Solid Big Block Project: 1974 Jensen Interceptor
Of all the things that have been said about the Jensen Interceptor, I think maybe Jay Leno summed it best when he commented, “It’s like a Dodge Coronet that went to college at Oxford”, referring to a restored 1974 model that appeared on his Garage show. In a period when the oil crisis was on everybody’s mind and putting a damper on performance offerings, a GT-styled car with a big block under the hood was something special to get excited about during the mid-seventies. This one’s a non-running project, but it seems to have some decent materials to work with and is probably well worth the effort it will take to get this Jensen back on the road.
Lift the hood and most spectators who aren’t familiar with the make will be surprised to see a Chrysler 440 powering the Interceptor. In the car’s earlier days, a 383 was standard equipment, but as this engine started to be detuned, the 440 was deemed a better choice for the later Mark III offerings. The big block is not currently running, with no specifics given by the seller as to why, but he does say everything is all there and believes it wouldn’t take much to get it going again. The 440 is mated to a TorqueFlite automatic, but there’s no mention of its present health state.
Our history lesson here is that this Jensen spent its formative years in Portland, Oregon, and then moved to California for an extended stay, with the seller describing it as an excellent original example. Outside, the paint is showing some fading and cracking, but other than some sort of blunder on the driver’s door, the body actually looks pretty good for the most part. That rear window must have won some sort of award for the most massive piece of glass filling up such a small area by comparison.
The interior appears mostly complete, with the seller calling it sun-baked, so some refreshing inside will also certainly be in order. However, the important bones appear to remain strong overall on this one, and there doesn’t seem to be very much serious corrosion hiding, so it’s probably a worthwhile restoration candidate. This sleek car is now in Kennewick, Washington, and can be found here on Facebook Marketplace, where the seller has set his asking price at $8,500. Is this 1974 Jensen Interceptor a project you’d enjoy taking on?
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Comments
There was a time when the Mopar 440 under the hood was probably considered the least special part of a Jensen Interceptor. Today, a Jensen Interceptor project is probably the least expensive way to get a Mopar 440 in a sporting two-door body. Just think how much Charger R/T or Road Runner you could get for $8,500.
And considering, when current, a Jensen Interceptor was at least a couple of steps up in class to the Charger or Road Runner. Unbelievable today, how much denero even a rusted out hulk of either of those two examples will cost..
I’ll bet the restoration cost of this Jensen will blow away a same condition Charger or RR, so an $8,500 starting price does not guarantee that this will end up being a bargain in comparison.
The horn?
Maybe two doors and a valve cover!!
I have never see one of these with a manual transmission. Did they even offer one? It would be an interesting drive with a stick. I have no interest in an automatic. Does anyone out there know? I never drove an Interceptor but driven a few Jensen Healeys…..
Right on about automatics. They are like a condom. You miss the whole experience.
Only 50 manuals were made and they were all Series 1 RHD cars.
Were any of the manual trans cars also the Fergusen 4wd?
Thanks , Larry! I learned something new!!
That is so sad, a sports car with an automatic!
Sale Pending.
I certainly wouldn’t want to break the rear glass on one of these… Yikes!! Talk about probably being impossible to find!!! Of course I could be dead wrong and somewhere in England there is a warehouse with a half a dozen!!
Well worth the money. Who’s got the secret stash of parts?
The tin termites and sketchy electrics were the Achilles heel for these cars
What a surprise! Where did this come from?
Always wanted one for some odd reason lol, And why does the rear view of it remind me of that big smiley face spaceship from the cartoon movie “HEAVY METAL”?
These are grand tourers not sports cars always wanted one the interior on this one is downright scary that wood veneer on the console is trashed and seats are going to be expensive they look like suede but could be crumbling leather
One of the best cars I have owned and driven. Miss this monster.