Time to Intercept a Jensen before you regret it
There’s a group of cars that are so ubiquitous in the classic scene that they get taken for granted, their appeal blunted by over-familiarity. While that might be mildly disappointing for owners, it’s of course very healthy for aspiring enthusiasts. But a couple of factors can drag such cars into the spotlight, with a commensurate effect of values: a more desirable alternative spiralling out of reach so that buyers seek out the next best thing, and the hubbub surrounding significant anniversaries.
The latter certainly shifted the perception and values Jaguar XKs and E-types for example, but has left other models untouched. The Jensen Interceptor could benefit from both, because for a long time this hugely glamorous and drivable GT has lived in Triumph TR price territory, its appeal held in check by a disproportionate fear of its mid-teens fuel consumption, which is little worse than the Daimler Sovereign Series III that I once ran. With the 50th anniversary in 2016 and the ever higher values of its rivals and equally thirsty Aston Martin DB6 and DBS, the days of the accessible Interceptor and derivatives could well be numbered.
Buying advice and market analysis is part of 16 pages of buying information in every issue of Classic Cars magazine, including Quentin Willson’s Smart Buys, Russ Smith’s Market Watch, in-depth buying guides and Ads on Test.