1974 Jensen Interceptor - Jay Leno's Garage

[@chrishoeft4166]

I was a typical broke USAF Staff Sgt stationed in the UK in the mid 70's who by chance teamed up with another Staff Sgt who came from a very rich family and was doing a bit of "slumming" with us. He bought one of these Jensen Interceptors just for something to drive. We made many a pleasant road trip from RAF Alconbury to London in it and I will never forget the experience. I just happened to stumble onto this episode late one night. Thanks Jay!

[@bighands69]

Your staff Sgt salary in the US military was higher than the normal salary at the time in the UK. In the UK any car above a 1.3 liter displacement was considered a premium car in the 1970s. You could have had a Mustang, Charger or Corvette in the US for a lot less than a Jensen car was in the late 60s or 1970s.

[@1164mat]

straight blatt down the A1 i guess

[@robertmanfredthurrigl9424]

by chance teamed up with another Staff Sgt who came from a very rich family and was doing a bit of "slumming" with us HAH HAH NOW THAT IS FUNNY !!!!

[@philipmccarthy6175]

@@bighands69 The thing about engine size is an American thing . Most of those 60's & 70's American 5 & 6 litre V8's were woefully underpowered and most European cars with 2 to 3 litre engined were more powerful and better engineered. Still the case today and the build quality is superior (still).

[@bighands69]

@@philipmccarthy6175 You are living in a fantasy if you think a European 2 litre was more powerful than an American 5 litre. A Mustang GT with a 5 litre engine produced 225 hp a Jaguar Mark 2 produced 120 hp from a 2.5 litre engine. A 3.8 litre MK2 had 190 hp. Those cars were twice as expensive as the Mustang and did not produce the same HP. If you are talking about larger vehicles it was not the horsepower that matter it was the torque and the application of power that made them very smooth to drive. A boxy little 1 litre engine that was very unstable was not as nice to drive.

[@micko5664]

Without doubt, bar none, no argument, thee coolest name for any car ever, period.

[@davekp6773]

Monty Zuma True. The Kia interceptor. The Hyundai Interceptor, the Tata interceptor.

[@ZGryphon]

I put it just barely second to the Mercury Marauder, but mostly because of the alliteration.

[@justas525]

Jeremy Clarkson: should we take The Interceptor tonight darling ?

[@realMaverickBuckley]

@Dean Blake You don't think 'Interceptor' is a cool name ?

[@DAP-mi7ck]

You could be right.

[@doogaltube]

As a kid growing up in England in the 70’s these were off the scale exotic!

[@MrTubbymarshall]

doogaltube true. We had the Gill family near us, the leisure clothing line family. They had one. It was a sight as he drive out his gravel drive. Just oooooooozed style and prestige.

[@16rumpole]

I remember them too. I would love to have one.

[@millomweb]

Likely the first car I saw with electric windows. I'd be about 8 years old at the time.

[@michaelharrison1093]

As a kid growing up in England I got to experience first hand what they were like when the rear end stepped out in the wet - I can still remember that vividly to this day. I can also remember the stereo which had an 8-track player. This was like some kind of alien technology that no other british cars had back then.

[@ML-dl1cp]

My dad (in Brighton) had not one but two (sequentially, not at the same time). He was constantly frustrated with their unreliability but he LOVED driving them when they worked.

[@normturner]

I used to sell these in the 70”s...just put them behind the wheel..turn up the eight track player and cruise through the hills...instant sell. Love it....and you should see it as a convertible....wow

[@paulfrancis6059]

I knew someone with the convertible in the 70's .. a beautiful motor!

[@ashsundar6117]

Wow. I didn't. Know there was a convertible!..

[@rocksteele6926]

I have driven the convertible. Great car. My girlfriend's father is a collector of vintage cars.

[@bighands69]

They were a rich persons car in the UK like Aston, Jag or Bentley.

[@pedinhuh16]

@@bighands69 funnily enough, I heard they had the pricetag and maintenance costs, but commanded none of the glamour purely because they weren't a Jag, AM or Bentley. Pure nonsense if you ask me, this car is miles ahead.

[@shmujew4791]

That shirt hes wearing is hypnotizing me

[@championthewonderhorse9733]

The very definition of moire

[@AsinineComment]

The effect is called 'strobing'. It's odd that after all his years in t.v., Jay had no spare shirt for the weirdly sniffing guest.

[@dooombringerrr]

He's like The Predator from that film.

[@johndrake2729]

Not as much as the car itself.

[@theundergroundlairofthesqu9261]

@@dooombringerrr Oh yeah, that film about the Predator! What did they call it?

[@mikebeer1567]

Probably the greatest name a car has ever had

[@stevenrobert8567]

It's Butt ugly

[@kennethtyree4770]

High styling. History now. Cars you admired when you were young. Now they suck.

[@stevenrobert8567]

@@kennethtyree4770 the J-interceptor was ugly back then and still is. The 60's cars, for the most part, are still cool and getting cooler. Todays cars are as ugly as my naked butt. Dig, 4770 ken?

[@kennethtyree4770]

@@stevenrobert8567 Zany styling, Star Trek. Yeah, I dig. Tell me something I don't know.

[@stevenrobert8567]

@@kennethtyree4770 OKay, kenny, I'm g0ing t0 tell y0u s0mething y0u d0n't kn0w Mine is bigger than y0urs (--:

[@YasumotoUS]

That was one of the most genuine and comfortable dialogues yet between Jay and an owner. Also, I love the family inputs with the restoration of this car. It doesn't get more honest. Neat episode.

[@JMichael2x2]

I agree, it was a most pleasant dialogue - relaxed, and so natural.

