Cv-8 stats are amazing, my E90 from the 00's isn't even half a second faster 0-60 although the top speed is limited to 250km/h (I've tried, 260 on the dash 250 gps). Always loved these cars from Grand Tourismo!
In 1984 I was offered a Mk3 Interceptor in very good condition but with a seized engine for 300 pounds, I turned it down as being too much expense fixing the engine... I've regretted that decision ever since.
the engine is the easy part! I missed out on a 50's Tickford Lagonda three litre when I was sixteen. I knew it was rare but even today with the internet I can barely find anything about them, even photos.
One point, the Interceptor was a two wheel drive car. It was the Jensen FF that was AWD, easily recognised by the 2nd vent in the front guard behind the wheel arch due to additional length of the vehicle, it had an early anti-lock breaking system too.
British engineering was always good, the problem was more that the workers "lacked motivation".... I got a TR6 produced in the 70's, a time which was not the best in terms of quality, but I have now had the car for 8 years, after 3 years of restoring it has been problem free for 5 years, so engineering was very good in terms of realiability, if put together in the way it should be. Even the Lucas electrics has not given any problems, not bad for a 50 year old product. I doubt todays cars electrics will work that well after 50 years...!
@@truxton1000 My Honda was taken out (nearly VOR) by a faulty glow-plug (not made by Honda), that overwhelmed the computer with data. Yes I'd fully agree with your comment about how that's gong to play out in 50 years. That said, I'd have designed the software / computer to handle the errors in a way that did not result in a safe mode. If we'd introduced a lot of the Japanese production control methodologies at the time, maybe we'd still have a British Leyland?
What are you saying British cars are pretty amazing even today. I was gonna mention all the British brands I think are good and it's basically all of them...
In March 1969, I thumbed a lift on the A5 in North Wales to a Jensen FF, and the driver stopped! We did 33 miles to Llangollen in 31 minutes, with 4 miles crawling behind a bin lorry. He said his first tyres had lasted 7,000 miles, and his first Chrysler V8 had blown up in Italy, shortly after he'd been cruising at 140mph. By far my most memorable lift - thank you, Charles Fielden (he commuted from his home on Angelsey to his factory in Luton, 250 miles each way).
I grew up in West Bromwich in the 60's/70's and when we were bored towards the end of the school holidays, we'd sit on a wall on Kelvin Way and watch Interceptors come out for a test drive. Always wanted one. Maybe, some day...
Great stuff! My Dad always loved XJs. His pal Stewart was a pub landlord in mid Wales. I used to tag along from time to time, basically to drive my Dad home after he'd had a few. I loved the Jags, but I'll never forget the time Uncle Stewart took us for a spin, in his pale blue Interceptor. at 3am or somat, to the coast, Machynlleth to Dolgellau. It was like a scene out of Withnail and I. We got back to the pub, tipped Uncle Stewart out, and I drove the Interceptor home. My Dad was spark out. I drove to college in it the next day,trying to be nonsh.... Nonchal.... Cool. R.I.P Uncle Stewart!
18:44 Looks like F type taillights on that Jensen concept. I first came upon the Interceptor due to it appearing in the video game, Gran Turismo 4. There's an orange FF at the British Motor Museum and it's a lovely car.
I worked on the replacement for it at Motor Panels, I was told the existing interceptor had 5 inch gas pipes used to make the chassis. There was a quality problem of a scratch found on the roof to every third car until they watched the build and when the tea break whistle blew the quality inspector would throw his clipboard onto the roof as he walked off. happy days.
My dad worked at Jensen and told me story’s about how the cars were produced and the how impressive they looked and felt. They had such a beautiful shape and a bit different to other sports coupes of the era.
As a kid I heard of this car in the UK (me being in Canada) and having the Matchbox Interceptor it was my favourite car as an 8 year old. Saw my first real one at a British Car show in Lindsay ON Canada in 2009. I spent 40 minutes just admiring the lines and taking to the owner. A hulking Chrysler V8 with that British interior and that Italian shape. The best of all worlds .. still one of my coat has no object cars if I ever win a lottery. No cooler car name out there....
"Missed opportunities". If one had to come up with a single phrase to define the British motor industry, that would be it. I so lusted after the Jensen Interceptor when I was lad. And, yes, what a hot name for a hot car.
The Interceptor FF might be my all-time favorite car. Perfect marriage of American muscle car, British refinement, and absolutely futuristic technology.
The coolest car ever. I remember being really excited when I got the FF as a picture card from a packet of PG Tips, the only one I never stuck in the album, I liked it too much. Love and peace.
Do you remember the Renault Fuego (1980 - 1986 in Europe)? The Fuego had a large glass rear hatch. The son of a work colleague of mine had a Fuego and called it "The Gallic Greenhouse" because it got so hot inside the car during the summer months.
The glass hatchback could have been made just down the road from the Jensen factory in West Bromwich, at Chances glass, they also made glass for the lamps in lighthouses! Please correct me if I am wrong?
This brings back memories. A wealthy friend of my late father had a white interceptor in the early 70s. I vividly remember him taking me out for a drive in it and showing off, sounding the horn and waving at random people. 😁
One of my daughter's school friends was called Jensen. Apparently his Dad & Uncle had owned an Interceptor , a restoration project ,for years and were crazy about Jensen cars .👌
For Pete's sake, it's a human being, not a dog! Naming the child after a hobby. He will carry that name for the rest of his life. If he's not going to legally change it once he is old enough to do so.
