Jensen Interceptor (V8)

The Jensen brothers were nearing retirement age by the mid-1960s and neither enjoyed the best of health. In 1960 they had sold their interests in Jensen Motors to a holding company, Norcros, but remained on the Board as alternating Chairmen. Their desires became subordinate to the corporate will of Norcros which formed the view by 1965 that a replacement for the C-V8 should be styled away from Jensen Motors. The idea had the support of Deputy Chief Engineer Kevin Beattie who was given the job early in 1966 of sounding out the Italian design houses, including for what was to become a four-wheel drive model known as the FF. In the space of a few hectic months, Beattie secured from Touring of Milan the drawings for what would emerge as the new Interceptor and FF. At the London Motor Show in October 1966, the finished cars were a smash hit and the company was deluged with orders. This was a slap in the face for the Jensen brothers, who had opposed the outsourcing, and for Eric Neale who had drawn the lines of a new sports car which the brothers had hoped would follow the C-V8. All three resigned towards the end of 1966 and Jensen Motors moved into a new phase of its life without the brothers at the helm. 1024 Interceptors were made over three years including 16 sold new to Australia. With private imports, 67 may be counted as survivors today.