[@kimfielding8010]

Respect to Mom n Sis on your classy interior work, Made with love....... But its a Jensen💰

[@joeessid5616]

An all-time personal favorite. The 440 has long been one of my favorite mills, but when wrapped in this sheet metal...put me in the “lust” camp for an Interceptor.

[@mikecrowe4674]

It’s noteworthy that there is a lot of love for this car out there judging by the comments👍

[@lambdalambdalambdaa]

This is amazing especially when you realize this isn't scripted and is an off the cuff conversation. And Jay is actually listening to his guests. These interviews go really well when the owner actually holds the convo up.

[@rg.7022]

the owner is very likable, could listen to him and Jay talking for hours

[@ilcool90]

Same here

[@dleetr]

Yes, once you got over the unfortunate sniffling which was unavoidable, he knows his stuff, he was attentive to keeping the flow of the interaction going and had a pleasant demeanor. And didn't look bad on camera either. Good job mate.

[@krutoysilnostarina]

you're gay

[@purplexenno]

true, but that shirt is causing me to get a headache because of the moire pattern.

[@willemp6432]

But he should blow his fu......g nose....AAAGH!

[@RobPudWilliams]

They were made in West Bromwich - I used to see them being roadtested when I was a young man.

[@tedrising4639]

"Labor omnia vincit," - Baggies!

[@wingcommanderdaltonwalton67]

Rob Williams come on yow baggiz

[@richlee509]

Kelvin Ways Finest

[@matthewwilliams9288]

That'd be a great sight!

[@gord307]

Hello from Coseley :-)

[@Blech319]

Jay's shirt takes you back in time. That guy's shirts bends time itself.

[@nkelly.9]

At 11:19 Jay's belt can be seen not going through the loop on his jeans on his left side. At 12:53 this is rectified. I guess they cut that bit out. Hollywood.

[@christopherward5065]

It still manages to be beautiful. The lines, angles, curves and sweeps. The car is just beyond criticism for looks.

[@LeapSonic]

One of the truly cool cars of all time. My cousin had one in London. In 1972 we were visiting from the states for another cousin's wedding there. A bunch of us crammed into the Jensen for the bachelor party that went until the early morning hours. As the youngest (17) I was crammed in the trunk under the bubble window as we careened around London from bar to bar and club to club. It was one of the best nights of my life, and the Interceptor played a significant role.

[@sensibleb]

This guy was one of the most chill, likable guests I've seen on this channel. And I love the Interceptor. Really enjoyed this video a lot.

[@Blontified]

Sensi Bleb - His shirt moires like eff too.

[@Grom-rl8bm]

His runny nose was irritating, but good guy!

[@cheyennedogsoldiers]

Great episode Jay and a real blast back to my teens. When I was 16, my very first job was as a trainee at a local resto shop here in the UK and I'd only been there for a few days when a guy brought in a 71 Interceptor for work. The car in question only had 270 miles on the clock. It had been bought new, unfortunately the original owner passed away shortly after purchasing the car, so it had been left sitting in a damp wooden garage which eventually collapsed onto the car. Well roll forward to 1983 and it came into the shop with for bodywork etc. The car had never been run in all that time so there was work to be done, obviously I wanted to be involved with it. At that time I'd already built my first car on the drive at home, a British Ford Consul powered by a Ford 302, furthermore I'd spent a lot of time hanging around with a friend of the family helping and working on his cars. He owned both a 69 Ford LTD 429 and a 70 Chrysler 300 with the 440 so felt confident enough to tackle a Jensen's 440, but the older guys there would have none of it. Anyway long story short they couldn't get it to fire up, however I had already spotted the problem. They had the plug wires hooked up as if for Big Block Ford, and I knew the 440's were different. I tried telling them but I was 16 and hand;'t even been there a week so I was ignored. Well during lunch I went out to the car and was just standing looking at the engine when the owner of the shop walked in. He asked what I was doing and I just said looking, Any we begin chatting, like me he was a huge American car fan, at that time he had a 70 Cougar and a 75 F250, actually I think that was why I got the job in the first place. However, as we talked I mentioned I thought they had the plug wire on wrong so he just said, well put them right. So I did and it fired straight up. Obviously;y that did not go down well with the older guys at the shop, one of whom did everything he could to make my life hell from that point on! Thankfully, a couple of the other guys were cool and I ended up working on the car with them for over a year. Sadly the shop went out of business before the car was completed so I never got to see it finished, but, I did drive it a few times on the country lanes around the town. You know just to be sure things were working correctly, but it was such a cool experience!

[@neilgibbons2532]

cheyennedogsoldiers nice little story i almost cried jus kid n good job

[@jacobusderottmann1000]

Thanks for sharing this. In the 70s, a young friend (maybe 20 at the time, looked younger) and his cousins were out looking for possible project cars. They stopped at a junkyard to ask about one they had seen in the yard and found three middle aged guys including the business owner around a Chrysler cussing it profusely. Cranking it was not working. The young guys were into Mopars, and my friend started trying to explain about the distributor. The older guys glared at him and the owner said that if he was so smart, he'd sell the car to him for $100 on condition it was out of his shop in 15 minutes and off his property by closing time. $100 and a title exchange later, they pushed it outside, my friend loosened the distributor and turned the symmetrical shaft 180 degrees and set it back in... and cranked it up. The fellows inside looked out and glared again. And the young Mopar dudes drove it away.

[@buck6604]

Jay Leno's Garage is America's classiest, most insightfully informative automotive show. Totally fantastic Mr Leno and thank you very much indeed.

[@mironsiembida3786]

Jeremy even we Europeans admire JL garage !