@@PJay-wy5fx lol , I bumped into Jensen recently . He's a 30 year old , successful married man now. I don't think his name held him back ! Jenson was a popular boys name in circulation late 80's , early 90's , all they did was change one letter.
My best friend, Joe Lowenthal, when I was 14 years old was driven to school in his father's Jensen Interceptor, silver with black leather and I believe the top was black vinyl,(?). I was amazed...even at a school who's students were regularly dropped of in Rolls-Royces...the Interceptor stood out...when I stayed at his home, I would always want to go to the garage to see his father's Jensen and Mr Lowenthal would always take Joe and I for errands or lunch and I was in heaven...I will always consider the Jensen Interceptor a hero car... elegant, stylish, luxurious and fast...I hope someone can one day revive the iconic Jensen brand and create new converts, such as myself. Wonderful, insightful video...thank you for the memories!
I remember way back when I rode a Yamaha RD200 in the 70's (i weighed next to nothing), and this bike would out accelerate most cars of that era, as I entered a dual carriage way I opened up the RD200 full throttle, only to be out accelerated by a car, what car could do that! , and I looked at the rear badge as it passed me "Jensen interceptor"....
I had drove a Jensen Interceptor on streets one day in Oklahoma City in mid-1970s and was told the engine was Chrysler Hemi 426. It belonged to a couple of oil men who had a conglomeration of car, tire and heavy truck facilities. They also had a very nice car museum where the car resided. I was manager of their tire facility when I received a call to come to museum and drive this exotic quality automobile to install new tires at one of our tire shops. It was a beast, requiring careful throttle management!!! I will never forget the extreme refinements in design as well as the monster power of engine.
Great video as usual - And, a special one for me! Although 7,000 miles away now, I was brought-up near the Carter’s Green and Kelvin Way Factories, and saw these fantastic cars being built. I can also remember Jensen assembling the Volvo P1800 in the early to mid 1960s.
An excellent and very thoroughly researched documemtary. I was able to visit the factory in thse mid 1970's a year before its demise in West Bromwich. I was carrying parts when I ran a small transport firm. Always thought the design stylish.
INTERCEPTOR , my grandfathers friend had one in 1972 and took my grandfather and me for a spin around sutton , i have never forgotten that day and always wanted one later in life , it wont ever happen i know but dreaming about owning one is fun too
EastOfBourne ....you've obviously never driven or ridden in an original Shelby Cobra 427 BBF w/a 4spd and locked differential, there's no sound nor acceleration that compares to it, but unlike the Jensen, it handles pretty well....
@@branon6565 And you've obviously never driven a Porsche 911. I had the opportunity to have a cabby in such a car in a race down the Avus in West Berlin in (about) 1972. Believe me, it was not so much accelerating as pulling the fucking trigger! MsG
When I was at school in 1980, a school friend showed me an early Interceptor in his Nan's garage . When his Nan died 10 years later , the relative who left it there when he emigrated to Canada ,mid 70's, had it shipped over there. I was told he had it restored and often wonder if it's still running .
I first fell in love with the Interceptor from watching TV series - I think it was "The Protectors" (correct me if I'm wrong) here in Aussie back in the early 70's. Always loved high performance British luxury like the Interceptor & Aston Martin DBS V8 but here they were always very expensive. As stated in the video when I got older & wanted some V8 muscle had to go for the home grown stuff & ended up with 3 Falcon GT's over the journey. Mind you they're worth a fortune now.
Thanks an excellent account, I always loved the rear window of the various interceptors. Yes I had a poster on my bedroom wall, but never got to own one.
Dad picked me up from school one Sunday in 1972. The tangerine SP was incredible to look at and listen to, but I was 9 and I'm afraid I was just as impressed by the 8 track cartridge and the lambswool. He'd picked it up the day before and was pretty damn pleased with himself. Stopped off on the way home to buy sweets in Hurstpierpoint and walking away he looked over his shoulder (like you do) and saw green fluid pouring onto the concrete. I know now what it is but obvs didn't then, nor did he. RAC took it way and I actually only remember us having it for a few months. I since learned it had a reputation for being a car for the "enthusiast" with its handling and throttle responses being less than predictable. I think he bit off more than he could chew!
Interesting video, the SP at 12.53 is my car and in that shot it was being driven by a journalist in the Netherlands. Great car I still drive it all over Europe when I can.
Thank you ! Beautiful cars i have a vintage Corgi model of the FF that i renovated a few years back, beautiful shape . That seems to be the sad story all to often of the British motor industry What If..........
I remember how underwhelmed I was when the Healy was introduced. It was a bit like an oversized Spitfire with very stupid looking headlamp surround. Herd to think of it as a Jensen.
I nearly brought one in 1987. I was 17 years old. In a local garage. It was emerald green and priced at £3000. But I couldn't get my parents to secure the loan. In some ways I'm glad because I'd of most likely had an accident in it. But a part of me still wishes I owned a Jenson lnterceptor.
I had a ride in the back of a neighbour's Interceptor as a child and I well recall the ease with which it gained speed joining a dual carriageway. The car was faster than the FF with its Dunlop Maxaret 4WD/ALB but that was the more attractive proposition at the time - to me at least, now I'm not so sure.
I found out about this car when i was 10 years old, Use to have to try and explain the car to others as not well known. Even when it was driven in fast and furious 6, people still assumed it was another car. Would still have one today. All you need is an old chassis and £100,000.
I remember seeing the Interceptor convertible prototype being pushed around a yard from a train window in around 1973. There was an old Interceptor parked up against a repair shop in Barbados rusting quietly away .....rear window and all the glass and trim still good!
