Jensen Interceptor Road Test

I have been recently been taking a journey through the back–lot that is my memory these days, reflecting upon the experiences of my past and coming up with some real treasures. Don’t get me wrong, I am not about to go off and start lilting at windmills or something like that, but I have just had a period of melancholyness, if there is such a word, and if there is, I apply it to an automotive topic

A time for reflection perhaps, that may have something to do with recently reaching the half–century, which means that unless I get to the ton, I have lived for most of my life already.

That being the case, I realise that it could be all downhill from here. However, I have not quite reached the stage of checking for nasal hair, so I don’t think I am doing too bad so far.

I think what started my ramble through the synapses was a recent sojourn to the old alma mater of Oxford, accompanying some visiting American friends. When thinking about that historic city I started reminiscing about life, with all its coincidences.

Two Friends, Each With a Jensen Interceptor

Among my thoughts I recalled to mind a particular friend who owned two cars of the same marque, and how had wanted to sell one of them. Another friend, whom I shared a rented house with, was in the market for a car at the same time and I managed to put the two of them together. The result was that money changed hands and I now had two friends who were both proud owners each of a Jensen Interceptor.

Even back then it was a rare car to see on the uncluttered highways and byways of this green and wonderful land. Therefore, for there to be two of them within the same circle of friends, as I look back on it, was quite extraordinary. Back then a group of us would annually attend the British Grand Prix in one of these motors, and this was seen as a much–to–be–looked–forward–to outing on our calendar.

Cruising in 7.2–Litres of Gentleman’s Express

In those days the race would alternate yearly between Silverstone and Brands Hatch, and I now find myself wondering why did they ever stop the idea? Brands always gave better racing (they did that then) and spectator view in my opinion. Anyway, we would all leave on a Friday, and return on the Sunday in 7.2–litres of Gentleman’s express.

Flooring the loud pedal in this car would see the fuel gauge rapidly heading off left, but it didn’t seem as expensive in those days, nor did it seem to matter. In any case, it ensured a quick return along the M40 to where we could turn on the TV to watch the re–run, listening to Murray Walker’s classic commentaries, “And there goes………………, here comes – and oh my goodness, it’s James Hunt… I think?” Ah yes, those were happy and simple days.

The coincidence during my period of reflection on life continued, as recently, when returning from Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground with a Ride Drive customer on an advanced driving course, and travelling through Walcote village on the A4304, I noted a Jensen Interceptor on the front drive of a house that adjoined the main road.

Seeing This Once Grand Car
Decaying Through Neglect was Heartbreaking

What a sad sight this was. The car was just rotting to death, as its condition appeared already beyond terminal. Here was a car that was once a great piece of British automotive artwork and was now lying in decay with its time ever nearing the scrap yard.

I regarded the Jensen Interceptor as an example of a car that once offered a real alternative to an Aston Martin, but with more grace, and to see this one in such a state was heartbreaking. I found myself for a moment wanting to take it home with me and care for it before it finally collapsed in a pile of oxidised metal. However, reality suggested it was already beyond anyone’s help.

Tomorrow’s another day, as the saying goes, and we move on, but I will probably pass that way again soon and no doubt that sad old Jensen will still be there, looking even more miserable.

My Ride Drive Assignment
Was to Complete a Road Test on a Jensen Interceptor

However, you cannot begin to imagine my surprise when on the following day, Jules at the Ride Drive office called to offer me an assignment. He said he wanted me to contact a company called Great Escape Classic Car Hire and arrange to pick up a Jensen Interceptor!

"Take the car out for the day and put it through its paces," he said. "Take your camera too and get some shots, and when you have done, can you do a write–up on it for the Ride Drive website?"

There was no asking me twice, and as I was getting an allowance for petrol too, I was all set for a fantastic day out. Right, better get in touch then, I thought. So, that was the beginning of an adventure, during which I came to try out not just one classic car, but two!

Picking up the phone I was soon in touch with the man in charge, Graham Eason. Great Escape Classic Car Hire is a small Warwickshire based company that hires classic cars to the public, and no doubt the film and TV industry also.

The Business was Started as Others Were Doing it Badly

Graham has been running his business from his premises near Stratford on Avon since earlier this year, and explained that he arrived at the idea from having once tried to hire a Porsche 911 for a friend’s 40th birthday. This had proved to be more difficult than he thought it needed to be, and decided to not only start his own classic car hire business, but to do it better.

Graham’s background was in marketing and business strategy. Also he has always enjoyed cars – Alfa Romeo’s in particular. He felt he could improve on this type of car hire business, particularly in terms of making great classics more accessible to the public by incorporating delivery to the customer.

Graham built a website, complete with the functionality that allows customer to complete the total process of reservation, booking and payment on–line. So far, Great Escape is the only classic car hire company website to offer these on–line facilities.

