Facebook Marketplace's algorithms are kind of crazy, aren't they? The other day I was searching for parts for my 1991 Corvette and this 1974 Jensen Interceptor popped up. Go figure. Maybe Zuckerberg knows something I don't? Must say, I've always found these cars as interesting as a flaming car wreck. You thank goodness you're not involved but you can't look away.
This "basket case", as we call cars that need literally and figuratively everything, is for sale down in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with an asking price of $5,500. If the asking price makes you chuckle, there are issues with the title that we need to straighten out before we make the traipse south to pick it up. While the engine does not start, it does crank and it being in Florida, there's minimal if any rust. Am I joking? Seriously? You have to ask?
So, what are these things that resemble cars I used to scribble I was a kid? Full disclosure, I still do.
They were built between 1966 and 1976 and were the brainchild of English automobile parts purveyors Alan and Richard Jensen who dabbled, make that more like doodled, in automobile design. The Jensen' brothers supplied parts to a number of manufacturers including Austin and Volvo and in their spare time, would work on cars of their own design. One of those designs was something they called the "Interceptor".
The car's bodies were designed by Italian design house Carrozzeria Touring, and were built, by hand, in Italy by Vignale. Where they were built wasn't Alan and Richard's choosing. Being crack car builders, they would have preferred they were built in England, but the team they put together to manage their company insisted the cars be built in Italy. The Jensen's left the company shortly after production began in 1966.
Only 6408 Interceptors were built making our sunbaked lounge lizard here pretty unique. Interceptors were very expensive and were the "cars of the stars" fifty-years ago. Farrah Fawcett drove one, golfing legend Jack Nicklaus and Jon Bonham of Led Zeppelin too.
Poster of the ad says the car needs a complete restoration. That won't be inexpensive.
This car will need to be dismantled; parts cataloged and then painstakingly put back together. The whole process could take years.
Interceptors in good condition are valued at around $50,000, ones in Concours shape more than $120,000. Before you rush down to Lauderdale thinking this is a sitting gold mine, understand those are pie-in-the-sky numbers. Just because something is valued at something doesn't mean it will go for that or would be easy to sell.
These cars were never profitable for Jensen and powered by Chrysler's 440 cubic-inch V-8 and three-speed Torque Flite transmission, were terrible on gas. The United States was the most popular market for them and the energy crisis kicked in the glass hatch on sales that weren't very good in the first place.
The company in its "original form" went under in 1976. Another group of investors attempted to build all but the same cars in 1983 building just 14. Yet another tried again in 1990 through 1993 building 36 copies before throwing in the towel.
Can't wait to see what Meta has in store for me the next time I search for bucket seats for my 1991 Corvette.
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