, please.

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