As a teen in the mid-70s I got a ride in the back seats of an Interceptor to Swanton Morley airport. The main thing I remember to this day is that, even from the rear seat, I could actually see the fuel gauge going down as we drove. Singular!
When I was a kid ,the CV8 is the only reason I watched repeats of The Baron. Oh , and the theme tune by Ted Astley (Pete Townshend's ex father-in-law) 😉
Was born in 1970 and this was my poster car. Still love it today, if I win the BIG one, its on my shopping list. Thanks for covering this story, brilliant as always 👏
I'm truly thankful for your geekishness. A fan of Jensen since the CV8 but didn't know much of the history prior to that. The Interceptor was a timeless classic though there are quite a few of them rusting away in as suburban gardens. A friend who drove one for a couple of days, said you could actually see the fuel gauge needle move.
I had the dubious pleasure, probably during the 1980s, of removing a seized Chrysler 440 from the only one of these I've encountered, and retrofitting a Chrysler 383. As I recall, the used car flipper for whom I did the work wasn't too pleased to have to replace the fan belt due to the shorter block of the 383. Oh, well...major cost overruns sometimes happen.
As a young man working at a used car lot in the late 70's and early 80's, I ran across a 73? Jensen Healey. I had no clue what it was but I was fascinated by European sports cars. My brother was restoring a 63' Triumph TR-4. Never bought it or the Fiat spider hardtop I was lusting for but have cool memories of driving both.
18:35 that Jensen GT prototype is very nice looking. I love the retro call back styling. The proposed price is ridiculous and I'm sure if it was priced more realistic it could have sold because quite a few retro looking cars did very well during that time.
Apart perhaps from the yank dinosaur engines the interceptor was such a modern car and introduced so many modern features...like abs, 4wd and that curved rear screen...that made it still quite modern even 20 years after introduction
@3:39, that is beautiful. The Jensen brothers seemed to have been ahead of the time with fibreglaass panels, seatbelts, a fire extinguisher and even a firstaid kit.
So glad to have driven one 6 years ago. Always loved them since my childhood, a large Blue Box model of an FF for Christmas that my mother threw away and the classy Corgi Junior model that I used to have. But my goodness a wonderful car that I would love own one day. Hey ho! Loved the 2011 design concept, a pity it never made it.
One of the biggest influences on it was the Lowey’s Studebaker Avanti as is quite easy to see. Especially the rear portion. Too bad that was not mentioned.
I've had the opportunity to drive a Jensen Healey several times and I must say it's probably one of the most enjoyable driving experiences I've ever had. I am in love with these little healeys
Jeremy Clarkson said on Top Gear that the steering rack used in the Jensen Interceptor could have come from a Triumph Stag or a riding lawnmower, depending on what was available in the parts bin that week..
Remember, Clarkson played to the crowd. Jensen used the same Adwest steering rack as Aston Martin and Jaguar. When Adwest said they were no longer going to make that rack, all 3 companies had to find a new one. Not as funny as saying it came from a lawn mower is it, but still true.
He also said that Proton cars were built by people who live in trees and wear shoes made from leaves. TG was a comedy show and yet so many take it seriously.
Makers of gorgeous cars with personality like these in Britain were plagued by a lack of the huge funds needed to engineer them for quality and reliability, not to mention worldwide appeal - all criteria for a small company to succeed.
So many interesting details here, very thorough! Feel so sad for the excellent engineering being stuck with the home market with the opposite hand driving of the European neighbours. It takes a lot of flexible and expensive solutions to develop for both.
Well said Tom Hummel. English Adwest/ Cam Gears rack and pinion steering, Proper disc brakes and the Irish FF system were picked up by Ford and Datsun/Nissan. The Sierra XR4X4, Sapphire 4x4 Scorpio 4x4, Escort Cosworth...and Japan's Nissan Skyline R32 copied all the features. Those cars were built down to a price. The real issue is that only Donald Healy and Walter Hays and Nissans Agent K ever saw the importance of export to Left hand Drive Countries that would always pay forward the development budget. It is the shame of the cowardece of directors who couldn't sharpen the pencil before beating the panel's . Donald Healy and Fords Walter Hayes did, but it was Datsun who made money by meeting the regulations, and Ford Of Europe who got money for the US Capri and Merkur. Nissan avoided the All wheel drive conquest of the US because it's AWD Skyline cars couldn't pass the side impact and rust proofing requirements. Jensen could have made it work. It was about building cars down do a price. The UK is still a nation that has an auto industry...it was differing EEC and US regulations that the United Kingdom avoided addressing that ducked the cash reserves. Every advance...steering, brakes, all wheel drive and in fact, AE Brico electronic fuel injection, the UK mastered it all in 1969. The utter foolishness was in not puffing out its chest and slaughtering steering companies like ZF, TRW, brake and electronic companies PBR, and Robert L Bosch and the US companies like Ford who refused to pay until the patents lapsed.
This is an excellent channel with an abundance of information! I've seen just one Jensen here in North America. With so many electric car companies blooming out from nowhere I wouldn't be surprised to see a new Jensen arise from the ashes. DMC is also said to comeback to life using a more modern design based on the 1984 Back To The Future car. England needs to be more English. Hence, British cars had helped shaped Britian.
Another excellent exposé. I have a 1974 Jensen Healey and it shows the company's borrower status, leveraging a number of Vauxhall parts and a Lotus engine. As I recall, Jensen also assembled Volvo P1800s for a time.
