Jensen Interceptor back from the dead

Lovers of one particular classic British sports car marque will today be mulling over the prospect of a sports car that’s at once brand new and 41 years old; that’s because Jensen is about to launch the Interceptor S, a fully restored and updated version of the famous Interceptor that could be capable of humbling some much younger machinery.Jensen specialist dealer Cropredy Bridge, now relaunched as V Eight Ltd, has bought 50 Interceptor coupes back from their owners, stripped them down to the bare metal shell, proofed them against corrosion, and then rebuilt them with modern, lightweight materials. The car’s cabin has been modernised, its chassis, running gear and brakes likewise, and its engine and gearbox totally replaced.V Eight’s new Interceptor S runs independent rear suspension, six-pot AP disc brakes, 17in wheels with low-profile tyres and GM’s 414bhp 6.0-litre V8 engine mated to a five-speed automatic gearbox.“The Interceptor S has taken us nearly three years to develop,” said V Eight Managing Director Steve Bannister. “Our aim was to build a powerful car that could take its place amongst the very best of British design and engineering; we believe that the Interceptor S can hold its own with any of the major competitors in the market.”The car will be launched at the Classic Car Show running next week at Birmingham’s NEC. V Eight is asking £74,960 for each of them, which isn’t small beans even for a brand-new sports car. However, buy one of the pre-1972 models, on its original VIN, and at least it’ll be exempt from road tax. For more information on the car, click here.