Jensen Interceptor returns with LS2 V8
Click above for high-res gallery of the V Eight Jenson Interceptor
Any automotive enthusiast can quote you the story of the Cobra; the British AC Ace stuffed with a Ford V8, a strategy that was equally successful for Sunbeam with its Tiger - right down to the Ford small-block V8 - though the Cobra later got the FE big block. Perhaps less well known are the GTs to come out of Jensen. We even featured one of these more obscure English muscle-machines as a Reader Ride a while back. The original Jensen Interceptor sported a body designed by Italy's Touring, and various flavors of Mopar V8 were nestled in the nose. Nearly 40 years on, V Eight LTD is engaging in some revisionist history.
The Jensen Interceptor S by V Eight is essentially a total rebuilding of an original Interceptor, with many key areas upgraded with modern components. A General Motors LS2 sends 414 horsepower to the independently sprung rear wheels through a modern five-speed automatic transmission. The stock chassis calibration has been upgraded as well, and 17-inch wheels couple tire to tarmac. £75,000 pounds will get you a hand-rebuilt and upgraded Jensen that's a significant improvement in quality over the original, while also benefitting from decades of advancement in engine management. Some might yawn at the small block and its virtual hotrodding ubiquity, and a more esoteric powertrain swap would be equally exciting. We'd be just as puppy-dog waggy over a twin-turbo VQ V6 smashed in there, but who can argue with a vintage sports car that never fails to light off instantly, idles demurely, and can snap the tendons in your neck when you flatten the pedal, all wrapped in an uncommon body shell? Any chance we could get one to sample for the Autoblog Garage? Thanks for the tip, Pottz!
Gallery: Jensen Interceptor S
[Source: jensen-cars.co.uk]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rouse42 5:16PM (5/16/2008)
cool car but i like my Interceptor Better!
2007 RC46 SP2 VFR800 25th anniversary
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mk 1:06AM (5/17/2008)
Those are slick bikes in red white and navy blue metallic.
That is the only Honda motorcycle that would replace my RC31 Hawk GT... Aluminum frame and single-sided swing arm Hondas are the most interesting ones.
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On topic,
The Jensen Interceptor is an interesting car, and as a classic, is quite compelling and interesting.
It isn't exactly common to find chassis, body, interior or trim parts, though.
Somehow a Jaguar XJ sedan or coupe seems like a bit more of a practical british classic, and easier to maintain than a rarer Jensen. The Jag inline 6 is a nice engine in itself, but could be transplanted with a newer, more easily maintained crate engine.
Hmmmm.... a modular Ford V8 in an IRS jag sedan... Crown vic-like drivetrain reliability, Mustang or more power, and a stylish british saloon chassis and body, if it is rust-free... (Good luck on the last bit, though.)
ckm 5:21PM (5/16/2008)
Cool, hopefully, this will increase the value of my two Interceptors.
BTW, the stock 440 in the Interceptor is 385hp. If you do a mild build, it is easily 450-500hp.
I'm currently doing a similar rebuild of one of my cars with modern components.
Chris.
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MemphisNET 5:45PM (5/16/2008)
Love the LS series V8's, but wouldn't a crate HEMI be more historically correct? Perhaps the new 6.4, or even the older non-hemi, race spec Magnum 5.9's ?
Regardless, still awesome.
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Duders 5:51PM (5/16/2008)
Still VERY awesome.
The Doctor 5:55PM (5/16/2008)
If they could do the same with an FF I'd be at their door in a second.
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Ian 6:35PM (5/16/2008)
The Interceptor is quite a heavy GT car and needs the torque of a nice V8. The LS2 seems ideal and I suspect it is rather smaller and less heavy than the original 440 engine. This is important as the engine bay is quite smaller and the worst characteristic of the opriginal was over heating engines. I know I owned one for years.
75 big ones isn't cheap, but compared to other handbuilt cars it's a a bargain.
The FF. Of course this could be done to a FF but they are somewhat rarer and owners less likely to change the spec.
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ckm 1:13AM (5/17/2008)
BTW, they overheat because the head gaskets are different from the original ones. In 1973, Chrysler changed a cooling passage hole in the head gasket from round to a slot. This was done to increase cylinderhead temps so that emissions would be better. It didn't cause any problems in American cars, with much larger bays and uprated cooling systems.
It also did not cause any problems in the Interceptors until the engines were rebuilt since Jensen used up their stock of pre-73 engines up until they went bust. All of the head gaskets currently sold are slotted, but Martin Robey (http://www.martinrobey.com/popup.cfm?p_n=226009&p_i=226009Ohas made a die to punch a round hole, returning the head gaskets to original pre-73 state.
Don't think of attempting this yourself as you will likely destroy the multi-layered gasket....
bepsf 12:52PM (5/17/2008)
I'd rather spend $150K on this than a new BMW M6...
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Whitehall 4:55PM (5/17/2008)
Why not just get a Pontiac GTO? The 2004 had the 350 hp 5.7 engine while the later ones had a 6.0 liter LS2.
Some are still available with a 3 year warranty for a quarter of the price.
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