My next door neighbour when i was a kid owned one, well sort of...he was a car dealer and would bring home these flash cars from his dealership before selling them on... the Jensen interceptor he owned for a while was amazing, and the V8 sound thunderous.
Big thank you for this! I've enjoyed all of your videos, and at last you got to my favorite car of all times. I know it's like swearing in the church, but to me the 541 is the most beautiful car ever made - yes, it's even ahead of the E-type (don't kill me)!
@@Pete-z6e Knew that would come, I must be one of very few people not considering the E-type being that beautiful. I also (sit down please, and have your heart starter at the ready) consider the 37 Viggen a far more beautiful airplane than the Spitfire!
@@antonyjones4259 ...and the Mona Lisa was painted by da Vinci in the 14'th century, still people regard it as beautiful. I'm not comparing engineering here, just looks.
Thanks for this. I remember seeing my first Interceptor around the late 1980s when I was in my 20s and I had no idea what it was -- just that it looked cool and fast. I now see them at the British Car Show in Oakville, Ontario, Canada every year (except this one -- damn you Covid 19) and they are always treats to see. Looking forward to your next video.
Erratum: Jason King didn't drive the Interceptor. Another time a source gave me duff information!
The Interceptor was used by Robert Vaughn in The Protectors
Cv-8 stats are amazing, my E90 from the 00's isn't even half a second faster 0-60 although the top speed is limited to 250km/h (I've tried, 260 on the dash 250 gps). Always loved these cars from Grand Tourismo!
@@grandtourerpt Nobody gave me that code. Typical...
Big Car - No he preferred Cottaging!
It happens!
In 1984 I was offered a Mk3 Interceptor in very good condition but with a seized engine for 300 pounds, I turned it down as being too much expense fixing the engine... I've regretted that decision ever since.
I done same but with other cars that are worth just as much too collectors.
the engine is the easy part!
I missed out on a 50's Tickford Lagonda three litre when I was sixteen. I knew it was rare but even today with the internet I can barely find anything about them, even photos.
You just made me feel better about all of my dumb mistakes. Thank you for taking one for the team. 😊
One point, the Interceptor was a two wheel drive car. It was the Jensen FF that was AWD, easily recognised by the 2nd vent in the front guard behind the wheel arch due to additional length of the vehicle, it had an early anti-lock breaking system too.
Spotted the title mistake immediately also. 👍😎
@@gooser__43 It was used in the Ferguson P99 racing car which Stirling Moss used to win the Gold Cup at Oulton Park in September 1961.
Exactly - the title of this video is is therefore de facto fake news. Thanks for your comment!
Italian styling, American muscle, British engineering (from a time when we were pretty good at it).
What's not to love?
British engineering was always good, the problem was more that the workers "lacked motivation".... I got a TR6 produced in the 70's, a time which was not the best in terms of quality, but I have now had the car for 8 years, after 3 years of restoring it has been problem free for 5 years, so engineering was very good in terms of realiability, if put together in the way it should be. Even the Lucas electrics has not given any problems, not bad for a 50 year old product. I doubt todays cars electrics will work that well after 50 years...!
@@truxton1000 My Honda was taken out (nearly VOR) by a faulty glow-plug (not made by Honda), that overwhelmed the computer with data. Yes I'd fully agree with your comment about how that's gong to play out in 50 years. That said, I'd have designed the software / computer to handle the errors in a way that did not result in a safe mode.
If we'd introduced a lot of the Japanese production control methodologies at the time, maybe we'd still have a British Leyland?
Well, this is one of worse examples of Italian styling, comparing with Ferrari, Lamborgini, Maserati, ISO, De Tomaso of that period... :D
@@paulkosoff8851 It’s a different type of car. But many think it’s great, and I agree. I can say it’s much better «live» then on a photo.
What are you saying British cars are pretty amazing even today. I was gonna mention all the British brands I think are good and it's basically all of them...
DeTomaso Pantera is a serious contender for the coolest name too
Oldsmobile cutlass jetfire is the best imo.
One of the coolest cats ever too!
Ford Mustang Cobra Jet - as cool as ridiculous. Just imagine an animal which would be a hybrid of a horse, a cobra and jet engine.
'Panther'
Or the saab monster
In March 1969, I thumbed a lift on the A5 in North Wales to a Jensen FF, and the driver stopped! We did 33 miles to Llangollen in 31 minutes, with 4 miles crawling behind a bin lorry. He said his first tyres had lasted 7,000 miles, and his first Chrysler V8 had blown up in Italy, shortly after he'd been cruising at 140mph. By far my most memorable lift - thank you, Charles Fielden (he commuted from his home on Angelsey to his factory in Luton, 250 miles each way).
Everyday 500 miles?
I grew up in West Bromwich in the 60's/70's and when we were bored towards the end of the school holidays, we'd sit on a wall on Kelvin Way and watch Interceptors come out for a test drive. Always wanted one. Maybe, some day...
Dale Martin
Why do old people need a hobby, you got skills, or only have lots of time to spend?
@@lucasrem
?
Great stuff! My Dad always loved XJs. His pal Stewart was a pub landlord in mid Wales. I used to tag along from time to time, basically to drive my Dad home after he'd had a few. I loved the Jags, but I'll never forget the time Uncle Stewart took us for a spin, in his pale blue Interceptor. at 3am or somat, to the coast, Machynlleth to Dolgellau. It was like a scene out of Withnail and I. We got back to the pub, tipped Uncle Stewart out, and I drove the Interceptor home. My Dad was spark out. I drove to college in it the next day,trying to be nonsh.... Nonchal.... Cool. R.I.P Uncle Stewart!
