The Jensen Interceptor was a sporting GT-class car hand-built in the United Kingdom by Jensen Motors between 1966 and 1976. The car broke with Jensen tradition by having a steel bodyshell instead of glass-reinforced plastic and by having the body designed by an outside firm, Touring of Italy, rather than the in-house staff. The early bodies were Italian-built, by Vignale, before production began in West Bromwich. Jensen Interceptor. ... Automakers, also known as carmakers, automobile manufacturers, motor manufacturers, or the automobile industry are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ... 1938 Jensen 3. ... The Jensen C-V8 was a sports car. ... It has been suggested that Vehicle size class be merged into this article or section. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Internal combustion engine. ... In mechanics, a transmission or gearbox is the system of gears and/or the hydraulic system (called variously hydrodynamic, fluid or automatic transmission) that transmits mechanical power from a prime mover—such as an engine or electric motor—to a typically rotary output device at a lower angular momentum but... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A grand tourer (Italian: Gran Turismo), (initialised GT), is a high-performance automobile designed for long-distance driving. ... 1938 Jensen 3. ... The composite Rutan VariEze, a home-build light aircraft Glass-reinforced plastic (GRP), is a composite material or fiber-reinforced plastic made of a plastic reinforced by fine fibers made of glass. ... Touring was an Italian automobile design and coachbuilding firm in the 1950s. ... Tatra 613 coupe Vignale - 1969 The Vignale designed Tatra 613-4 Mi Long Model 1995. ... Map sources for West Bromwich at grid reference SO9992 West Bromwich is a town in the English county of the West Midlands, five miles north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London to Holyhead trunk road. ...

The engine was a Chrysler V-8 initially of 6276 cc (383 c.i.) with optional manual (Mk I, only few built) or TorqueFlite automatic transmissions driving the rear wheels through a Powr-Lok differential in conventional Dana rear axle. The engine grew to 7212 cc (440 c.i.) in late 1971 with 4-bbl carburation. The SP (Six-Pack) model of 1971-73 offered 3x2-bbl carburation, only 232 built and has the distinction of being the most powerful car ever to have been made by Jensen.

The Mk II was announced in October 1969, revised frontal styling and vented disc brakes. The Mk III of 1971 had revised seats, fully-cast alloy wheels plus some other improvements. The Mk III was divided to G-, H- and J-series, depending on the production years. The "J" version of Interceptor III was the most luxurious Jensen built.

Jensen were one of the first manufacturers to equip a production car with four-wheel drive, in the shape of the 1967 Jensen FF (Ferguson Formula). At the time it was hailed as a remarkable development, coming also with anti-lock brakes and traction control. The car was four inches (100 mm) longer than a 'standard' Interceptor, with the addition of two side vents on the front flanks. Press from the time quote "drag-strip" performance when describing the car. 320 Mk I, 109 Mk II and 15 Mk III FFs were made.^[1] This article is missing citation of sources. ... The Jensen FF was an all wheel drive GT car produced by the British manufacturer Jensen between 1966 and 1971. ... Ferguson Research Ltd. ...

Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974)

A convertible with powered soft top was introduced in 1974 mainly intended for the American market but also sold in Europe. 267 convertibles were made.^[1] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1400x1050, 129 KB) Beschreibung Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Jensen Interceptor ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1400x1050, 129 KB) Beschreibung Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Jensen Interceptor ...

Rarer still is the Coupe version with just 60 made^[1], derived from the convertible and introduced in 1975, just a year before the company's demise. It could be said though this version detracted from the rakish, stylish looks of the GT.

The Interceptor was briefly re-introduced in the 1980s as the Series 4 (S4), as a low-volume 'specialist' motor car in much the same way Bristol continue to market and manufacture their cars. Though the body remained essentially the same, a newer, so called 'cleaner', engine was used and the interior slightly re-designed with the addition of 'sports' front seats as opposed to the armchair style of the earlier models. Bristol Cars is a manufacturer of hand-built luxury cars, based at Filton, near Bristol, England. ...

