StreetSafari – Jensen Interceptor V10

February 17, 2011 Posted by StreetSafari in News, Shade Tree, Views

Jensen Interceptor V10

Have you ever seen a car and you step back and go "whoa"? For me, this is this Jensen Interceptor being created at Valley Gas.

So when you get one of those moments, you have to invite yourself over. Has to be done, I'm afraid.

What struck me about this vehicle when I first saw it on Car & Classic was that it was undergoing some body work changes to make it a little more contemporary.

You could also see a wonderful attention to detail in the front grill which I felt makes this a stand out vehicle. There is obviously a design being worked to, which is what so many projects seem to lack.

Personally, I find this car more honest than many other modernised classics. Usually, a classic car is bought, the suspension ripped off, engine modified, brakes binned, and you supposedly end up with a modern reinterpretation of the original. But it's not. It's an old car that is just heavily modified. It's for someone who wants the 60/70s look, but modern driveability.

That's a mishmash in my book.

This Jensen Interceptor is hugely difference because the rebuild is taking the time and care to put a more contemporary look on it. The car maybe 1974, but the design and vision is 2011.

And there are a number of styling queues where you can see this contemporary update at work. For instance, the headlights have the modern cut out on the lower part of the main headlamp itself. The grill is totally new and really quite an exquisite piece of work, the bonnet has been given a more aggressive stance (you might not notice it, but the sides of the bonnet bulge are actually tapered in the centre by the bulge - eg the bulge is not just popping out of a flat panel), the rear of the car has two new aggressive exhaust cut outs, and that's not to mention the rear lights which have been updates from the caravan tail lights of old, to more modern circular lights.

Then there are the panels. As the owner of Valley Gas said to me, every panel has been updated. And haven't they just! But to great effect, and giving the car it's overall contemporary look.

The final part of the car is the engine which I didn't get a picture of unfortunately. The wonderful Dodge V10 from a Viper. If you've heard the Viper engine howl in a tunnel, then just the thought of it in the Jensen should give you goose bumps.

If there was ever a modern re-interpretation of a Jensen Interceptor, then this has to be it.

I would love to see this car again when it's finished. Hint ;)