Way to Go Jon !
Nonchalant is the word I believe you're looking for.
18:44 Looks like F type taillights on that Jensen concept.
I first came upon the Interceptor due to it appearing in the video game, Gran Turismo 4. There's an orange FF at the British Motor Museum and it's a lovely car.
The style of the Interceptor is timeless, to me it always looks new!
The blue one shown with creme leather interior looks jaw droppingly gorgeous
I was thinking the same thing.
Stunning car!
I worked on the replacement for it at Motor Panels, I was told the existing interceptor had 5 inch gas pipes used to make the chassis. There was a quality problem of a scratch found on the roof to every third car until they watched the build and when the tea break whistle blew the quality inspector would throw his clipboard onto the roof as he walked off. happy days.
sounds like a load of it if you ask me
Car quality issue because of tea breaks? That's the most British thing I've heard :D
My dad worked at Jensen and told me story’s about how the cars were produced and the how impressive they looked and felt. They had such a beautiful shape and a bit different to other sports coupes of the era.
Your videos are more professionally made, and certainly much more interesting, than many of the offerings on mainstream broadcast channels.
Absolutely correct
that mean that silly show about cars ..top gear..
@340bärgarN You can't really compare the 2. I love both channels for different reasons.
Needs a better script editor though. So much tautology!
Hardly watch BBC these days. They used to have genuine passion about the subject, and create interesting programmes.
As a kid I heard of this car in the UK (me being in Canada) and having the Matchbox Interceptor it was my favourite car as an 8 year old. Saw my first real one at a British Car show in Lindsay ON Canada in 2009. I spent 40 minutes just admiring the lines and taking to the owner. A hulking Chrysler V8 with that British interior and that Italian shape. The best of all worlds .. still one of my coat has no object cars if I ever win a lottery.
No cooler car name out there....
I had the Matchbox Interceptor in blue. Got to see a maroon Interceptor with cream upholstery parked up in town.
A coat for any object . . . every object must have an coat, you might say! Cheers!
"Missed opportunities". If one had to come up with a single phrase to define the British motor industry, that would be it. I so lusted after the Jensen Interceptor when I was lad. And, yes, what a hot name for a hot car.
I've used Nobody for quite a while and I have to say it has left me empty inside. 10/10 would recommend!
The Interceptor FF might be my all-time favorite car. Perfect marriage of American muscle car, British refinement, and absolutely futuristic technology.
The interceptor and FF are different cars.
@@Jabber-ig3iw we know!
The coolest car ever. I remember being really excited when I got the FF as a picture card from a packet of PG Tips, the only one I never stuck in the album, I liked it too much. Love and peace.
The rear hatch glass always amazed me cos when these were made, that must have been a skill.
Just imagine to find a replacement. Must cost a fortune...
@@waytosacramento3843 Simple to find.
Do you remember the Renault Fuego (1980 - 1986 in Europe)? The Fuego had a large glass rear hatch. The son of a work colleague of mine had a Fuego and called it "The Gallic Greenhouse" because it got so hot inside the car during the summer months.
The glass hatchback could have been made just down the road from the Jensen factory in West Bromwich, at Chances glass, they also made glass for the lamps in lighthouses! Please correct me if I am wrong?
@@davidmichaels8934 Standard Triplex glass.
I was one of those kids who idolised it. I still believe it is the most beautiful car of all time.
This brings back memories. A wealthy friend of my late father had a white interceptor in the early 70s. I vividly remember him taking me out for a drive in it and showing off, sounding the horn and waving at random people. 😁
My favourite car, along with Bristol Brigand. Gone but not forgotten...
Thankyou. One of my favour cars of all time. So much so I called my Son Jensen.
Funny that. I called my first Einstein and second Buick. Solid brand names.
One of my daughter's school friends was called Jensen. Apparently his Dad & Uncle had owned an Interceptor , a restoration project ,for years and were crazy about Jensen cars .👌
For Pete's sake, it's a human being, not a dog! Naming the child after a hobby. He will carry that name for the rest of his life. If he's not going to legally change it once he is old enough to do so.
@@PJay-wy5fx lol , I bumped into Jensen recently . He's a 30 year old , successful married man now. I don't think his name held him back ! Jenson was a popular boys name in circulation late 80's , early 90's , all they did was change one letter.
@@2Truth2you Einstein is a brand ??
My best friend, Joe Lowenthal, when I was 14 years old was driven to school in his father's Jensen Interceptor, silver with black leather and I believe the top was black vinyl,(?). I was amazed...even at a school who's students were regularly dropped of in Rolls-Royces...the Interceptor stood out...when I stayed at his home, I would always want to go to the garage to see his father's Jensen and Mr Lowenthal would always take Joe and I for errands or lunch and I was in heaven...I will always consider the Jensen Interceptor a hero car... elegant, stylish, luxurious and fast...I hope someone can one day revive the iconic Jensen brand and create new converts, such as myself. Wonderful, insightful video...thank you for the memories!
I remember way back when I rode a Yamaha RD200 in the 70's (i weighed next to nothing), and this bike would out accelerate most cars of that era, as I entered a dual carriage way I opened up the RD200 full throttle, only to be out accelerated by a car, what car could do that! , and I looked at the rear badge as it passed me "Jensen interceptor"....
ya got Intercepted!
I had drove a Jensen Interceptor on streets one day in Oklahoma City in mid-1970s and was told the engine was Chrysler Hemi 426. It belonged to a couple of oil men who had a conglomeration of car, tire and heavy truck facilities. They also had a very nice car museum where the car resided. I was manager of their tire facility when I received a call to come to museum and drive this exotic quality automobile to install new tires at one of our tire shops. It was a beast, requiring careful throttle management!!! I will never forget the extreme refinements in design as well as the monster power of engine.
