Simon & Jo Letts Interceptor S

Simon & Jo Letts - Interceptor S
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KaranMK2
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Simon & Jo Letts Interceptor S

Post by KaranMK2 »

In 2018, I saw how well Simon and Jo's car performed on a road trip and of how much less they had to re-fuel compared to the rest of us on the trip. I asked Simon to write a small piece on his Jensen pursuit, of their super car and to share some photos. Below is from Simon and Jo.

GKM473N left the Jensen factory on 20 September 1974 as an Interceptor Mark III with a white body, black vinyl roof and red interior. It re-emerged some thirty-eight years later as an Interceptor “S” with a new registration – JEN56N – and a metallic purple body (matched to my favourite tie) with a cream interior.

My first Jensen experience was as a nineteen-year-old, lucky enough to get a lift to a summer vacation job in an Interceptor. It certainly livened up the 18-mile drive from Stratford-on-Avon to Evesham each morning, and so it was not a hard decision to put a deposit down in May 2008 to book production slot 24, out of a scheduled 50, with V-Eight at Cropredy Bridge.

Little did I appreciate the tortuous journey that was ahead of me, but it was worth the four year wait and the anxiety of the demise of V-Eight once Jensen International Automation delivered the amazing car I have today, in March 2012.

With its General Motors LS3, 6.2l, V8 engine producing 430 bhp, a GM 4-speed electronic automatic transmission, upgraded suspension and brakes it is for all intents and purposes a modern car in a 45 year old body, and a joy to drive.

Now 12,000 miles later the highlight of my driving has been a road trip to the USA in June 2018 along with three other Interceptors and a CV-8. 2,000 miles of untroubled motoring with some exceptional fellow Jensenites (see JOC magazine 261 for the full write up). What next I hear you ask? New Zealand beckons….
Attachments
Passenger side view
Passenger side view
JEN56N_05.jpeg (172.57 KiB) Viewed 7014 times
Driver side view
Driver side view
JEN56N_04.jpeg (161.19 KiB) Viewed 7014 times
Interior
Interior
JEN56N_03.jpeg (97.54 KiB) Viewed 7014 times
Front view
Front view
JEN56N_02.jpeg (175.18 KiB) Viewed 7014 times
Engine Bay
Engine Bay
JEN56N_01.jpeg (111.77 KiB) Viewed 7014 times
colin7673
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Re: Simon & Jo Letts Interceptor S

Post by colin7673 »

It’s a great car to drive, it’s how Jensen should have been had the technology been available in the 60’s and 70’s.
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41B686CF-2EBF-4B10-8FEF-730DFF847B55.jpeg
41B686CF-2EBF-4B10-8FEF-730DFF847B55.jpeg (201.1 KiB) Viewed 6748 times
Only working half a day now.
http://www.jensensontour.co.uk
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Martin R
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Re: Simon & Jo Letts Interceptor S

Post by Martin R »

During the USA trip, I have to admit I was a little jealous of Simon & Jo's fuel economy and, when my old air-con broke down in 100 degree F heat, jealous of their working air-con !!
Unflustered, reliable, comfortable & still cool looking, a great car 8)
FF MK1 119/100
Interceptor MK3 136/8514
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Mike L
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Location: Charleston, SC

Re: Simon & Jo Letts Interceptor S

Post by Mike L »

It looked quite nice in front of my house with the other Interceptors. Not something you're lucky enough to see over here very often.
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IMG_5487.jpg
IMG_5487.jpg (325.94 KiB) Viewed 6726 times
CV8 MK1 104/2004
CV8 MK1 104/2035
Jensen Healey 1110/14162
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RockyUSA
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Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA

Re: Simon & Jo Letts Interceptor S

Post by RockyUSA »

That would be awesome to have a line of Interceptors in front of your house.

I believe there are exactly two in Tucson, AZ, and one is “going in for paint” (as of 3 years ago!)

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
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Martin R
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Location: Chipping Norton, & Sydney Australia

Re: Simon & Jo Letts Interceptor S

Post by Martin R »

Mike L wrote:It looked quite nice in front of my house with the other Interceptors. Not something you're lucky enough to see over here very often.
The others don't look too shabby either :wink:
Great location for a photo shoot too :D
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Interceptor MK3 136/8514
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Julian
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Location: Milford Auckland New Zealand

Re: Simon & Jo Letts Interceptor S

Post by Julian »

How excellent.
Love to see you and the car in NZ.
BMW M635csi (Dinan 3.8) & 1976 Interceptor Convertible
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ChrisL
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Re: Simon & Jo Letts Interceptor S

Post by ChrisL »

In North Carolina, June 2018:
Black Mountain Jun 2018 Little Switzerland.JPG
Black Mountain Jun 2018 Little Switzerland.JPG (178.02 KiB) Viewed 6388 times
Chris L
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GT 30305
Perth, Australia
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