1973 | Jensen Interceptor SP

The Jensen SP with its Six-Pack carburettor system was launched onto the market in 1971 as the Company’s new flagship car. Today these cars are rare, only 232 SP models were produced and the SP was to be the fastest, most powerful model offered by the West Bromwich manufacturers. HON 9L is a special car in its own right, its covered just 29500 miles from new and has recently been subject of a £35,000 re-commissioning program of work that also included some cosmetic re-finishing.

HON 9L was supplied new by Philip Mist (Automobiles) Ltd in Handsworth, Birmingham to Francis Williams Oil Co Ltd of Bristol Street, Birmingham on the 18th April 1973 and the production card with the car confirms it was supplied in Pacific Blue with Beige trim, as it presents today. The Jensen carried out most of its mileage in its first ten years, its first services are recorded at 1291 and 3805 miles and in 1974 at 12294 miles the SP was back with Jensen for some warranty work, all of which is detailed within the history file. Having spent its very early life in the Midlands, in 1982 the SP headed north with around 29000 miles covered from new within the nine years, but after only one year it was placed in storage, and not put back on the road until 2021.

The Jensen came out of storage in 2018 and sold to its most recent in Harrogate. During the summer of 2018, a re-commissioning and light restoration program was started on what was an incredibly original car. The Jensen was stripped to a rolling shell, windscreens removed and areas of corrosion were cut out and replaced with new panels to include a front wing repair sections, new lower door bottom sections, rear wheel arch panel, inner and outer sills, inner and outer valances and complete front panel. The Jensen shell was then prepared for a re-paint in its original colour, and then built up with renewed chrome work, new rubbers, trims, gaskets seals and tread plates. The Jensen interior was then fully cleaned, treated and a new set of wool carpets fitted to the car.

HON 9L has covered very little mileage since completion and as result, presents in excellent condition throughout. Mechanically the SP is impressive with a strong, fit ultra-low mileage 7.2 V8 engine offering fantastic performance. No doubt due to the time off the road, the automatic gearbox was not functioning correctly so was removed from the car in 2022 and rebuilt, and the brakes overhauled as necessary. As result, this SP is excellent to drive and feels sharp, precise and offers an incredibly enjoyable driving experience. With just 29,500 miles, this rare SP is a highly desirable collectors piece that will prove difficult to replicate.