Great video as usual - And, a special one for me! Although 7,000 miles away now, I was brought-up near the Carter’s Green and Kelvin Way Factories, and saw these fantastic cars being built. I can also remember Jensen assembling the Volvo P1800 in the early to mid 1960s.
Yep used to ride past the factory as a kid to get a look at these beautiful cars..
My uncle owned one of these for a long time. I remember as a kid it felt like we were going to take off. Such a cool car.
Great video
An excellent and very thoroughly researched documemtary. I was able to visit the factory in thse mid 1970's a year before its demise in West Bromwich. I was carrying parts when I ran a small transport firm. Always thought the design stylish.
I remember that I had a die-cast scale model of the Jensen Interceptor when I was a kid. I always loved the shape!
Well-written piece on one of my favorites! Thank you, Sir.
Thank you too Thomas!
INTERCEPTOR , my grandfathers friend had one in 1972 and took my grandfather and me for a spin around sutton , i have never forgotten that day and always wanted one later in life , it wont ever happen i know but dreaming about owning one is fun too
Scariest car I've ever driven. Acceleration made you sink back into the seat and cornering was like a hippo on roller skates.
EastOfBourne ....you've obviously never driven or ridden in an original Shelby Cobra 427 BBF w/a 4spd and locked differential, there's no sound nor acceleration that compares to it, but unlike the Jensen, it handles pretty well....
@@branon6565 Maybe, but you have no bends in the US, so how would you know?
yeah, they're an impressive looking and sounding beast but drive like an oil tanker.
@@branon6565 SPOT-ON
@@branon6565 And you've obviously never driven a Porsche 911. I had the opportunity to have a cabby in such a car in a race down the Avus in West Berlin in (about) 1972. Believe me, it was not so much accelerating as pulling the fucking trigger!
MsG
Outstanding video documentary. Still love the Interceptor to this day......
When I was at school in 1980, a school friend showed me an early Interceptor in his Nan's garage . When his Nan died 10 years later , the relative who left it there when he emigrated to Canada ,mid 70's, had it shipped over there. I was told he had it restored and often wonder if it's still running .
@Kasper Hauser lol 😁👌
I first fell in love with the Interceptor from watching TV series - I think it was "The Protectors" (correct me if I'm wrong) here in Aussie back in the early 70's. Always loved high performance British luxury like the Interceptor & Aston Martin DBS V8 but here they were always very expensive.
As stated in the video when I got older & wanted some V8 muscle had to go for the home grown stuff & ended up with 3 Falcon GT's over the journey. Mind you they're worth a fortune now.
Thanks an excellent account, I always loved the rear window of the various interceptors. Yes I had a poster on my bedroom wall, but never got to own one.
Dad picked me up from school one Sunday in 1972. The tangerine SP was incredible to look at and listen to, but I was 9 and I'm afraid I was just as impressed by the 8 track cartridge and the lambswool. He'd picked it up the day before and was pretty damn pleased with himself. Stopped off on the way home to buy sweets in Hurstpierpoint and walking away he looked over his shoulder (like you do) and saw green fluid pouring onto the concrete. I know now what it is but obvs didn't then, nor did he. RAC took it way and I actually only remember us having it for a few months. I since learned it had a reputation for being a car for the "enthusiast" with its handling and throttle responses being less than predictable. I think he bit off more than he could chew!
Always been crazy for one of them
As a kid in the 80's I had pictures & models of the Interceptor..
It's an awesome car & a cherished childhood memory.!
That 2014 Interceptor would have been superb!!
Interesting video, the SP at 12.53 is my car and in that shot it was being driven by a journalist in the Netherlands. Great car I still drive it all over Europe when I can.
That is cool, man. Gotta love a 440 6 pack!
Thank you ! Beautiful cars i have a vintage Corgi model of the FF that i renovated a few years back, beautiful shape . That seems to be the sad story all to often of the British motor industry What If..........
Another infinitely re-watchable video. Thank you, as always.
That red Jensen Healey looked like the lovechild of an MG Midget and a TR7...
I remember how underwhelmed I was when the Healy was introduced. It was a bit like an oversized Spitfire with very stupid looking headlamp surround. Herd to think of it as a Jensen.
@@seanoneillsongs Absolutely..A very nondescript car.
I love you big car
The interceptor is my all time favourite British car
Aston Martin DB series please
Now where’s the popcorn...,
❤
I totally agree with you Ed. My favourite classic car of all time
@ ۔
@@ammaarzeebkhan7675 I want you to hand over all your lupins!
I nearly brought one in 1987. I was 17 years old. In a local garage. It was emerald green and priced at £3000. But I couldn't get my parents to secure the loan. In some ways I'm glad because I'd of most likely had an accident in it. But a part of me still wishes I owned a Jenson lnterceptor.
You skipped school, not needing any knowledge, lol!
why you still need that car now?
@@lucasrem
?
@@e28forever30 It seems that Lucas is the one that skipped school with a comment like that!
@@varrjames186
True!
I had one. The 11 or 12 mpg might have been a struggle on your budget ? :(
Crossed the interceptor off my dream car list. Cliff Richard ARRRRRRRRRRRRH.
I had a ride in the back of a neighbour's Interceptor as a child and I well recall the ease with which it gained speed joining a dual carriageway. The car was faster than the FF with its Dunlop Maxaret 4WD/ALB but that was the more attractive proposition at the time - to me at least, now I'm not so sure.
