Jensen is (soon to be) Back!

[chunkypeanutbutter]

With a supercharged V8, Jensen is back in 2016. A successor to the Interceptor: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1096988_revived-jensen-bringing-new-gt-to-geneva-promises-interceptor-successor-for-2016

[Atmobil]

Looks good

[Kris Morgan]

Very interesting and cool.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I hope they get off the ground this time. There have been several false starts over the years. The factory was still limping along in '86 when I bought some OEM sheetmetal parts to repair a heavy-hit '74 Interceptor 440 I'd bought cheap, and I was briefly involved with an investment group looking to purchase Jensen's assets back then.

I'd expected the Jensens to appreciate well, like other European marques of the era, but the Interceptor prices remained pretty flat until long after I'd parted with mine.

The Interceptor was remarkably agile for a big heavy car with a solid rear axle on leaf springs, and the power rack-and-pinion steering and 4-wheel power discs helped a lot. The massive engine would pin you back in the seat nicely, too.

The Interceptor still rates highly in the "gentleman's express" category, and it will get you there rapidly in air-conditioned, leather-lined and real-burl-walnut-on-the-dash luxury. Just be sure to bring along plenty of money for gas.

[chunkypeanutbutter]

I wonder if the new company will undertake making new parts, akin to new DeLorean management.

[JTalmage]

Or stick to Chrysler powerplants.... a modern hemi would be pretty neat.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I wonder if the new company will undertake making new parts, akin to new DeLorean management.

In '86, when I first contacted Jensen in the UK about parts for my Interceptor, I'd expected to be talking to several layers of bureaucracy and management before I finally got to someone to sell me something. It wasn't to be. The first fella I talked to asked me what I needed, and yelled away from the phone "hey Nigel, do we have any offside front wing and door skin stampings left?"

No. The conversation developed into "how long to make one of each?", still with the first contact yelling over his shoulder at the parts / production shop foreman, apparently.

Gotta love a company that operates that lean.

This was one of the earlier design proposals, based on the original tooling (which I believe still exists).

This is the clay of the proposed most recent design. While an attractive car, I think it misses the mark somehow. Am I seeing a lot of '65-'66 Mustang fastback in there?

The illustration below was another proposed design, which I like a lot...primarily because it doesn't look like the designer was trying to copy every other car out there, and then disguise the fact he'd been copying.

Edited March 20, 2015 by Ace-Garageguy

[mr moto]

The new design looks good but I think the original was better.

[chunkypeanutbutter]

Bigger headlights would help the front-end a bit more, make it look more like the original. The concept ones look too undersized for the rest of the car. I do like the low-slung design of the body without looking too "Hot Wheels"-ish.

[Cato]

It would be cake these days to get near 700 pound-feet of torque from :

A. An Eaton blown modern Hemi

B. An old school 440 (to 500+ inches) using an ally World Block and heads and parts from Indy Cylinder Head.

Then the chassis weight would not detract from the cruising performance.

[Casey]

This was one of the earlier design proposals, based on the original tooling (which I believe still exists).

This is the clay of the proposed most recent design. While an attractive car, I think it misses the mark somehow. Am I seeing a lot of '65-'66 Mustang fastback in there?

IMHO, the problem with the original is the greenhouse is too massive, especially that huge rear window. While I understand that is one of the things which made the Interceptor unique, I think it kills the overall look.

Now, the clay mock up, much better. I see 240Z in the rear quarter windows and rear half of the roof, as well as some new Challenger/Mustang in the front bumper-to-fender transition/break.

[Casey]

The illustration below was another proposed design, which I like a lot...primarily because it doesn't look like the designer was trying to copy every other car out there, and then disguise the fact he'd been copying.

That seems to have some Jaguar/Aston Martin coupe themes to it, but the low roofline is gorgeous, and keeping some aspect of the original back window is a nice touch. Now, if you're taller than 5'8", I doubt you're going to fit comfortably behind the wheel, but it does look good.

[Draggon]

I like the first proposal the best, that greenhouse is to me, what makes it unique. The rear end of the clay one kills it. Doesnt look anything like a Jensen, and is just wrong on all accounts.

I cant get the pics to show up in a decent size, just google it.

Edited March 20, 2015 by Draggon

[Joe Handley]

I do see some late A-Body Cuda in the back of the roof on the clay mock up, although I do think that the rump needs to be chopped back by about a foot to make the lines look right for a Jensen.

[chunkypeanutbutter]

It's not supposed to be "Jensen Interceptor Reborn," it's supposed to be "Jensen GT, Inspired by the Jensen Interceptor."

Imagine us saying the same thing about the '71 Mustang not looking like the '64.5 Mustang.

Edited March 20, 2015 by chunkypeanutbutter

[rsxse240]

Honestly, I think it looks like a Studebaker Avante'. Which is NOT to say it looks bad. I may have to get one of the avante's and mix it up with a new mustang to come up with something like this to put on the shelf.

[Ace-Garageguy]

There's a pretty fair first-generation Aston Martin V8 resemblance in the clay, as well.

[rusty85]

Cool news! I hope this works out, I've always liked the interceptor.

Does anyone remember the very heavily worked over Viper powered interceptor from a bit back.

[Joe Handley]

A Viper powered Jensen Interceptor?!

Geeeeeesus!

[dublin boy]

The rear end of the clay model has a touch of the earlier C-V8.

[Draggon]

That Viper Interceptor is NICE!