Jensen Interceptor message still resonates in USA

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T22Bones
Posts: 119
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2020 8:02 pm

Jensen Interceptor message still resonates in USA

Post by T22Bones »

The promise of the brand, Jensen, still seems to resonate in the Western USA Region........this past weekend I entered the Watson Lake Car Show exhibiting my rolling restoration 1972 Interceptor. The car show is about 400 cars of mainly American Iron held in a wonderful verdant park just north of Prescott, Arizona.
The local paper captured pictures of the event: https://www.dcourier.com/news/2022/aug/ ... 7pkaG2GiHo
Much to my astonishment the Jensen caught the imagination of the crowd and was awarded the People's Choice for Original Cars! Apparently the message of a smoothly executed hybrid between English/American/Italian/(and German) designs appealed to the crowd and several hours were spent informing everyone about the Jensen Motor Car Company and its development over its fourty years of existence.
I attach a couple of pictures...
watson_lake_car_show_05_t990.jpg
watson_lake_car_show_05_t990.jpg (226.4 KiB) Viewed 1388 times
Jennie and the Watson Lake prize winner.jpg
Jennie and the Watson Lake prize winner.jpg (152.24 KiB) Viewed 1388 times
Jennie the prize winner at Watson Lake.jpg
Jennie the prize winner at Watson Lake.jpg (163.93 KiB) Viewed 1388 times
It is perhaps interesting to note that the Jensen appeal is intensified at the time of "Oil Shocks"!!
1960 Jaguar Mk2; 1964 Morris Minor Traveller; 1968 Jaguar E-Type Coupe; 2012 Porsche Panamera.
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ajc9415
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Location: Sutton, Surrey, UK

Re: Jensen Interceptor message still resonates in USA

Post by ajc9415 »

Excellent, congratulations. The car looks great!
Adrian
1974 Interceptor Mk III 2240-9415
JOC Member 9648
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johnw
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Re: Jensen Interceptor message still resonates in USA

Post by johnw »

ajc9415 wrote: Tue Aug 09, 2022 6:15 am Excellent, congratulations. The car looks great!
It really does look great. It has been interesting reading your experience getting the car to where it is, looks like it paid off in full well done! It did look better than the other classics you parked it alongside straight after you finished it.

I couldn't read the article in full because of a paywall.

I think this very new phenomena is down to "The Interceptor" being the best looking car design of it's day, if not ever. The Chrysler V8 with the standard Jensen exhausts sounds better than anything else too. Simpler and less quirky lines than an Aston V8 in most peoples eyes, which many young kids in Europe that have not seen a Jensen have in their mind as the ultimate European classic, from the later Bond films which they saw as kids.

Now that people can't really afford to keep feeding a regular modern daily driver fuel, the dream of replacing a modern car with a classic using more fuel than their current car is dead for many. Yes this massive shift has happened in the last 3 months. The Jensen is now firmly in the weekend only car category where fuel consumption is calculated as a trip to the movies, a local restaurant, a local car meeting, or the town square on a Saturday night. It is now not a significant factor. UK Auction prices are peaking for the car. Bargains are now the once overpriced, poorly advertised cars in pristine condition.

To a young unbiased eye that has not been exposed to brand PR prior to 2000 because they weren't born, Chrysler losing the post muscle car PR wars is not relevant. Add in the Mopar factor, Jensen has to be the most attractive European car to the younger kid across the pond. No need to swap in an American muscle car motor either!
Have you seen our stolen Jensen FF 119/011 https://twitter.com/jensenffdotcom
T22Bones
Posts: 119
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2020 8:02 pm

Re: Jensen Interceptor message still resonates in USA

Post by T22Bones »

Excellent, congratulations. The car looks great!
Thanks John and Adrian....the car looks better at 10ft than it is. However all the basics are nearly complete - it drives, it stops, it cools, the paint and body is presentable, the interior is improving, and the enjoyment factor is high!
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Martin R
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Location: Chipping Norton, & Sydney Australia

Re: Jensen Interceptor message still resonates in USA

Post by Martin R »

Well done! The car looks great 8)
FF MK1 119/100
Interceptor MK3 136/8514
JOC Member 8905
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RockyUSA
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Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2016 10:10 am
Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA

Re: Jensen Interceptor message still resonates in USA

Post by RockyUSA »

Congratulations Tony -

Keep showing the flag for the USA western region!

