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Jensen Interceptor Convertible - plenty of power and sunshine

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Created on May 8, 2019

Reading time 10min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Bruno von Rotz

Archiv

Bruno von Rotz

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - aus Fahrerperspektive stört das heruntergeklappte Dach allerdings kaum

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - damals DM 79'900 oder CHF 88'500 teuer, nur der RR Corniche kostete in dieser Kategorie mehr

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - das Dach kann elektrisch versenkt werden, die Persenning muss aber von Hand montiert werden

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - das Dach scheint den Wagen etwas nach unten zur drücken

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - offen leidet die Eleganz etwas unter dem Buckel über dem Faltdach

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - Rückwärtsfahren mit dem versenkten Dach ist etwas schwieriger

Bild von Partner Planai Classic 2025 Inline 1

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - fast 1,8 Meter breit

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - armdicke Auspuffrohre

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - schlichte Eleganz

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - bereit zur Losfahrt

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - kostete mehr als ein Maserati damals

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - sieht geschlossen fast genauso elegant aus wie das Coupé

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - die Rundumsicht wird allerdings durch das Stoffach eingeschränkt

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - viel Leder, etwas Holz im Innern

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - auf den vorderen Sitzen ist die Belüftung bei offenem Dach angenehmer

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - Platz für vier Personen - wirklich!

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - vier Sitze, zwei Türen

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - so stellt man sich britische Sportwagen im Innern vor

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - das Moto-Lita-Lenkrad wurde nachgerüstet

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - Tacho bis 240 km/h, so schnell war das Cabriolet nicht

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - komplette Uhrensammlung

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - da nimmt man gerne Platz

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - bekannte Lenkradmarke, die S4-Modelle hatten diese Lenkräder serienmässig

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - Wandlerautomatik von Chrysler

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - alles sauber beschriftet

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - eigentlich reicht das "D"

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - Halter für die Sicherheitsgurten hinten

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - etwa 285 PS leistet der 7,2-Liter im offenen Jensen

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - der 7,2-Liter-V8-Motor ist längs eingebaut

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - robuste Motorentechnik

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - genug Platz im Motorraum

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - ausser anderen Ventildeckeln weist der Motor kaum Unterschiede zur Grossserienversion auf

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - der Markennahme auf dem Ventildeckel

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - Typenschild

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - Jensen-Markenzeichen

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - komplett beschriftet, so erkennen ihn auch die Passanten

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - Doppelscheinwerfer und klar strukturierter Kühlergrill

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - Vieraugengesicht im Stil der Zeit

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - Doppelscheinwerfer wirken immer sportlich

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - Typenbeschriftung auf dem Kühlergrill

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - Entlüftungsöffnungen auf der Motorhaube, wie beim SP

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - klassischer Kühlergrill mit Doppelscheinwerfern

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - elegante Leichtmetallräder

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - attraktive Leichtmetallräder

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - Rückspiegel

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - Markenschriftzug auf den Kopfstützen

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - elektrisch verstellbare Rückspiegel

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - Türöffner

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - "Side Indicators" - schliesslich war gerade das Cabriolet für die USA gedacht

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - das Jensen-"J" auf dem Heck

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Jensen Interceptor (1956) - als Coupé oder Cabriolet erhältlich

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Jensen Interceptor Convertible (1965) - P66, gedacht als Austin Healey Ersatz - präsentiert an der London Motor Show 1965

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Jensen Interceptor Convertible (1965) - P66

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Jensen Interceptor (1966) - auf dem Vignale-Stand in Turin 1966

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Jensen Interceptor (1966) - Heckansicht, auf dem Vignale-Stand

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Jensen Interceptor (1966) - gebaut bei Vignale, gezeigt in Turin

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Jensen Interceptor III (1975) - der "Saloon" wurde über die Jahre kaum verändert

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Jensen Interceptor (1966) - Serienversion bei der Vorstellung

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Jensen Interceptor (1966) - stilbildende Heckklappe aus Glas

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Jensen Interceptor (1966) - Zugang zum Kofferraum

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Jensen Interceptor (1966) - Vorderansicht

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Jensen Interceptor (1969) - Vorderansicht

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Jensen Interceptor (1967) - was macht das Luxuscoupé hier auf der Wiese?