I always wanted one when I was young.
But then again I was still at school then and it was just a dream
I found out about this car when i was 10 years old, Use to have to try and explain the car to others as not well known. Even when it was driven in fast and furious 6, people still assumed it was another car. Would still have one today. All you need is an old chassis and £100,000.
I remember seeing the Interceptor convertible prototype being pushed around a yard from a train window in around 1973.
There was an old Interceptor parked up against a repair shop in Barbados rusting quietly away .....rear window and all the glass and trim still good!
There's no 'quite possibly', it _is_ the coolest car name ever.
I've loved the Interceptor 3 my whole life. I had a roommate who dated a guy who owned one and I couldn't get enough photographs of it.
Awesome upload, thank you! This car reminds me of another car I hope you cover one day, the Reliant Scimitar.
Yeah good point. Great car.
When I was a kid, there used to be a bloke near me who had a Scimitar in turd brown...he used it as a van.
The GKN car looks alot like the Reliant from the side huh
As a teen in the mid-70s I got a ride in the back seats of an Interceptor to Swanton Morley airport. The main thing I remember to this day is that, even from the rear seat, I could actually see the fuel gauge going down as we drove. Singular!
The cv8 looks a bit like the TVR Tuscan with those headlights
When I was a kid ,the CV8 is the only reason I watched repeats of The Baron. Oh , and the theme tune by Ted Astley (Pete Townshend's ex father-in-law) 😉
Friend of mine has had an interceptor for a long,long time.At 6 ft 7 it's the only car he can sit in comfortably. It's a magnificent machine.
Was born in 1970 and this was my poster car. Still love it today, if I win the BIG one, its on my shopping list.
Thanks for covering this story, brilliant as always 👏
Glad you like it Jason!
@@BigCar2 loved it!
I'm truly thankful for your geekishness. A fan of Jensen since the CV8 but didn't know much of the history prior to that.
The Interceptor was a timeless classic though there are quite a few of them rusting away in as suburban gardens.
A friend who drove one for a couple of days, said you could actually see the fuel gauge needle move.
My friend's did around 12mpg. His Porsche 911 gave around 25mpg.
I had the dubious pleasure, probably during the 1980s, of removing a seized Chrysler 440 from the only one of these I've encountered, and retrofitting a Chrysler 383. As I recall, the used car flipper for whom I did the work wasn't too pleased to have to replace the fan belt due to the shorter block of the 383. Oh, well...major cost overruns sometimes happen.
I wanted that Jensen GT in 2015 so much. It was like an F type and a Mustang mushed together and it was gorgeous
And what Jeremy said; the best carname, in the world.. 😏
Nice to see the space station in the background.. just got it myself..
Very good video, as always!
As a young man working at a used car lot in the late 70's and early 80's, I ran across a 73? Jensen Healey. I had no clue what it was but I was fascinated by European sports cars. My brother was restoring a 63' Triumph TR-4. Never bought it or the Fiat spider hardtop I was lusting for but have cool memories of driving both.
18:35 that Jensen GT prototype is very nice looking. I love the retro call back styling. The proposed price is ridiculous and I'm sure if it was priced more realistic it could have sold because quite a few retro looking cars did very well during that time.
Apart perhaps from the yank dinosaur engines the interceptor was such a modern car and introduced so many modern features...like abs, 4wd and that curved rear screen...that made it still quite modern even 20 years after introduction
the interceptor is like the britsh muscle car,which bassicy inspired the f type,the modern muscle car from the uk
Nah.... that the aston v8 vantage.... the jenson too classy to be a muscle car
ItsMeFrancisLol...the Jaguar F Type is manufactured in India, and so are Land Rovers and Range Rovers, as they're both Indian owned car companies....
@3:39, that is beautiful. The Jensen brothers seemed to have been ahead of the time with fibreglaass panels, seatbelts, a fire extinguisher and even a firstaid kit.
Awesome piece of Machinery !
So glad to have driven one 6 years ago. Always loved them since my childhood, a large Blue Box model of an FF for Christmas that my mother threw away and the classy Corgi Junior model that I used to have. But my goodness a wonderful car that I would love own one day. Hey ho! Loved the 2011 design concept, a pity it never made it.
Hmm, wonder why the 2011 design concept never made it?
One of the biggest influences on it was the Lowey’s Studebaker Avanti as is quite easy to see. Especially the rear portion. Too bad that was not mentioned.
And the influence spread to the later Renault 25 / 30 / Fuego
I've had the opportunity to drive a Jensen Healey several times and I must say it's probably one of the most enjoyable driving experiences I've ever had. I am in love with these little healeys
I’ve liked this before I’ve even watched it because I know I’m going to love it!
I owned an interceptor with the 440. Extremely fun and garnered lots of attention while good maintenance with the Chrysler drive train!
Jeremy Clarkson said on Top Gear that the steering rack used in the Jensen Interceptor could have come from a Triumph Stag or a riding lawnmower, depending on what was available in the parts bin that week..
Remember, Clarkson played to the crowd. Jensen used the same Adwest steering rack as Aston Martin and Jaguar. When Adwest said they were no longer going to make that rack, all 3 companies had to find a new one. Not as funny as saying it came from a lawn mower is it, but still true.
He also said that Proton cars were built by people who live in trees and wear shoes made from leaves. TG was a comedy show and yet so many take it seriously.
Makers of gorgeous cars with personality like these in Britain were plagued by a lack of the huge funds needed to engineer them for quality and reliability, not to mention worldwide appeal - all criteria for a small company to succeed.