[@robertmanfredthurrigl9424]

Jay Leno is a cool bloke. Jeremy Clarkson from top gear fancied himself as a comedian which is why i never liked watching his naff show . This is how i like it . Laid back informative and justthe stats . Forget comedy!

[@dennelclayton5188]

Yes thanks indeed, I enjoy and learn so much information from watching his show.

[@peterfeltham8065]

@@robertmanfredthurrigl9424 Bang on Robert,totally agree.But you failed to mention one thing....Clarkson is rude,Leno has manners.

[@seanoneillsongs]

Back in 1971, I worked for a short time at an Opel dealership in Dublin, Ireland. The place was in the city centre and in a fairly old building. Opel had just introduced its Ascona and the sexier Manta. One afternoon, a large lump of ceiling dropped smack onto the roof of a lovely metallic blue Manta sitting on the showroom floor. The rest of the car dusted off clean but the roof was in a sad state. One week later, a blue Manta with a black vinyl roof and a slight increase in price sat under the repaired ceiling. Always loved the Interceptor. Thanks for sharing your passion.

[@zodrob7]

I always quite liked the Manta, don't see any of them at all now

[@bighands69]

The Manta and Escort MK1 were sort of copying the likes of Dodge chargers and Mustangs and they were beautiful in their own right. Opel today is a sad shadow of its previous designs.

[@edj54]

I remember back in 1974, because of the "oil shortage" the gov came out with a list of cars and their proposed m.p.g. (miles per gallon). The Jensen Interceptor had the honor of having the worst rating. I believe it was about 5 mpg. Of course, it instantly became one of my favorite cars.

[@johnsaccoccio7373]

What a memory! A fellow student took his dad's to school one day (Danvers MA), must have been 1975, and that car ripped around campus all day. Bravo keeping it alive and beautiful all this time!

[@jacobusderottmann1000]

Interesting. I had a 5 ton motorhome with a 440 and it got 5 to 6 mpg initially, and 9 mpg highway after Z-Max engine and transmission treatments. Most applications in cars are geared too low. 440s will launch a 2 ton car very well with the tallest differential gears you can put behind it.

[@larryjohnstone6260]

The 1973 fake oil scandal! Lol

[@garynew9637]

Haha

[@ammoalamo6485]

@@larryjohnstone6260 It wasn't a fake scandal, it was a real scandal! Of course if they had shale oil, fracking, deep-water drilling, and all the North Slope and other harsh environment wells, plus a few decades in well drilling and extraction improvements, there would never have been an OPEC - created shortage. Now OPEC is crying in their beards, o boo hoo we are running out of oil please Mr USA don't push the prices down again... The idea of peak oil was true, except it failed to anticipate the new tech that found so much more oil that could be extracted. We will still reach a peak oil point, sometime in the future, but no one is worried about it today.

[@reekashade]

Always thought this should have been a Bond car...as a kid growing up in the UK, it always turned my head...still love the look!

[@mariogiresi6792]

If I’m not mistaken this car was featured in OHMSS 1969. I’ll have to check.

[@drsnz]

@@mariogiresi6792 Nope - OHMSS was Aston Martin DBs. The Jensen Interceptor was driven by the British agent Quiller in some of the books

[@mariogiresi6792]

drsnz Thank you!

[@dennisdreyer1439]

A 1973 Jensen Interceptor was featured as DI Thomas Lynley’s car in the BBC One series Inspector Lynley Mysteries. Around the third season Lynley traded the Jensen for a 1969 Bristol 410. Perhaps they were competing against Inspector Morse' iconic Mark 2 Jag for the classiest car on TV?

[@rcr76]

Whenever I see a reliant scimitar coming in th the distance I think oh sweet a interceptor.

[@richardtattersall647]

i'm proud to be british and I'm also proud that my American brothers also love this car, what a fine example of the best named car INTERCEPTOR. sounds so sweet too.

[@epbrown01]

I've got a Moto Guzzi 850t (see profile pic) and those were called Interceptors too. I vaguely recall there were other vehicles that used it too.

[@robertmanfredthurrigl9424]

In the first MAD MAX film his initial yellow high way patrol car had INTERCEPTOR written on it.

[@garynew9637]

Mad Max would downvote this.

[@frufru0071]

Mikael Jensen I should hope so! Did you like it so much that you bought the company? Oops! I’m confusing Jensen with Remington (shavers), & a man named Victor Kermit Kiam II, so, never mind me. I digress...

[@hulado]

of course ford had the interceptor also. a cop car. pursuit styling.

[@jdgimpa]

I worked for a Chrysler dealer in the 70s who also sold Jensen's. I was lucky enough to get to drive some of them when they were new.

[@JAZZZZZ8]

Let ya drive mine when I finish the restoration

[@jeffallinson8089]

One of the most stylish and iconic GT cars ever made and I just love them.

[@timhancock6626]

They just rusted away in the UK so its great to see one being used the way it should be used and being wonderfully looked after into the bargain. What a treat to watch, thank you Jay and Mark

[@paulmanson253]

Hooligans. Jay Leno is an unaffected, naturally funny guy. Two relaxed individuals talking knowledgeablely about an automobile built in small numbers for a small market. This episode is a classic. The exhaust cutout is a classic. Way to go,thanks and Merry Christmas, Jay.Ya done good.

[@deeremeyer1749]

Great. You can blow them later.

[@stevecamp06]

Any blowing probably happened a while back mate.

[@joecebu2791]

@@deeremeyer1749 You had to go there. Homophobe much?

[@bigredc222]

I was thinking it would nice if Jay took him to dinner or did something else with him, the guy drove 3000 miles, it would be cool to just hang out in the shop for a few days looking at everything, maybe lend a hand.

