Jensen Interceptor to ekscytujący anglo-amerykański grand tourer. Powstawał w latach 1966-76 i był jedynym modelem marki, wytworzonym w większej liczbie egzemplarzy. Zastępował model C-V8, przejmując jego układ jezdny i jednostki V8 Chryslera. W zamian otrzymał za to piękne, całkowite stalowe nadwozie, które było projektem włoskiego Carrozzeria Touring. Od 1971 roku zaoferowano jednostkę o pojemności zwiększonej do 7,2 l, dostępnej w dwóch wariantach. Ten mocniejszy, zasilany trzema dwugardzielowymi gaźnikami, był najpotężniejszym, jaki wypuściła marka. Nazywał się Jensen SP, rozwijał 330 KM i powstał w jedynie 232 egzemplarzach. To jest jeden z nich. Ma szlachetnie spatynowane, skórzane wnętrze, piękny kolor lakieru i oryginalny zestaw narzędzi. Od nowości jeździł po niemieckich drogach, a w rękach obecnego właściciela pozostaje od 2016 roku. Wejść w jego posiadanie będzie można było podczas aukcji RM Sotheby’s, 13 lutego 2021 w Paryżu. Uzyskana cena to 57500 euro (ok. 258,5 tys. zł).

Stephan Bauer ©2020 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Link: https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/pa21/paris/lots/r0017-1973-jensen-interceptor-sp/1018606

1973 Jensen Interceptor SP
Sold For €57,500

RM | Sotheby’s – PARIS 13 FEBRUARY 2021 – Gold Collection
Chassis No. 1328602

Offered from the Gold Collection
Highly desirable SP model, the most powerful Jensen ever made, one of only 232 built
German delivery example
Retains its original interior

Alan and his brother Richard Jensen first became involved with car design and construction in 1925 when their efforts to improve on the styling and performance of an Austin Seven Chummy attracted much favourable attention. A few Jensen-bodied Fords were produced in the mid-1930s before a more serious manufacturing effort commenced in 1938. After World War II, Jensen kept itself afloat by producing bodies for other manufacturers, most notably Austin-Healey, while producing its own stylish GTs in limited numbers. It was not until the Interceptor’s arrival in 1967 that cars began to leave the West Bromwich factory in more substantial numbers.

With the Interceptor’s introduction, Jensen switched from glassfibre to steel for its car bodies, though underneath the preceding C-V8’s chassis, running gear and 6,276 cc Chrysler engine remained substantially unchanged. With around 280 bhp on tap, performance was more than adequate, The Motor recording a top speed of 140 mph with 100 mph arriving from a standstill in 19 seconds. Four-wheel servo-assisted Dunlop discs looked after the braking while the ride quality could be varied by the Armstrong Selectaride dampers’ dashboard control. Leather upholstery, reclining front seats, and walnut veneer trim were all standard features of this Vignale-styled Anglo-American GT, while automatic transmission was the choice of almost all buyers. The Series II incorporated revised front suspension, Girling brakes, and a redesigned interior, while the Series III, introduced in October 1971, came with a 7.2-litre engine, better seats, central locking, and GKN alloy wheels.

According to the Jensen Museum, this Interceptor is one of just 232 factory 7.2-litre Six-Pack “SP” cars built, with triple carburation that helped produce an impressive 385 bhp, making it the most powerful Jensen ever offered and highly coveted by collectors today. Delivered new to Germany and first registered in June of 1973, it has remained there since new. Acquired by the consignor in 2016, it is showing just 2,307 km on the odometer, although true mileage is believed to be closer to 102,307 km from new. It features a comfortably inviting, lightly-patinaed original leather interior with air conditioning, power windows and automatic transmission, as well as superb paintwork and original tool roll, making this exciting Anglo-American grand tourer a very rare find.