Looking forward to our trip to Telluride! It will be the biggest gathering of Jensen interceptors in the United States west of the Mississippi in years!

Rocky
‘71 TVR Vixen 2500 - (M Series Tribute)
'72 Interceptor III - 133/5597
'73 DeTomaso Pantera
'74 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-40
'95 Jaguar XJS Convertible
sespie
Posts: 580
Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 4:06 am
Location: Wellington, New Zealand

Re: Jensen Interceptor message still resonates in USA

Post by sespie »

On an entirely different note, I might add that your house - rather, driveway - is also utterly fantastic. I can see why "Rocky USA" chose that name, round your way.
Simon
1974 Interceptor III
1973 Lotus Europa Special
1979 Rover 3500
T22Bones
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Re: Jensen Interceptor message still resonates in USA

Post by T22Bones »

On an entirely different note, I might add that your house - rather, driveway - is also utterly fantastic.
Simon thanks.....Arizona has many wonderful mountain propoerties as well as the more mundane and easily buildable flat sites down in the desert near Phoenix. The Phoenix area, a 100 miles south of Prescott is too hot, too crowded and with horrendous traffic.
Our house lot up here was the biggest pile of rocks that I have ever bought and was a challenge for us to build the house. Come on over and see what I mean.....
I see you have some interesting cars and the climate here is ideal for classic cars!
Last edited by T22Bones on Fri Aug 12, 2022 12:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
1960 Jaguar Mk2; 1964 Morris Minor Traveller; 1968 Jaguar E-Type Coupe; 2012 Porsche Panamera.
sespie
Posts: 580
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Location: Wellington, New Zealand

Re: Jensen Interceptor message still resonates in USA

Post by sespie »

Is that you in your school uniform, having a sneaky smoke behind the science block back in the day???
It all looks rather British.
Simon
1974 Interceptor III
1973 Lotus Europa Special
1979 Rover 3500
T22Bones
Posts: 119
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2020 8:02 pm

Re: Jensen Interceptor message still resonates in USA

Post by T22Bones »

Simon: apologies, I was working on a eulogy for a school friend and this picture got hooked in!! And yes you are right about the origin - Gravesend Grammar School, Kent, UK 1965.
1960 Jaguar Mk2; 1964 Morris Minor Traveller; 1968 Jaguar E-Type Coupe; 2012 Porsche Panamera.
sespie
Posts: 580
Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 4:06 am
Location: Wellington, New Zealand

Re: Jensen Interceptor message still resonates in USA

Post by sespie »

Very good. Photos like that will make for a great farewell.
Simon
1974 Interceptor III
1973 Lotus Europa Special
1979 Rover 3500
T22Bones
Posts: 119
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2020 8:02 pm

Re: Jensen Interceptor message still resonates in USA

Post by T22Bones »

Here is a picture of the pride of the litter - a 1968 unrestored all original E-Tyoe with 20,000 documented miles since new. I am the second owner and have had the car for 25 years.
This car also resonates over here.....
E Type at Telluride 2019.jpg
E Type at Telluride 2019.jpg (84.27 KiB) Viewed 1263 times
1960 Jaguar Mk2; 1964 Morris Minor Traveller; 1968 Jaguar E-Type Coupe; 2012 Porsche Panamera.
sespie
Posts: 580
Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 4:06 am
Location: Wellington, New Zealand

Re: Jensen Interceptor message still resonates in USA

Post by sespie »

That's fabulous.
Simon
1974 Interceptor III
1973 Lotus Europa Special
1979 Rover 3500
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slotcarone
Posts: 1662
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Re: Jensen Interceptor message still resonates in USA

Post by slotcarone »

Great story about the car Bones! Looks very similar to my car. What's the VIN? :)
1972 Interceptor III
133-5612
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