[@jeremycondon8874]

I always have a strong urge to take a drive every time I watch one of Jay's videos, regardless of the car or bike he features. He's a true gearhead! Right on!

[@Vicus_of_Utrecht]

Finding this channel really brings back my gearhead passion

[@chefdan87]

I love the look of these cars, first introduced to them on old Top Gear episodes and have just fell in love with their looks. Old School British muscle.

[@fusionfan6883]

My Dad had one of the first Interceptors but it was a complete dog as the early bodies were built in Turin and it leaked like a sieve. Also they didn’t have limited slip diff and it kept scrubbing tyres on the windy roads in Italy when he used to drive over to the ancestral town. Eventually Jensen swapped it for a later model. The first was a metallic blue, and the replacement was a metallic sand colour with a black vinyl roof. As a kid I loved the growl of that beefy engine. Another story, we had a young beagle puppy which managed to get into the garage and into the car as Dad had left the window open. It proceeded to destroy the Connolly leather interior. Needless to say, after nearly being launched into orbit, the dog was returned to the kennels!

[@Bruno-xb2mt]

I’m a guy who’s usually into BMWs, Porsches and 90s JDM stuff but the Jenson Interceptor just gave me so much joy the first time I’d seen one and still does for some reason. It’s my favourite car, just brilliantly cool and unique idc if the dynamics aren’t anything like my e92 335i, I’d be happy to just cruise along in comfort doing smooth overtakes when needed.

[@junkman6456]

This Jensen is one of the best cars who had ever shown here! Thank you, gentlemen!

[@UBZUKki]

Absolute CLASSIC classy car from back in the day.....The guy did a fantastic job restoring this beauty and big respect to his Mum and sister for taking care of the interior........ Awesome.

[@MrRandomcommentguy]

One of THE coolest cars of all time

[@Paul-in-Missouri]

When I was in the Navy and going to an NSA school at Ft. Meade in 74, our captain owned one that was identical to this one. She drove it like a maniac!

[@pvann4890]

I could listen to him teach us all day long . And I dropped out . He is teaching , not just saying “I know everything “ . Never thought much of Jay Leno , but I love Jay Lenos Garage :)

[@mrbadx19]

i like it when an owner does his own restoration and mods, and is knowlegable about the make history, Mark thanks for making the trip. super nice car! though you did look a little nervous when jay was driving.

[@Totemparadox]

One of the best episodes in a while. Mark seemed like a real stand up guy and he was realistic with the car. He likes the nostalgia, but isn't afraid to improve the car with modern/better parts.

[@Chuck59ish]

European style with American grunt. What a combination. Thanks for the video Jay and Mark.

[@trespire]

and Italian styling.

[@elliottanderson2453]

trespire No offence but Italy is in Europe.

[@davekp6773]

Stag (Rover V8 started off as a Buick) Cobra (AC Ace) and Ford GT40 also in this family of cars.

[@sharkamov]

I remember the summer I was 14, my dad got a call from someone who needed towing and repair (I didn't know it a the time, but the vehicle in question was an Interceptor in dark blue metallic). My dad ordered one of the mechanics to take our sturdy Land Rover Defender 110, to go pick up the Jensen, and I was going along as a 'chaffeur' (solely for steering and applying the brakes (when needed!), getting the towed car back to our garage. This happened on an island at the coast of Norway in the late sixties, at the time there was only gravel roads all over the island, and the story went like this: An English couple had driven all the way from somewhere in England, they was to visit family on our island, and in an attempt to get up to the farm they were headed, the car hit a big rock protruding up from the middle of the old farm road, knocking a considerable hole in the engine's aluminum oil pan (the owner obviously assumed there was 'enough' of a clearing to pass over!) . . . By the help of a tractor, they had maneuvered the Interceptor back down to the main road, where it was waiting for us. The mechanic attached a solid piece of chain between the two (British!) cars, and so we started our journey back, a distance of about 20 km (12,5 miles). The trip went well, but I was sweating like a pig at the end, and my right foot was almost _cramped_ from braking the heavy car all throughout the towing! . . . I remember that the oil pan had to be sent to the closest city for to be properly mended (welded). It took a few days, and when it was at last fitted back on the car, the proper amount of oil filled, and the same (totally car nut!) mechanic started it up, he of course _had_ to 'test' that all was ship shape: I will _never_ forget 'throaty' roar from the powerful engine and the *_HUGE_* amount of gravel that was spun out from under the rear wheels - as he accelerated along the stretch of road in front of our garage! . . . . Funny how some things will stick with you . . .😄

[@jmpmusva]

Worked at a Rolls Royce dealership in West Palm Beach back in the mid 70's. We also sold these. I loved these. I was a 18-19 years old mechanic. They had great seats and the best Lear 8-track going. I got to drive them every week or two.

[@500krp]

When I was a kid, I had a Matchbox Jensen...had never seen one before that. Loved the design for that time period. I really like the rear roofline and window.

[@Onesize17]

I still have one. Never saw the actual car until this show.

[@andrewphippsphillips1455]

Have a look about and search "Corgi Whizzwheels Jensen" and you may well find a miniature 2"/3" version of the Interceptor. I have one intact and another I'm tidying up, it just needs new wheels that will give it a decent low ride look....

[@fishhuntadventure]

I had one (matchbox) but I didn’t know... I thought it was as a showcase custom built to advertise car stereos...

[@ammoalamo6485]

@Squirmin Herman the one eyed German That's called OC for Obsessive Compulsive. What good are the little cars sitting in the box? They were made to zoom around the floor on imaginary roads, or in a kid's hand driving on the back of the couch, or even run through the plastic roads in a kit. At least buy two, and let some kids play with the spares. Geeezz.

