Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show 2024 - Cars on Saturday the 9th of November, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT. Between 1974 and 1976, the Jensen Interceptor III reached the apogee of its development. Two new body styles — the Convertible and Coupé — were introduced and progressively updated versions of the Chrysler 440ci motor were fitted throughout the range. The interiors were revised one last time and a new range of paint colours was introduced before the Jensen factory closed its doors in May 1976.
The Interceptor III Series 4 was launched at Earls Court in October 1973 just as war broke out in the Middle East and the first of the oil shocks of the 1970s began. For the next 18 months, the motoring industry worldwide was hit hard. For Jensens, reliant largely on sales of the expensive, gas-guzzling Interceptors, the changed conditions wrought havoc with the financial bottom line and being relatively small producers, were perhaps more susceptible than many. Prices rose rapidly after 1973 with the all-up cost of a UK Interceptor rising from £6, 981 in August 1973 to £10, 764 by February 1976. Parts and servicing costs went up in parallel, sometimes too fast for the Spares Department to track the changes and faced with passing on these costs, Jensens began meeting buyer resistance and finally closed their doors in May 1976.
On a happier note, some two years earlier, this Interceptor III Series 4, 9973, looking splendid in Havana Brown (one of 138) with a beige hide interior was united with its first owner. We move forward to 15th October 1989 when it was purchased by its present owner (the car's third) at which point it was placed into storage with very occasional use, being last taxed for road-use in 1991, some 33 years ago. Now partially recommissioned, it is once again up and running but we suggest that a more in-depth overhaul will be required to return the 7. 2-litre GT to the road.
Recently removed from storage, our vendor's ill health has prevented plans for a full restoration going ahead but the decision was taken to attend to the various issues that the period of elongated storage had bought to the fore. This has included a new radiator and replacement upgraded cooling fans supplied by Martin Robey, replacement hoses with a new thermostat and thermal switch fitted, the carburettor was overhauled, a new mechanical fuel pump was fitted after the fuel tank had been drained and flushed and all brake calipers were stripped and overhauled with new seals and pistons. Bodily, the Jensen appears to be extremely solid throughout, probably down to the fact that it was undersealed prior to going into storage. Internally, originality is key with little being altered, even the electric windows function and the electric fuel cap release functions as they should.
It's accompanied by the factory build sheets, the original handbook and service book, the original tool roll and jack and a history file with older MOT Certificates, various invoices and interestingly, both factory-supplied keys still remain. A superb rolling project that could, with a little work, be used exactly as is or, with a programme of more intense rectification, you could end up with a stunning Jensen that must surely be one of the lowest mileage examples anywhere.