It wasn't to be, however. The then owner sold up in 1988 to an engineering company believed to be in a stronger position to manufacture the car, and they did commence development work on a series 5 (S5) Interceptor which lasted until 1993, until once again receivers were called in. The end of "Gentleman's Express".

A brand new Jensen, the SV8, was created in 2001. It was a two-seater sports model, around the size of a Porsche 911, and was priced at £40,000. Production ceased in 2002, with the company going bankrupt after only a handful of cars were produced. Porsche 911 in hillclimb The Porsche 911 (pronounced as nine eleven) is a sports car made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. ...

Jensen Interceptor in Popular Culture

Interior of an Interceptor

• Jason King played by Peter Wyngarde drove an Interceptor in his eponymous TV series.
• Harry Rule, played by Robert Vaughn, drove a metallic brown Jensen Interceptor in the 1972/73 series of "The Protectors".
• 'Commander Straker' (Ed Bishop) drives an Interceptor in episode 'Confetti Check A-OK' of UFO (TV series), rather than his usual turbine-car.
• Inspector Lynley (Nathaniel Parker) drives one in the earlier seasons of "The Inspector Lynley Mysteries". He drives a Bristol in the later seasons.
• A 1976 Brienze Blue Jensen Interceptor Series 3 Saloon was driven by The Saint in the six made-for-TV movies in 1989 starring Simon Dutton as The Saint. This particular car was supplied directly by Jensen, who upgraded the front grill, wheels, and other accessories make it look more like the Series 4. After filming, the Saint's Jensen Interceptor was anointed with a plaque on the dashboard heralding its Saintly duties, and sold to a Doctor in England.
• Quoted in the track 'Teenage Dad On His Estate' by Morrissey on the deluxe edition of 2002's You Are The Quarry - "Teenage dad on, on his estate; He's happy - so leave him alone; With his baby and his modest home; He's happy - so leave him alone; With his Jensen Interceptor; It's just a runaround"
• Also "The Royal" A ITV hospital series driven by the hospital administrator
• Vinnie Jones suffers an Interceptor breaking down in a 2007 commercial advertisement for the RAC. The fault is apparently rectified by replacement of the air filter.
• Jensen Interceptor is referenced in the lyrics of the song "Goodbye Mr. Good Guy" on Dave Edmunds' album "Repeat When Necessary".
• for other appearances see the Internet Movie Cars Database at IMCDb

Image File history File links Jensen_Interceptor_Dashboard. ... Image File history File links Jensen_Interceptor_Dashboard. ... Jason King was a UK television series produced from 1971 to 1972. ... Peter Wyngarde in an episode of The Champions (1968). ... Ed Bishop (1932-2005), as he appeared in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey (where he played the Captain of the Aries 1B space-station-to-moon shuttle, in a role which first featured dialogue: the dialogue was later cut from his scenes). ... UFO was a British television science fiction series created by Gerry Anderson and produced by Andersons and Lew Grades Century 21 Productions for Grades ITC Entertainment company. ... Bristol Cars is a manufacturer of hand-built luxury cars, based at Filton, near Bristol, England. ... The Saint refers to the fictional character created by Leslie Charteris in one of the following contexts: Simon Templar, the character also known as The Saint (main article on this topic) The Saint (TV series), a TV series that ran from 1962 to 1969, starring Roger Moore as Simon Templar. ... Simon Dutton is a British actor, best known for playing the title role of Simon Templar in an ill-fated 1989 television revival of The Saint. ... Steven Patrick Morrissey (born May 22, 1959) is an English singer and songwriter from Manchester, England. ... Vincent Peter Jones (born 5 January 1965 in Watford) is an English born footballer (although he later represented Wales) turned actor. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini era. ... The Royal Automobile Club is a private Gentlemens Club and is not to be confused with the RAC plc. ... The Internet Movie Cars Database (IMCDb) is similar to IMDb but instead of showing the list of actors and the crew it show various cars in films and television series, with various screenshots. ...

References

External references

• Jensen Interceptor: The Complete Story. John Tipler. The Crowood Press Ltd, 2004. ISBN-1-861267-1-18
• The Saint's Jensen Interceptor
• Jensen Cars Norway - Jensen resource
• R.Calver's Jensen marque histories