[@gustavochinchilla4324]

@@andrewphippsphillips1455 Woow, as a diecast collector, i will find one for my collection, tanks for the information

[@williamrance5086]

Enjoyed this video very much. Being a Brit and listening to Jay's comments on the price of gas, air-conditioning and American engines in European cars does bring debatable comparisons and differences faced by British manufacturers as opposed to American back in the sixties, even, fifties. Economics, the size of the average British road in that era, the lack of motorways, the price of fuel and the physical size of cars, all presented the British motor industry with a definite set of limitations not faced by the Americans. As regards air-conditioning, well, until we ordinary Brits started taking trips into Europe, especially Southern France and Spain from the late sixties onwards, air-conditioning was seen by most as an un-required luxury. Efficient heaters had a greater priority. It made sense in the UK to have smaller cars with 4 cylinder engines rather than gas guzzling v8s. As a very young boy at the end of WW2 where I lived, in the NW of England, we used to see many a US military man driving around in a big American car that they had shipped over to show off to us Brits what a real car was made of. They were huge in our eyes! It filled the young British generation, fed upon Gene Vincent and Elvis, with wonderment - the older Brits' thinking, why the hell don't those Yanks clear off back to the states, and, take their flaming obscene chariots back with them! My father's friend was in the Canadian military over in England where he lived a while. He shipped over his Canadian built American car - a Ford Meteor or similar. It was left hand drive, had a front bench seat and a column gear shift. He would put on his Fedora hat, and with his clipped moustache, setting the cool scene, come to our house, pick me and my young friends up and take us for a ride - boy! Did we think we were big time! All the other kids, green with envy. Far off days, but the memories, most enjoyable. Regards to all at the garage. Bill.

[@annother3350]

You don't think people will he talking about Honda vtec? The g-wiz, the tesla??

[@Odessa45]

@@annother3350 hahaha...NOPE!

[@richardjames5006]

Ann Other No

[@bighands69]

+William Rance Britain's post WW2 economy was a planned economy. While the German economy was free-market and all about trade. Britain tried to engineer a planned economy and it crashed and burned dreadfully. The Auto industry in the UK was nationalized which to be honest was not that far of what the USSR was doing. The UK Auto industry went from being the second biggest in the world to being about 10th and producing dreadful cars that did not sell. In the mean time German free market cars were coming in at a lower price and higher quality. Britain is an example of how to take one of the world wealthiest economies and ruining that wealth.

[@chrisj197438]

bighand69 That’s the way the Rothschild family wants it.

[@scottyd2262]

One of my friends Dad had one of these Jensens, I'll never forget the couple of times that he took me for a drive.. It was even the same colour.. I've got a huge respect for these cars !

[@sameebah]

Lovely to see an owner on screen with such a passion and knowledge of his car :)This is possibly the video on YT that has made me smile and chuckle more than any other.

[@jacktorrance2633]

His Sister did an incredible job with that interior!! That's a beautiful car.

[@davidharris2178]

The large rear glass reminds me of the 1st gen Barracuda. Thanks for showing the car!

[@eldo59]

Yeah a British version of the Cuda with a V-12.

[@yuppiemobile69]

Unfortunately, it also looks a little pre-Pacer, imho, and the rear of the car looks like its weighted down more than front...perhaps b/c it is?

[@rcmakingtracks18]

Jensen interceptor, that has to be one of the greatest car names ever. I saw one in Aldershot England in the late 70s a car to behold. Great video as always Jay, lovely guest. Wonderful. John

[@PittiesAndMore]

This brought back memories of cruising with my grandmother in the 70's. She had a blue Interceptor with a 440 Chrysler motor. I love that car.

[@CockatooDude]

Your grandma was badass.

[@AightBro123]

Cool. Still have it?

[@richardpehtown2412]

Pitties and a STI, Would that have happened to have been in Pasadena?

[@nickedmett1]

Hi there Jay - Love your programs. My Jensen story… I was crashing at an old Churchhouse in Old Windsor about 1963 when the I spotted this silver jensen locked up in the driveway. The owner was away so I used a spyglass to look through the rear window and took down the ignition key number. A local garage provided me with a ‘Replacement’ key (no questions asked) and it fitted the drivers door as well…BINGO. along with three friends I gunned the three litre Chrysler engine to near on a hundred mile an hour up the three lane highway alongside Virginia Water on the A30 and even the screams of my ‘passengers’ couldn’t spoil my enthusiasm for dodging the oncoming traffic. Later that night I parked up this wonder car in the driveway and no one was any the wiser - up til now!

[@mwilliamshs]

A Chrysler 440ci is more like 7.3 liters, not 3L

[@HemiDartGT]

Very Cool car, I give the owner a lot of credit for driving it to CA. from MA....

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Now that's a proper car! ...in the best colour too, really love the Jensen Interceptor, got to not only be one of the best looking cars of the 60's/70's but also the one with the best name - thanks for sharing it with us Jay and Mark. By the way (I'm English) and bought petrol [gas] today, it's currently $5.43 per USG...so a little cheaper than you thought...a bargain ;0) !!!

[@craigz9590]

TheMissendenFlyer have to agree! What a beautiful color! I'm glad somebody can appreciate that dark green metallic color...

[@ianashton886]

Agree completely, remember these as a youngster when I’d just passed my test. Guy had one locally and I always loved the way it looked and sounded.

[@Lilzsnr]

You bought petrol over here for $5.43 a gallon? I think you need to redo the maths mate. £1.30 a litre and hour gallons are bigger than their gallons and its $1.37 to the £ today.

[@richardmessina9475]

The green is the best color!😎

[@dyer2cycle]

....but the steering wheel isn't on the passenger side on this one?.....

