1970 Jensen Interceptor Mk II

Having had a significant sum invested in recommissioning it following more than a decade in dry storage, ‘R 140’ is an unusually good example of the ever-popular Jensen Interceptor.

Built on the 3rd of April 1970 and fitted with the 6.3-litre V8 and an automatic gearbox, the odometer shows just 67,000 miles and it comes with servicing and maintenance records dating back to the year of its birth.

The accompanying Statement of Origin confirms the Cassis Red with black leather it features today is its original colour scheme, something the seller was keen to preserve when he invested £8,000 in a respray only a couple of months ago.

The Cassis Red paint was applied just eight weeks ago; the same colour it left West Bromwich in in 1970, the respray set the seller back around £8,000.

There are older invoices on file for rechroming too, both inside and out, as well as many others from what appears to have been a refresh of the coachwork in around 2020.

The paintwork is 1970s-vibrant, which is high praise; after all, if you’re going to buy a 1970s bruiser then you might as well go all-in and choose one with a period vibe, right?

The 15-inch wheels, which have some peeling paint and tarnishing to the chrome but are otherwise in good order, are fitted with matching 205/65R15 Marshal Power Racer II. All have good tread but they’re getting on now and have cracks in the sidewalls, so will need to be replaced.

Nonetheless, we will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The Tudor Webasto sunroof was fitted in 2017, with the bill running to four figures. It is in a very good condition with no rips, tears or other damage. The same can be said of the matching red vinyl roof – and who doesn’t fancy owning a car with a vinyl roof?

Of course, the Jensen has picked up a few blemishes in its half-century and these include a couple of dents to front bumper; some pitting to the bottom of the nearside door as well as a few chips to the glazing; a scratch near the Jensen badge on the nearside rear wing; overspray on the rubber boot seal; rust along the top of the tailgate; a crack in the nearside rear lamp; light scratches to the rear window; heavy polishing marks on the offside rear wing above the Jenson badge; some damage to the bottom of the offside door; and some wobbly metal along the edge of the offside front wing near the bonnet.

The windscreen seal has also perished, as have the rubber overriders on the rear bumper, the door striker mounts, and some of the window seals.

The interior is a little more lived-in than the coachwork but the fact we can’t pinpoint much for the new owner to do speaks volumes.

Because a car like this is generally enhanced with a bit of character; most of us are romantics at heart, and to have direct links to previous owners via patinated seats and a lightly polished steering wheel is all part of the appeal.

Not that it has been neglected because paperwork on file suggests the seats were rebuilt with new webbing in 2016, with new wool carpets fitted in the same year. The headlining appears to have been replaced a couple of years later, and the resulting cabin is both comfortable and attractive.

It boasts a Voxson 8-track stereo too, complete with a copy of The Carpenters’ Close To You, which took at least one of straight back to the long, hot summer holiday of 1976. We haven’t tested it, and we note the rear speakers are probably past their best too, but it’s a cool conversation piece if nothing else.

Other reassuring signs include the presence of Jensen-branded front seatbelts, a windscreen sticker proclaiming membership of the Jensen Owners’ Club, and taut elasticated pockets on the back of the front seats.

As for flaws, the coolant temperature gauge is not working, the tachometer works intermittently, and we aren’t convinced the fuel gauge is accurate either.

The headlining has also drooped and has split underneath the driver’s sunvisor, the top of the dashboard is peeling away at the edge, the trim around the rearview mirror is cracked, the trim around the rear parcel shelf has deteriorated, the driver’s door armrest is damaged, and there are a couple of extraneous mounting holes to the left of the gearlever.

The seller treated the Interceptor to a service as part of its recommissioning, and other notable repairs on file include:

· 2002 – a new engine bay and dashboard wiring loom by Martin Robey at a cost of £2,885

· 2002 – an engine rebuild by Robinson Engineering at a cost of around £2,000

· 2004 – reconditioned gearbox from Rejen Sales at a cost of £695

· 2012 – reconditioned rear leaf springs

As you can see, the V8 starts well and revs nicely, with a good induction rasp and an even better exhaust note from the twin stainless-steel system.

The oil pressure gauge doesn’t move very far but given the fact three of the other Jaeger instruments aren’t working properly means it is impossible to tell whether it is the gauge or the engine. (Ditto the voltmeter, whose needle remains to the left-hand side of the dial.)

The engine bay is in a decent condition but if you were to feel the need to spruce it up a bit then few would accuse you of being overly fastidious.

The underside has a good coat of underseal, some of it fresh. However, some of the older stuff has cracked in places to reveal corrosion; best, we think, to get someone to go over the whole of the underneath, scraping any loose protectant away before treating the rust and resealing it.

It might be worth asking ‘em to remove the overspray that’s there too, and perhaps ask your local garage to pop a new spare tyre on while the spare wheel is out of its cradle.

Having pointed that corrosion out, it is also worth mentioning that while the Jensen doesn’t have a current MoT certificate (the last expired in 2018) it has never been issued with an advisory in its life, which has got to be worth something.

The recent Vehicle History Check is also clear and the history file extends to 167 pages of photographs, some of which have multiple sheets on them.

These include the Statement of Origin confirming its build details, a good selection of MoT certificates, half-a-dozen expired tax discs, paperwork for maintenance and repairs dating back to 1970, and a photocopy of its original logbook.

It even has the 25-page Inspection Sheet from the Jensen Finishing Line when it was in the process of being built.

Oh, and the registration number will stay with the car – and buying a number that wouldn’t be cheap.

Being offered with a guide price of between £35,000 and £45,000, the need for a little further work is reflected in the fact that the seller is happy to offer it with no reserve.

Yes, that’s right: It will be going to a new home once the very first bid has been placed.

If you’ve ever been tempted to bid on an Interceptor – and if you haven’t then you might like to ask someone to check for a pulse – your time has come.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.