Jensen Interceptor - a forgotten legend

Time is an amazing thing. It seemed that yesterday we were bowing before some phenomenon, invention or some thing, and today everything that fascinated us yesterday is forgotten and dusted in the dustbin of history.

The same fate befell the car and the brothers Jensen, who bore the proud name of "Interceptor". Once a style icon, a role model for other manufacturers of cars, finally, just a dream and an object of lust for all the advanced adherents of speed and comfort. Now Jensen Interceptor is just one of many and many forgotten names.

Legendary history

The history of the interceptor after the war began, when the Jensen brothers, who produced cars at the plant named after themselves in West Bromwich, near Birmingham, thought about creating the first model of the car specifically for a new peaceful life. The car was supposed to be comfortable, fast and stylish. Such that on it it was possible to rush under the peaceful blue sky, not thinking about past troubles and adversities. The same wanted at this time all the people who survived the years of war and deprivation. In general, the brothers began their independent journey to the automotive industry back in 1934, then they made bodies for a number of models of other manufacturers of those times. Their own cars began to be produced a little later, but they could also be called their own, except with a big stretch. Foreign engines, components from Austin and other well-known factories supplemented these cars. But the cars were brand Jensen Motors, collected manually under close supervision and with the direct participation of the brothers.

Let's return to the "Interceptor". Of course, this name was given to people who suffered from the war. But the history of the appearance of the name has erased from the memory of generations, but in the future the machine itself has acquired the features of a predator and a true warrior. So Jensen Interceptor fully justifies its name.

The first generation of "Interceptors" was introduced to the world in 1949. It was a luxury car weighing 1.5 tons with a new 6-cylinder in-line engine from Austin and with a chassis from Austin, though improved to a large extent. The car was expensive, hand-assembled, the engine was not the best, and the gluttony of it left much to be desired. Nevertheless, Jensen Interceptor produced the first generation of machines for 9 years. The model was produced in two versions: a coupe and a cabriolet. For all the time of production was released about 70 "Interceptors".

The beginning of the way

It was just the beginning. Returned to the production of his offspring Jensen brothers in 1966 with a completely new concept, new thoughts and a changed vision of the world. And in the automotive industry over the years, many new discoveries and implementations have happened. Fast and aggressive cars with elegant design were in demand more than ever. But, as you know, for the unexplained reasons, brilliant car designers do not grow on the British Isles. They are found mainly in Italy, where the Jensen people from the company Touring found the new design of the Interceptor, which conquered thousands of people around the world, from which designers from all over the world may have learned ideas for many subsequent models of cars from different manufacturers.

It was a completely different machine, not much like its predecessor from the first generation. A modern four-door car with a steel body, a huge rear window and an engine from the Chrysler impressed, especially the inhabitants of England, where few cars were produced, even remotely similar in performance.

Ordering the Italians a design, the Jensen were forced and equipment for the production of the body to buy in Italy. For some time the bodies for the assembly came straight from the Pyrenees, but later Jensen Motors equipment was bought and transported to the native Birmingham. Perhaps this is what killed them. In order to pay back the costs of the organization of production, the car had to be manufactured for many years in an unchanging design. True, the package itself changed in the early 70's. The car Jensen Interceptor of 1971 already possessed the booster and other useful innovations. It was produced with both automatic and manual transmission.

Legendary, but impractical

The main trouble of the "Interceptor" was in a beyond the appetite. There was too much gasoline needed Chrysler engine, and then there was a fuel crisis, the echoes of which frightened motorists for many years to come. According to experts, if the car was a little more economical, it would be sold much better. In total for the years from 1966 to 1990, there were about 6,000 "Interceptors". Soon other people owned the company, other requirements were for consumers, and the car continued to leave the conveyor. And there was a large number of buyers.

Now the legend is half forgotten, but still alive. The company, which bought the rights to the name and brand, plans to buy Jensen Interceptor around the world and sell them again, but with a modern engine and other salon. Perhaps we will see "Interceptors" on the streets of cities.