[@Bolek989]

The way the camera picks up that guys shirt is fkn trippy lol

[@ericbarnett6771]

Beat me to it. Who approved that shirt for on-camera?

[@sclogse1]

I had the moire problem when I first used my Canon 5D Mark II. I was trying to shoot a nightime film noir, and distant grids on the San Francisco piers were going crazy. New camera...so it took some time before I realized that if I shot with a tripod, I could take plates of the scene and layer them over the action later in photoshop. That even got rid of digital noise in shadows...

[@Rocketninja200]

I know! He looks like a cuddle fish!

Like window blinds in the wind.

[@buckaroobonsi555]

The last time I saw one of those was on the old Top Gear show.

[@iot1452]

buckaroobonsi555 It was featured on The Grand Tour too. In the first of the two episodes in England. Also, in Fast and Furious 6. 😁

[@boleynali]

Wheeler Dealers did a restoration on one some time ago.

[@buckaroobonsi555]

I have not watched "The Grand Tour" yet. I am proud to say I have not watched a Fast and Furious past the second one. The first one was a bit too cheesy for me and the second one was not much better and the bits and pieces I have scene of the other's is just dreadful. I can not stand movies designed for 12 year old....So no bullets sparking off glass or not penetrating glass or a car door, exploding fuel tanks and all the other stupid Hollywood stuff just does not do it for me! At least on TopGear when they got up to stupid stuff they actually did it in real life no CGI etc...Most movies once yo get past part II it is all down hill look at horror movies and the stupid nonsense that we get with X-Men and Spider-man and the like with constant re-boots and time lines that zig and zag all over the place etc...

[@wavejumpinseadoo]

The Grand Tour is not Top Gear. It can't be for legal reasons. Some of it is really stupid honestly. In every episode so far (there have been 5 until now) rather than appear on the show, celebrities end up dying before they make it to the stage to play some game that hasn't been played yet. And every episode James May makes the same stupid joke asking "So that means they aren't coming on the show?" and Richard Hammond explains, in graphic detail, why the celebrity will not appear on the show. But aside from that, it's actually pretty good and a lot like what Top Gear was.

[@DogsBAwesome]

I saw a trailer for the next F&F movie and it looks a right bag of bollocks.

[@patrickiredale4359]

I’ve lusted after one of these cars since I was first aware of cars on the road. It also has the sexiest rear window of any car ever! 😎

[@tedthesailor172]

jay Leno's relaxed unassuming attitude makes him a pleasure to listen to...

[@blueribb99]

Thanks Jay. This was a nice Christmas surprise. There were no awkward moments and Mark was a really smart car guy too. You both complemented each other.

[@IFH1995]

This is the best kind of guest in my opinion in every way, not on my top list car but I was stuck to the screen because it was like a very friendly and calm jokes, a gentleman's conversation, simply brilliant ! Cheers from Portugal !

[@robw3027]

Very enjoyable episode! Love Jay's relaxed manner and sense of humor. I was in stitches when he was ribbing the owner about the work on the car done by all his family members, and when he did his impression of a Mercedes air conditioning unit kicking in compared to a Caddy. Guys love cars. Thanks Jay.

[@oliverrojas7117]

Thanks to Jay and Mark. This car is vaguely familiar and I think I might have seen one once or twice in a lifetime pre-adolesence in the US or France. What a beautiful car. By the way excellenct photography from the people doing the filming on the drive. IT was at this time that I realized the beauty of the rear glass hatch. Thanks again to Mark for Driving and Jay for hosting what is a unique vehicle and interesting part of British automotive history.

[@TheLtData]

I've loved these Jensens for ever. Beautiful shape, interiour, tech, sound. This one is very nice in the old school Englisch colours.

[@ntiffin1]

Absolutely beautiful car, to me is tied with the Jag E-type for #1. My dad rented one in London in 74 and we drove to Scotland in it. 140 mph up the M6 and the car just purred along effortlessly, solid and majestic. I believe they were as expensive as a Rolls Royce, if not more so. Only drawback was the legroom in the back - even as a 10 year old I was cramped. Breathtaking car.

[@neilgibbons2532]

ntiffin1 if a 10y old is 2big 4a car not the best design sorry

[@CPS2]

Neil Gibbons That sentence wasn't the best design either. Stay in school, kids!

[@joshbriggsDayZBeast]

as a Brit I approve tremendously! see these around sometimes..

[@celestialfix]

Josh Briggs great car

[@trespire]

Ame Hurnik If I recall correctly, I read in a feature article in Classic Cars magazine that the AWD FF was an attempt to improve performance & handling.

[@bairdandrew77]

Josh Briggs one of my favorite cars, and I've never seen one in person yet

[@SimplyTakuma]

This car is special, you have a Italian Design, a 440 Big Block V8 from the USA and its made in England :D

[@davem5333]

Unfortunately American engines from that era (1970-1977) ran like sh!t. Strangled by emission control, stalling, poor gas mileage.

[@SvenTviking]

Daytona 6263 Probably not at Jensen as they were a small company. Leyland, Ford and Vauxhall (GM) were infiltrated by Union shop stewards who were literally officers in the KGB. They would strike for the slightest thing, regularly, and this, plus some very underwhelming design at Leyland, later Rover cars, slowly killed them. Ford built better cars but still moved major production to Germany. Vauxhall, by some miracle, are still going. They didn’t bother infiltrating the smaller businesses like Jensen, Morgan, Panther, Lotus etc.

[@SvenTviking]

Daytona 6263 It’s probably prettier than most Ferraris. There are a LOT of ugly Ferraris. The Interceptor is actually classic Italian design, like the TR6.

