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One of the UK’s Coolest Cars Ever Could Be Making an Unexpected Comeback, V8 and All

Jensen could have a new car on the horizon to compete with TVR’s new Griffith.

Rear side view of a sleek, futuristic car with illuminated horizontal taillights against a black background.Jensen
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By Chris Chin

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Remember Jensen? The small British automaker that gave the world one of the coolest grand touring coupes, the Interceptor? Well, it appears it’s making a comeback.

The firm just released a teaser of what could be a modern interpretation of the original Interceptor, complete with a thundering V8 under the hood. And it could be on the way to go head-to-head with the highly anticipated TVR Griffith rehash.

Resurrecting one of Britain’s oldest carmakers

Sleek black car silhouette with illuminated rear light strip against a dark background.
Jensen International Automotive just teased what could be a modern reimagining of the Interceptor.
Jensen

Jensen International Automotive is the company in charge of the new supposed Interceptor revival. Although the name is mostly the same as the original brand — with some adjustments — JIA came to fruition after a bunch of investors resurrected the nameplate in 2010.

Originally founded as Jensen Motors Limited in 1922, it’s one of Britain’s oldest automotive nameplates. It started life as a sports car and commercial vehicle coachbuilder, making custom one-offs built to the specific demands of its customers.

Silver classic Jensen Interceptor car parked near a waterfront with chrome trim and black alloy wheels.
The original Jensen Interceptor is one of Britain’s most iconic grand tourers.
BritKwasneyPhoto via BringATrailer

Jensen didn’t really come to prominence until the 1960s and 1970s. Which is when it launched its first-ever mass-produced car, the FF, and its sibling, the Interceptor.

Although the FF saw an early end to its production in 1971, Jensen continued producing the Interceptor until 1976. Fewer than 400 FFs rolled off the assembly line. Then, the company went bust.

Brown classic Jensen Interceptor car parked on a dirt road under a cloudy sky.
The Interceptor’s three-door fastback design is one of automotive history’s most distinctive shapes.
Jensen International Automotive

Afterwards, Jensen teamed up with other British automakers to collaborate on some specific cars. Such includes Jensen-Healey (the same Healey as Austin Healey) and even Volvo.

Jensen tried producing a standalone model, the S-V8, during a brief revival in 2000. Then, it went bust once again and remained dormant until Jensen International Automotive emerged in 2010. JIA took up the task of specializing in the restoration and sale of old Interceptors.

The company stuck with supporting the restoration and maintenance of Interceptors before reportedly merging with another entity in 2015, creating “The Jensen Group.” But nothing seems to have come of it, leaving Jensen International Automotive.

A cool car with an even cooler name

Silver classic Jensen Interceptor coupe with black trim parked near waterfront.
Today, Interceptors are a highly-desirable collectible among British car fans.
BritKwasneyPhoto via BringATrailer

Because of their unique styling and formula, both the FF and Interceptor gained a serious cult following. They’ve also become some of the most collectible British classics.

The FF and Interceptor were both distinguished by three-door, fastback styling. Beneath the metal, they also both featured an American heart — a Chrysler 383 V8.

Front view of a silver Jensen Interceptor III car showing dual round headlights, amber side marker, and chrome bumper.
The Interceptor arguably has one of the coolest names ever, for a car.
BritKwasneyPhoto via BringATrailer

The FF takes the title as the first contemporary postwar sports car to utilize all-wheel drive. It was also one of the first cars to feature anti-lock brakes. The rear-wheel-drive-only Interceptor was sold alongside the FF.

The new Interceptor supposedly seeks to resurrect all that made the original a true British automotive icon. This includes the low-slung fastback design and even a new V8 under the hood.

Engine bay of a white classic car showing a large round black air filter cover and various hoses and components.
Another signature trait of the original Interceptor is its Chrysler-sourced V8.
BritKwasneyPhoto via BringATrailer

As with most teasers, details are largely sparse. But JIA’s latest Managing Director, David Duerden, described the new model in a statement as a limited low-production special that seeks to pay tribute to the golden days of analog motoring:

“Our first in-house vehicle takes the idea of the British luxury GT and brings it firmly into the modern era. It’s been designed and engineered from the ground up to deliver a truly special V8-powered driving experience. While it nods to the Interceptor introduced 60 years ago, this isn’t a restomod or a continuation car. It’s a completely new model that stands on its own.”

On JIA’s website, a small pop-up describes the new car as the company’s “first-ever clean-sheet-designed product.” It’ll sport “an aluminum chassis and a bespoke V8 to ensure a fully analogue driving experience.”

Black leather car interior with wooden steering wheel and wood-trimmed center console.
JIA hopes to recapture the analogue driving experience provided by the original Interceptor.
BritKwasneyPhoto via BringATrailer

Which, altogether, sounds absolutely lovely. And with TVR supposedly getting another reboot to finally bring its revived Griffth to reality, the days of classic British motoring could be getting a modern reimagining. We’re all for it.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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