I was Like an Excited Kid Waiting for Christmas

As the appointed date had almost arrived, the sense of anticipation on the previous evening made me feel like a child at Christmas Eve, wishing for the next day to be here now, so as to dive into the presents. I just knew this was going to be worth the wait.

I met up with Graham and his Jensen on a fine summer’s day in August. This was one of those occasions when it felt good to be alive, and upon driving through the gates to his premises I saw the car, thirty–plus years old, looking as fine as the day she drove out of the West Bromwich factory and waiting for me to enjoy.

At this time, Great Escape was in a position to offer customers a 1974 Mk3 Jensen Interceptor and a 1992 Alfa Romeo Spyder. This second car is the one I will be writing about next edition, as I also performed a road test with this car. More recently, a 1988 5.3–litre Jaguar XJS convertible and a 1959 Morris Minor 1000 Traveller have been added to his fleet, and there are plans for more cars too.

A Great Deal of Time Had Been Spent Sourcing the Right Car

Having greeted and made our introductions, Graham explained a little of the car’s history. "We spent a long time looking for the right car,” he said, “and finally bought this one because it was structurally in excellent condition. It needed an engine overhaul, as it had spent a lot of time standing around. We had the motor rebuilt to standard specification, so as to make the driving experience more enjoyable and reliable for our customers."

Well, I don’t know about the oily bits, but the bodywork looked superb. These cars have a presence about them, and even when stationary, with the sun catching panels along the side making the Brienz Blue coachwork sparkle, I was already flying through the Cotswold lanes before I even opened the door.

Some History About the Jensen Interceptor Model

The Interceptor was first launched in 1966, and in various stages of its development, production continued uninterrupted until 1976; a run that ended with the Mk3.

After a break in time, this being brought about by the economic collapse of the company in that year, in 1984 the Mk4 was launched by a newly revived Jensen company, hoping to bring the marque back to life. However, this brave attempt again ended in collapse, and in 1991 the end had come.

The Interceptor model represents a combination of body styling by Italian coachbuilder, Vignale. In Mk3 form, of which 4,255 were built, the car was powered by a 7.2–litre Chrysler V8, producing 330bhp, with an official top speed of 133mph. This third incarnation of the model was produced from 1974 to 1976, and as an improvement over previous editions, sported vented front brake discs, air conditioning as standard and alloy wheels.

Ownership of a Jensen Interceptor Required Very Deep Pockets

Ownership, however, came at a astronomical price, as in its day the big car cost more to buy than the equivalent Aston Martin, double the price of an E–Type Jaguar, returned at best a meagre 13–miles to a gallon of fuel. Repair and servicing bills were such that one could have easily mistake the invoice figures as being telephone numbers.

So you see, ownership of this car was not to be taken lightly. However, and undeniably, this was and still is a fast, luxurious, and certainly a car that has a presence on the road that it has made completely its own.

As Graham introduced me to his car I suddenly felt a great sense of awe as I realised that I was in the presence of something really rather special. Although arguably in its day it could have been regarded as totally ostentatious, here I was looking at a piece of high quality engineering and craftsmanship that represented the once very proud and world–leading era of the true British car industry.

A Piece of Automotive Treasure

Whilst I felt honoured and privileged to be entrusted with taking possession, albeit temporarily, of this fine piece of automotive history, I couldn’t help but feel just a little saddened. Whilst this car indeed represented great times, it also stood as a monument to remind us of what we had lost as a nation.

However, pushing those thoughts aside, I opened the big heavy driver’s door and was instantly met by the strong and luscious smell of fine leather, mixed with other stimulating odours that only the interior of a quality British classic car can produce.

Already I could feel the sap rising and I knew at this point, greater than ever before, that I was in for a real special automotive treat. Today was going to create memories that were indeed going live long with me.

Inserting the key, and giving it a twist, the starter spun the engine feely, sounding not unlike that of a Supermarine Spitfire turning over before its Merlin engine fired. It was that sort of noise, totally stimulating, and one that created a great sense of expectation that something tremendous was about to take place. A second or two later and the big V8 burst into life, rising momentarily before settling down to a soft and unmistakable rhythmic V8–type burble.

Everything About This Car was Just Peotry

This was the stuff that stirs the soul, the like of which automotive poets will write about long after the very last car, as we know it, has gone from the planet. This was going to be an awesome experience and it was going to be one that was all mine to enjoy.

Beaming both on the inside and out, I waved my goodbyes and pointed the long bonnet towards the gate. Where I was going to drive the car mattered not, as this was a day for the journey, not the arrival.

As I motored my way through town to collect the wife and the picnic hamper, I suddenly became aware that I was still grinning like some demented idiot. It is that sort of car.