[@tskraj3190]

@@SvenTviking Actually Ford built the worst cars in the 1970s in the United States. Ford was having alot of issues with the "Brain Box", our first automotive computer that controlled emissions, fuel pressure and ignition voltage. Chrysler was having issues with the Torqueflite transmissions and the porcelain emission control valve. GM's issue was they went overboard on their Catalytic Converter filters and they were plugging up very quickly and their electronic carburetors not feeding or overfeeding fuel to the engine.

[@NightMoves1969]

@@davem5333 he fixed that with fuel injection and hopefully higher compression pistons during the rebuild.

[@BrendanJohnDoherty]

Great to see this vehicle. When I was a child I knew a bloke up the road from my family who had a Jensen Interceptor and it was like something from a different planet. Lovely to see it... thank you guys 😊

[@saraw6446]

My neighbor had one in purple & I loved going in the rear, so comfortable & awesome stereo. my dad had mk1 Capri Ghia which did look a bit like the Interceptor & cool car but nothing close to the Jensen

[@gollypo448]

That cars me! I'm British, born in '74...... only difference is I'm in dire need of a body-off restoration whereas that car looks mint!

[@gollypo448]

How odd: "Hooligan switch" popped into my head just before Jay said it. LOL

[@joenewman3705]

I was born 72 from England loved these cars as a kid would love one now nice looking car my favourite classic mat busby owned one remember seeing him in it Manchester United manager beautiful car.

[@MichaelAChang]

High praise to his mom and sister for helping with the interior.

[@plane_guy6051]

Glad you mentioned that. His sister did an AMAZING job restoring that leather and it must have been a horrible job so I hope he paid her well and didn't just take advantage of his family like some people do.

[@Porsche996driver]

As a kid circa 1982 in Long Beach there was one of these in the neighborhood. Amazing presence and that V8 fuelie rocks.

[@Porsche996driver]

It’s been a few years, so just rewatched this video. I remember this Interceptor reminded me of a submarine coming to surface.

[@N7eptune]

Thank you for the ride in the In the Jensen Interceptor. Glad you mentioned the FF, as the stories about its cornering ability were legendary - until it let go all of a sudden that is!

[@daredevil7442AUTOMOTIVE]

yea....a favorite of mine, definitely on my top ten list when I hit the lotto!

[@garybullwinkle6784]

The convertible style is much better looking! My friend's mom had one back in high school, and I remember riding in the back! We took it out once, and got it up to 90 mph in first gear; he was driving!!! You could be going 65 mph and only turning over at 1700 rpm!!

[@opticracer3927]

What would be your other nine car choices? Thanks.

[@GeSchmidtt]

Great episode, excellent car, some real fun car details and car talk, and Jay was truly enjoying himself, totally relaxed and funny.

[@faheemjerseyxs4222]

Jensen interceptor, my favorite gran turismo car

[@HANSE658]

Faheem Elamin you mean besides the Jensen FF

[@faheemjerseyxs4222]

HANSE658 different version?

[@HANSE658]

Faheem Elamin yup basically the same car but with awd

[@Crimsonedge1]

The Jenson SP was better than the FF. :)

[@RealSB]

Faheem Elamin I've never even seen one before. It's a really sweet car. Love the inside.

[@MrGordonjames]

Beautiful car...beautiful name for a car too.Jensen Interceptor.top ride Thank you..Jay & Mark..loved your info i too had a love affair for the JI...in 1974 a town called Naracoorte South Australia,my dad and i met a man who lived there 7.30 pm sitting in the pub & owned a grey looking FF Jensen, we went outside then went powering out the road around these severe corners at 110 mph.. sign said 60 mph..it was awesome..said the 7.2 liter would do 140mph about..it did feel solid cornering & grunty, many yrs later i bought a yellow JI 5K deceased estate,owned for a yr,very pricy to fix & get parts and traded for a Mitsubishi Starion..i wish i had kept it.!

[@garethgoodchild2643]

These are beautiful cars. When I was young, I remember drooling over one in the show room of a local British car dealership here in Canada. If I can remember correctly they cost about $7600 CDN. This was in 1974. More than I could afford. I bought an MGBGT instead for $2700. Still have it!

[@joycemiller4716]

I bought a bgt in73 still got it when I was at school American Air Force personal used to go past our gate from upper heyford just had to get one did it when I was21 new from the factory my aunt who worked in the factory must have done some of the upholstery on it

[@garethgoodchild2643]

Joyce Miller similar story for me too. I envied the young lady (bosses daughter) who owned a new BGT when I was working a summer job in 1967. I bought a brand new B in 1970 hours after getting my first job. Fast forward a few years and my new wife declared she was not going through another Canadian winter in that car. So the only solution was a BGT. New 1974 BGTs were very rare then as they stopped importing the GTs for some reason. I found a 73 GT that had been purchased in England and imported to Canada. They had a tax dodge system going then where you could drive it around the UK on holiday and then the dealer would export it for you. Still have it and still enjoy it. A happy wife is a happy life!

[@marka2468]

You're only 1/2 way there. 1974 Interceptor had an MSRP of $14,700.

[@kgs42]

Always a thrill to see one of these cars .... something special about it. Really enjoy Jay's easy going, car-appreciating videos.

[@michaelsullivan479]

Jensen Interceptor one of the best designs from Europe. Jay again shows off his vast knowledge. This dude is very nice to allow someone to really open up the engine on the drive. Very cool car. Thanks!

[@NoClassic]

tons of respect for making that trip

[@budman9327]

My FAVORITE GT car of all time. As a kid in Oklahoma the neighbor's dad had a brown one. I lusted after this car until we moved away. Engineer that inspected my boat in Fairhaven, Mass got a 124 from Jay as a gift. We compared notes (500c Abarth, here.) Always good to talk cars and hear normal people have a normal conversation. Leno seems like a great guy.

