1973' Jensen

9th Dec, 2023 10:00
The December 2023 Auction
1973 Jensen Interceptor III
£14, 000 spent in the last 5 years
Registration: UEJ297M
Chassis: 136/ 8987
Odometer: 39, 880
Transmission: Automatic
MOT: Exempt
Recent bare metal respray
Standard air conditioning
Low ownership
Refurbished gearbox
Re-conditioned power steering rack
Standard specification
We are delighted to offer this 1973 Jensen Interceptor III in white with black vinyl roof and black leather interior. First registered in October 1973, being a Series III car it boasts the larger 7. 2 litre V8. The car comes with photocopied production records confirming its specification, pre-sale checks and its delivery by ARD Garages to its first owner Mr Willatt of Gloucestershire. Since then it has had only 5 further owners. A large bundle of receipts tells a story of a car that has received a lot of love. The vendor alone has spent £14, 000 since becoming the latest custodian in March 2019. He advises us that the following work has been done during his tenure:-
May/ June 2019 - engine and gearbox oil change, new filters, check for and rectify oil leaks, strip and rebuild carb, generally check over car - £965. 00
December 2019 - remove all chrome and brightwork ready for paint, transport to Birmingham for re-chrome/ polishing - £920. 00
February 2021/ January 2022 - strip body back to bare metal, check structure, carry out minor remedial work as necessary, prime, paint and reassemble - £8, 750. 00
February/ March 2022 - collect car from paint shop, general check and reassembly - £420. 00
May 2022 - supply and fit re-conditioned power steering rack - £330. 00
November 2022 - remove Torqueflite gearbox, transport to Wolverhampton, collect 2 weeks later and re-install - £790. 00
December 2022 - complete overhaul and rebuild of Torqueflite 727 auto box - £1506. 00
Sundry replacement parts, seals approx. £340. 00
As you would expect given the recent bare metal respray, the Interceptor exterior presents extremely well. The chrome is in good condition and the wheels are very presentable, sporting a set of matching tyres. Inside is a sumptuous place to be, with black leather covering most surfaces. The expansive dashboard is in good shape and contains a riot of Jaeger dials and is set off by a beautiful wood-rimmed Mota Lita steering wheel. A modern but retro-looking stereo brings Bluetooth (and a remote control!) without looking out of place. The seats have some patination to them whilst the cream leather headlining looks clean and tight.
A look under the bonnet reveals the big V8 which appears to be in standard specification and bursts easily into a distinctive American V8 rumble with a bit of choke. We have driven the car for our short video and it pulls strongly and smoothly with no untoward noises. The car comes with V5C, a bundle of past MOTs and tax discs, bundle of invoices, copy production records, Statement of Origin from renowned Jensen experts Martin Robey Sales, some strip-down photographs, a trio of workshop manuals and a DVD with further workshop manuals and wiring diagrams. Also present are some interesting documents from the Jensen Owner?s Club setting out Jensen?s history and a breakdown of production numbers of the various Jensen models.
These beautiful, hand-built GT cars still seem criminally undervalued when compared to cars like the Aston Martin V8 that it competed with back in period - a good AM V8 will be more than double a similar condition Interceptor. Is the Aston twice the car? We don?t think so and believe the Jensen provides the same jet-set glamour at fraction of the cost. Tell us we?re wrong!
Estimate
£38, 000 - £42, 000
Buyer's premium: 15. 00%