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Jensen Interceptor (1966) - angekündigt mit 4,5-Liter-V8-Motor (6,2 Liter per Aufpreis) für £ 1980 (vor Steuern)

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Jensen Interceptor (1966) - elegantes viersitziges Coupé

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Jensen FF II (1970) - der vierradangetriebene FF rechts, der heckgetriebene Interceptor II links

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Jensen Interceptor II (1969) - verbesserte zweite Version

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Jensen Interceptor II (1970) - Interieur

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Jensen Interceptor II (1969) - Interieur, fotografiert an der London Motor Show 1969

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Jensen Interceptor II (1970) - Seitenansicht, rechts-vorne

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Jensen Interceptor II (1970) - Cockpit/Armaturenbrett

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Jensen Interceptor II (1969) - Interieur, aufgenommen an der London Motor Show 1969

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Jensen Interceptor III (1973) - mit Chrysler-Motor von 7,2 Litern Hubraum und 284 PS, als Serie III nun in grösseren Stückzahlen gebaut - am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1973

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Jensen Interceptor II (1971) - aufgenommen in London, vor dem 'Big Ben'

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Jensen Interceptor II (1971) - mit Londoner Kulisse, vor dem 'Big Ben'

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Jensen Interceptor III (1972) - dem ursprünglichen Design verpflichtet

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Jensen Interceptor III (1972) - Interieur

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Jensen Interceptor III (1972) - geräumige Rückbank

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Jensen Interceptor (1972) - edles Interieur, so ähnlich auch beim FF ausgeführt

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Jensen Interceptor (1972) - geräumiger Kofferraum mit hoher Ladekante, kein Unterschied zum FF

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Jensen Interceptor III (1972) - klassische Optik

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Jensen Interceptor III (1972) - optisch kaum verändert

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Jensen Interceptor (1967) - auf Testfahrt, in einer Linkskurve

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Jensen Interceptor (1968) - auf dem Autosalon

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Jensen Interceptor (1966) - Lenkrad und Armaturenbrett, auf dem Vignale-Stand

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Jensen Interceptor SP (1971) - bei Testfahren in England

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Jensen Interceptor SP (1971) - bei Testfahren

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Jensen Interceptor SP (1973) - die besonders sportliche Version

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Jensen Interceptor III - mit amerikanischem V8-Motor von 7,2 Liter Hubraum - am Genfer Automobilsalon 1974

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Jensen Interceptor III - das Coupé erschien bereits 1968, die Verglasung hinten lässt sich hochklappen - am Genfer Automobilsalon 1974

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Jensen SP am Genfer Automobilsalon 1972 - mit 7,2-Liter-Motor bestückter Interceptor III

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Jensen Interceptor Convertible (1974) - passt perfekt auf die Pferderennbahn

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Jensen Interceptor Convertible (1975) - 7,2 Liter Hubraum, gezeigt am Autosalon von Brüssel 1975

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Jensen Interceptor Convertible (1975) - deutlich teurer als die geschlossene Variante

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Jensen Interceptor Convertible (1975) - abgebildet im Verkaufsprospekt

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Jensen Interceptor III Coupé (1976) - nur in kleinen Stückzahlen gebaute Hardtop-Coupé-Version auf Basis des Cabriolets

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Jensen Interceptor III Convertible (1974) - wirkt kompaktes als es mit seinen fast 4,8 Metern Länge ist

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Summary

The Jensen Interceptor was perfect for anyone who had high expectations of a sporty car, but at the same time did not necessarily want to stand out and did not want to compromise on luxury or space. As a convertible, it cost as much as a Ferrari, but offered affordable American technology and Italian design crafted by British hands. Anyone who bought an Interceptor Convertible remained exclusive, as only a few hundred were built. This driving report is about an early Jensen Interceptor Convertible and shows it and its predecessors in current and historical pictures, supplemented by sales documents from the time.

This article contains the following chapters

Not the first Interceptor
Italian design
British-American technology
Gentleman's rocket
Evolution in two stages
(Almost) at the end, the convertible
Rapid air fanning
Rebirth as the S4 - end in installments
Captain in the open Interceptor III
Rarely seen
Further information

Estimated reading time: 10min

Preview (beginning of the article)

If you were looking for an elegant Granturismo with plenty of space and trouble-free technology in the late sixties, there was really no way around the Jensen Interceptor. British craftsmanship met Italian design and American mass-produced technology, albeit with a price tag that almost reduced the buyer base to industrialists and aristocrats. The type designation "Interceptor" was not new when the two-door coupé was presented to the press and the general public at the London Motor Show in the late fall of 1966. There, however, the conventionally powered car was somewhat overshadowed by the Jensen FF, which broke completely new ground for a sports car with all-wheel drive, but largely corresponded to the rear-wheel drive Interceptor in terms of bodywork.

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