Beneath a bonnet, that has the length of a cricket pitch, the lazy V8 purred and burbled as only a V8 can. I was surrounded by hide and dials that just oozed quality from every quarter, as my senses were being invaded by smells of leather and nostalgia.

Driving This Car Made one Feel
Somewhat Aloof as Compared to Other Drivers

I had a feeling of bonhomie to my fellow man, as for the merest second in time, I felt I was slightly better than others on this planet, and had to show graciousness to those less fortunate. It was all rather cosy. More like a gentleman’s Bayswater establishment than a car, where a club soda and cigar would have completed the set.

You have to say they don’t make them like this anymore. Well, perhaps somewhere they do, but if that is the case then mere mortals like us do not get the chance to get behind the wheel of it.

At least through Great Escape the mere mortals can enjoy some motoring grandeur, and I was certainly enjoying mine, driving through town whilst watching people turn, look and follow the car from sight with their gaze.

I could not help but repeatedly catch the reflection in shop windows, and with the electric windows lowered to listen to the engine doing what it should, I was secure with the knowledge that it was ever ready to do its stuff should the right–hand pedal be pressed nearer the deep pile carpet.

Memories Came Rushing Back of Odd Little Features of This Car

Indeed, despite the passing of quite some years since I had been so closely acquainted with one of these beauties, I realised I had forgotten the oddities within the car. I quickly had my memory re–awakened by recognising the fasten seat belt sign near the gear selector, the foot operated dip switch, the ashtrays mounted on the upper area of the front doors; by the quarter light, and exactly where the smoker from the 70’s would want them placed.

I had wondered if I had only remembered this car through rose tinted spectacles, but I needn’t have worried. Yes, it is still a big car, but one that remains so easy to drive. The steering is light and responsive, it has a large airy cabin that lets in plenty of light, this of course being helped by that goldfish bowl of a rear window, also giving excellent visibility. Ideal for parking, and in fact this was the easiest car to park I have driven in many a year.

With wife and picnic hamper collected it was now time to examine the car in greater depth. Heading out of town, and with speed building, the levels of quietness and smoothness of ride were still impressive. Pressing my right foot down even further and the quiet purr of 7.2–litres turned into a progressively louder roar, as the old girl hitched her skirts up and took off for the hills in the distance.

The Technology Might Have Been Dated,
but the Jensen Could Still Fly Through Bends

Yes, it has leaf springs at the rear, but cornering at speed did not worry this old girl, as she held the road like she had always belonged there. This was the technology of the day, and if it was good enough to be fitted to a Jensen back then, it was good enough for me now.

I found that for a large car it could be hustled along quite nicely and would even put many a modern car to shame when taken briskly over the twisty bits. Indeed, stepping on the gas would embarrass plenty more besides.

As I returned back to lesser and more discrete speeds the engine again settled to a lazy burble, but is just so responsive, yet quiet, and a worthy tribute to its makers. At 50mph it only just ticks over at 2000rpm in top gear, taking the car along the road with a level of quietness and refinement that will have me forgiven for raising that old cliché about just being able to hear the ticking of the clock.

Having allowed myself to indulge in some boyish play I pulled myself back to a more sober place and thought about how to conduct some practical research on public opinion about the car. The adventure with the car had been arranged for the purpose of gathering material for an article to be published on the Ride Drive website, so I thought I really should set about my job.

I Parked the Car up and Stood Away to Watch Public Reaction

My trick was to park it up in the market place of the picturesque Cotswold town of Stow On The Wold, and I have to say there was hardly a more fitting venue for such a car. I stood a few feet away, just close enough so that I could see and hear the reaction of passers by. It didn’t take long, and what was heard from many was very much on similar lines.

"A Jensen! Haven’t seen one of these for ages, what a great car, I remember when ………………"

In fact, the car caused quite a stir, and even though it didn’t actually belong to me, I enjoyed a degree of pride as I passed through the collected throng to get into the car. Playing to my audience’s approving looks and nods of agreement, I fired her up and moved off gracefully.

It’s that sort of car. Drivers and pedestrians love it, but I need to correct myself from an earlier statement in which I said they may somewhere make them like this, as now I realise they don’t – not anywhere.

Like all good things there is never enough time to enjoy them completely, and it was far too soon when the sun started falling over the yardarm signalling the coming of the appointed hour at which I had to take this old girl to her home.

Without doubt this is a fantastic car, and when driven through the glorious British countryside, with the sun shining, it rarely does get any better.

I would like to thank Graham Eason of Great Escape Classic Car Hire for making this day possible. It was absolutely wonderful and I know I shall never forget it.

First Published September 2007

Ride Drive would like to thank Great Escape Classic Car Hire for the loan of the car featured in this article. If you would like to know more about the Alfa Romeo Spider, or you would like to enquire about the range of classic cars available for hire, then call Great Escape Classic Car Hire on 01527 893733.

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Jensen Interceptor Road Test