Above photos by kind permission of Matt Howell / Octane Magazine
Above photos by kind permission of Michael Whitehouse
This is what Stuart has to say about the car:
I bought it from Nutley and Sports & Prestige as a trade sale on 22/7/05 and my memories of that day are carrying a large fire extinguisher on the train journey to East Sussex, being picked up by Matthew Eade's attractive partner in a Porsche 911 and being unable to open the fuel filler cap and having to ask Matthew (who luckily only had to cross the road) to put a bit more pressure on the flimsy key. Needless to say, I've had lots of practice at opening the flap since.
Some history of the car: it was originally owned by a lady called Irene Primrose Bracegirdle who I believe was in her 60's when she bought it new. Must have been some lady! Subsequently owned by a Dr Robert Clarke who bought it in 1987 after visiting a mansion near Menai Bridge. The letter to the subsequent owner described how he and a friend had a look round an old house up for sale and the octogenarian chap showed them round the premises to find the ball room had been converted into large garage containing 3 Mercedes and the Jensen. On seeing the visitor's interest in the Jensen the owner said it had been his late wife's car (who had died 8 years earlier) and that he'd sell it for £4,000. Following purchase, the new owner sent it to Sturdy and Lowe who recommissioned it. Long time first ownership and a caring second owner helping to maintain its originality.
To this day the car has a tax disc holder advertising J Bracegirdle Commercials of 16 Stockport Road, Altringham, Cheshire - which I assume relates to the original owners. Sadly there was no reply to my enquiries at the original address - but I remain keen to know of the original owners.
Fast forward to April 2008 and I picked the car up from Colin Holley of CH Autos who carried out a fantastic job, as always, on the bodywork. A testament to his work, bar stone chips from enjoying driving it, the bodywork remains as it left Colin's hands.
The car is my 5th Interceptor. I always wanted a Mk3 but many years ago I spotted a Mk1 which had been brought back from South Africa - and bought it despite it breaking down on test. Following which I was hooked on the relative simplicity of the earlier Interceptor. I sold the SA one as it needed lots of mechanical work (being bodged with Nissan steering rack, telescopic dampers welded to the trailing edge of the kingpin front suspension). What a fool. Should have kept it. Subsequently bought another Mk 1 from Norfolk which was a great car - only to part-ex it for a motor home. Driving back from Gloucester in a diesel transit remains a low point in my driving memory.
The 2 other Jensens were incomplete. One now rebuilt by someone else and I notice currently for sale abroad. The other, bought as a breaker......which I couldn't bring myself to destroy. Now owned by Paul McIhenney who intends to restore it.