So many interesting details here, very thorough! Feel so sad for the excellent engineering being stuck with the home market with the opposite hand driving of the European neighbours. It takes a lot of flexible and expensive solutions to develop for both.
Well said Tom Hummel. English Adwest/ Cam Gears rack and pinion steering, Proper disc brakes and the Irish FF system were picked up by Ford and Datsun/Nissan. The Sierra XR4X4, Sapphire 4x4 Scorpio 4x4, Escort Cosworth...and Japan's Nissan Skyline R32 copied all the features. Those cars were built down to a price. The real issue is that only Donald Healy and Walter Hays and Nissans Agent K ever saw the importance of export to Left hand Drive Countries that would always pay forward the development budget. It is the shame of the cowardece of directors who couldn't sharpen the pencil before beating the panel's . Donald Healy and Fords Walter Hayes did, but it was Datsun who made money by meeting the regulations, and Ford Of Europe who got money for the US Capri and Merkur. Nissan avoided the All wheel drive conquest of the US because it's AWD Skyline cars couldn't pass the side impact and rust proofing requirements. Jensen could have made it work. It was about building cars down do a price. The UK is still a nation that has an auto industry...it was differing EEC and US regulations that the United Kingdom avoided addressing that ducked the cash reserves. Every advance...steering, brakes, all wheel drive and in fact, AE Brico electronic fuel injection, the UK mastered it all in 1969. The utter foolishness was in not puffing out its chest and slaughtering steering companies like ZF, TRW, brake and electronic companies PBR, and Robert L Bosch and the US companies like Ford who refused to pay until the patents lapsed.
One of my favourites cars as a kid
Never heard of the Brasinca before this video, so thank you for that! Also interesting is the comparison with the design of the Studebaker Avanti.
IMO, the Avanti was a misshapen hulk. Like a kit car designed in a pub at 2 am
my dad had one of these most of my childhood, i got to drive it to my High School graduation and man i was sad when he sold it to a museum.
Awesome car! Looked striking in one of 'The Saint' reboots starring Simon Dutton.
oh mr. big car, your still a hoot! I got my nobody in the mail yesterday. and it was nothing but great!!
Nobody sent you that, so it can't be that great! hoho
The Jensen Interceptor and the Reliant Scimitar were two of my favourite cars from this era.
Haha. I love the spoof ad at the end. I will always faithfully return to your sponsor-free uploads.
This is an excellent channel with an abundance of information! I've seen just one Jensen here in North America. With so many electric car companies blooming out from nowhere I wouldn't be surprised to see a new Jensen arise from the ashes. DMC is also said to comeback to life using a more modern design based on the 1984 Back To The Future car. England needs to be more English. Hence, British cars had helped shaped Britian.
Another excellent exposé. I have a 1974 Jensen Healey and it shows the company's borrower status, leveraging a number of Vauxhall parts and a Lotus engine. As I recall, Jensen also assembled Volvo P1800s for a time.
They did!
What an interesting car. I hope you are well during lockdown!
scared? unhealthy?
Are you still here now?
Jensen Interceptor FF is my favourite variation of Interceptor and the rarest of all.
Always look forward to seeing every new upload, this season I've mostly been wearing nose knickers.
I think we all have! It's the fashion.
Absolutely the coolest car name ever and still looks stunning today. WHAT A CAR!!
I like the ginormous Chrysler V8 engine ... 🙂👍
It’s a small v8. But I’m an American so what do I know. I’m used to 8 liter v8 motors being the norm.
@@ryanthompson2893 383 or 440 ci Chryslers aren’t exactly small blocks, unless you drive a Caddy 500
Check out Nick's Garage here on YT. He loves the Chrysler big blocks especially running them on his dyno.
@@ryanthompson2893 another idiot ,it used a 383 in the first years then the 440 wedge motor these were the biggest at the time
My next door neighbour when i was a kid owned one, well sort of...he was a car dealer and would bring home these flash cars from his dealership before selling them on... the Jensen interceptor he owned for a while was amazing, and the V8 sound thunderous.
Thank you for another amazing story. The very first time I saw an Interceptor, I was in awe !
And still am. Sad it went belly up...
Big thank you for this! I've enjoyed all of your videos, and at last you got to my favorite car of all times. I know it's like swearing in the church, but to me the 541 is the most beautiful car ever made - yes, it's even ahead of the E-type (don't kill me)!
Glad you like the 541 so much! Never apologise for liking something.
BustaHymen , off to Specsavers.
@@Pete-z6e Knew that would come, I must be one of very few people not considering the E-type being that beautiful. I also (sit down please, and have your heart starter at the ready) consider the 37 Viggen a far more beautiful airplane than the Spitfire!
@@BustaHymen one is From WW2......the other plane entered service in 1971.......not much of a comparison lol.
@@antonyjones4259 ...and the Mona Lisa was painted by da Vinci in the 14'th century, still people regard it as beautiful. I'm not comparing engineering here, just looks.
Thats my Interceptor in the opening drag race!!
Hi is that standard or have you uprated the engine in any way?
Thanks for this. I remember seeing my first Interceptor around the late 1980s when I was in my 20s and I had no idea what it was -- just that it looked cool and fast. I now see them at the British Car Show in Oakville, Ontario, Canada every year (except this one -- damn you Covid 19) and they are always treats to see.
Looking forward to your next video.
As a kid my local petrol station owner had an Interceptor, it would have been '71. I always thought it was the most exotic car I'd ever seen.