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This is what Brian had to say about himself and the car:
Basically the car started off as a demonstrator for the Jensen Dealer Swift Motors in Stoke and was registered 05/05/74. Chassis 96016, Engine 4C12611
It was then bought by a local entrepreneur Jeffrey Savage but through his company H Bowers Ltd. 10 years later it was transferred from the company into Mr Savage personal name. It was garaged in a large Barn along with a number of classic cars that Mr Savage owned and was licensed WV 02.
Then in 2001 Mr Savages daughter married and as a wedding present he gave her the barn, where the Jensen was stored, to turn into a home. Consequently the Jensen and the other cars had to go.
Gerald Bagnall a local (Stoke) Interior Designer had first seen WV 02 in the Swift Showroom back in 74 and had dreamt of one day owning her. Unfortunately at the time he could not afford such a car and ownership of her just remained a dream. However when the car came up for sale (Gerald knew Jeffrey) he could not believe his luck and as a Christmas present to himself he purchased the car on 25/12/2001 and registered it as 999 MYJ.
By now the car had around 18,200 miles on the clock and over the next 12 years would only clock up another 100 miles. This is not to say the car never moved because each week Gerald would take the car out the garage, clean it and put it back and even sometimes drive it around the block. To Gerald the beauty was in it's looks not how it drove.
Unfortunately earlier this year Gerald's eyesight started to deteriorate and he was no longer able to drive so he reluctantly decided the Jensen would have to go. So he gave the task of finding a new home to another close friend Chris Shenton (Engineering). Chris had maintained the car for Gerald over the years. Chris has a specialist Aston Martin Restoration company in Hanford, Stoke, Chris Shenton Engineering and he had also spent 5 years restoring our 1960 DB4 (unfortunately no longer with us).
However it had been a few years since I had spoken to Chris so a couple months ago I called him out of blue for a catch up. While discussing the crazy Aston market and reminiscing over the DB4 restoration and sale of I mentioned that I had bought a 74 Interceptor to drive around in while he did the restoration which I then duly sold to a Hungarian collector once the DB4 was finished, also reflecting on how the Interceptor prices had risen.
Chris then shuffled some papers on his desk and quite calmly said would I like another one? I said I may do ?
He then found what he was looking for and read out to me 1974, Blue Metallic, Mk 3, excellent condition 2 owners, 18,300 miles from new, private plate 999 MYJ included.
I asked him to repeat the mileage !!! then that weekend shot up to Stoke to view the car. I spoke to Gerald and a deal was done.
Two weeks later the car had been MOT'd and I collected it from Stoke to drive back to Wingfield, 180 miles - nearly twice the total mileage for the last 12 years!
I was a little apprehensive facing the journey but she did herself proud and completed the journey in 2 1/4 hours. However within an hour of her getting back the starter motor jammed. I have just replaced it with a Hi Torque one.
As for myself I am now 53 and happily married to Sarah and we have 8 year old identical girls and I have a son 17 and daughter 18 from a previous marriage. Sarah and the girls all love classic cars. My love with Jensen first started in a ride in a white interceptor 1977, I then purchased GRA 72 a Mk3 Interceptor in 1978 being only 18 and earning less than a tankful of petrol a week I only managed to hold onto her for 6 months but that was enough to keep me hooked. So 999 MYJ is my third MK3 and she drives lovely. The sheep skin inserts were extras and not to everyone taste but driving on a warm day they are very comfortable. The plan is to try and keep the mileage low and keep the car original as possible but also attend as many shows as possible. We will be at the Bath Pagent of Motoring on 6/7 July.