[@christopherhale5445]

Jay is a national treasure ...and like family to so many car lovers....and he likes so many different makes / models.....and eras.....

[@Falcon7001]

I fell in love with the Interceptor when I saw Tony Franciosa drove one in the 70s TV show Search. I thought it was the coolest.

[@was91355]

That Jensen's a handsome car. I could see Jay was looking forward to driving it. Hell... I'd love to drive it as well!

[@mrawesome2524]

I just wanted to give you a big thanks Jay, every Monday morning i head in to work and it always brightens my day going into the break room for lunch and enjoying a new episode and learning new things. 👍

[@peterelmer9114]

As a kid, I worked in a small petrol station in the mid seventies as a pump attendant. One hot summer’s evening a well spoken chap pulls up in an Interceptor III in deep metallic orange/bronze. “Fill her up ol boy and check the oil” After a long time pumping petrol - they took some filling! I went to check the oil; I lifted the bonnet and will never forget the heat hitting my face!- that motor was glowing hot - I then had to reach in for the dipstick ; I nervously removed the stick and could just see some oil on it. “Is she ok he said” “yea, I replied” I replaced the dipstick, shut the bonnet and he went on his way. I sometimes wonder how much oil was in it and why anyone with a car like that would expect or trust a 14 year old lad to do such an important check. Those Chrysler engines ran very hot indeed and I’ll never forget that experience. Awesome cars 👍

[@mfuller1093]

I was a kid in the 60's and a Jenson used to go through our village in Norfolk England every day and i would hear it coming minutes before seeing it. It looked so different it was like a car from the future.

[@drumr828]

sounds like Mark picked up that cold everyone is getting on his cross country trip (sniff)

[@wardenerbros]

I counted 86 sniffs, forgot about the car and skipped video

[@MarvelousWesty]

simensays better call your therapist's after hours emergency line for a session.

[@wardenerbros]

@MarvelousWesty Yup, that's probably more correct than your grammar...

[@Three_Random_Words]

I didn't consciously pick up the sniffing, but his mannerisms, speaking style (and yes the sniffs) reminds of actor James Woods acting style. I like Woods and I'm not anal-retentive so I kept watching. Simon I hope my grammar and punctuation had some vex worthiness.

[@MarvelousWesty]

simensays nice edit. 😂

[@johnwesleyw.2110]

Beautiful Interceptor...... Just beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

[@432b86ed]

A few thoughts come to mind. Cool guest, great car, one of the best episodes yet. A pressure switch from a grocery store meat display case? Why not? :) A little trivia: Jensen assembled all the production Sunbeam Tigers.

[@PeckerwoodIndustries]

Zakk Gardner Yup! And about the same number of them as the Intercepter.

[@edgarbeat275]

Also don't forget the early cowhorn bumpers Volvo P1800s

[@ashsundar6117]

The Tiger. Another cool car

[@432b86ed]

@@ashsundar6117 Thanks, I own one. A1965 Mk1. :)

[@edgarbeat275]

@@ashsundar6117 Never knew that.

[@thetreblerebel]

This car is everything to this owner. You can tell because h knows every bit he's worked on. I credit him for his project car

[@BigRevKev82]

I have to say something.... Jay Leno's garage channel is legit the best channel on KZbin and I often find myself finding new and exciting cars every time I scroll through the uploads. If you read this, thank you Jay. I genuinely appreciate it and think your a legend ! -Kevin H

[@toroza1]

these were beautiful.i lived in the uk in the early 80s..a good competitor for astin martin.

[@karmpuscookie]

Aston!

[@shankarbalan3813]

One of the most elegant vehicles ever...

[@insanegnyc]

You can see by how the owner wanted to close the hood himself how much he really loves his car. Nice car

[@aidansmyth6480]

Buddy of mine had an Interceptor in the late 70's. He was enormously proud of it and kept it spotless, inside and out. He was giving a lift to one of his our mutual pals one day when another car ran hard into him from the side. Of course, this was in the era before anyone wore seat belts as a habit. The passenger ended up upside down in the seat, legs up in the air. My buddy turned to him and snarled, 'Get your feet off my dashboard!'

[@davidharrison7180]

Watched this with big smile on my face. Growing up in England this was the car I always wanted. Great show.

[@20alphabet]

I like Mark. He's from Massachusetts, but I like him anyway.

[@burlatsdemontaigne6147]

I think he's from England originally. Very pleasant chap.

[@drewb242]

He doesn't seem like your average masshole.

[@kanukster]

HaHa, Jay is like a walking encyclopedia on auto stuff...covered in denim.

[@MADMANMUSICINC]

That dudes shirt is giving me vertigo!

[@zackstewart4109]

Massive moiré effect!

[@TFfolkes]

MADMANMUSICINC maybe it's just that you believe the word dude is appropriate.

[@AuntieFan]

I don't know what it is with this show, whether online or CNBC, but there's a whole ton of aliasing and moiré going on. It's like it was recorded on an older interlaced system and converted to progressive, or somewhere else in the production workflow some conversion happened. That, or Jay's saving his megabucks by using cheap video equipment/production values!

[@billyray9515]

MADMANMUSICINC lol I'm

[@lasagnajohn]

shirt hit a temporal quantum wormhole and the pattern buffer couldn't compensate

[@mobucks555]

Cool how his family helped. Just makes it special.

[@andrewtorres4032]

When I was a kid, I owned three of these!!!

[@vcolinc]

I had two: one mustard yellow and another in royal blue, but I would have loved a green one like this.