hodgy0_2

my old man had an Aston DB6 and he used to complain about the petrol consumption when it was 24p a gallon (early 70's)

still with my mum driving we got from west london to bristol in 78 mins

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Like most old cars; antifreeze/coolant back then was crap. Causing lots of galvanic corrosion (copper+brass+aluminium+iron) in the engine cooling galleries and cooling system, restricting its cooling capacity.

Combine that with points/contact breaker based mechanical ignition that needs regular accurate adjustment, and carbs that need properly tuning in a time when proper analysis tools at garages were non-existant, and cars stored and not used regularly were prone to jets clogging with varnished fuel deposits, making it run lean.

Meaning that most were being run with incorrect ignition timing/dwell and running too lean, both of which causes excessive combustion temperatures. Combine hot running with a restricted cooling system = overheating.

Rebuild the same engine today with a new cooling system, and run it on modern glycol coolants with 2/3 year change intervals, retrofit electronic igntion (like the good old lumenition optronic), and properly setup the timing and carb. Then makeing sure its kept in tune thereafter, and it would never see any overheating issues ever again.

Its the same reasons why many large engine cars, like the Triumph Stag gained such a bad reputation; as did the Jag XKs and V12s; they all suffered catastrophically from overheating if allowed to go out of tune with a degraded cooling system.

Which reminds me I need to chase up thermostat housing gaskets for my Jag, as there appears to be a national shortage.

Flaps

iTrader: (1)

I've quizzed him about it today. My mate's is a 73. The engine was changed in the 80's for reason unknown, the Rover V8 that was put in has since packed up. It had an MOT last year but the engine gave up in November. If anyone wants a project, he's willing to sell, PM me

sbk1972

Cheers ALI-B, thanks for the write up. I did like my mum's jenson, was a powerful, lovely sounding car. Even on tickover, it would sound heavenly and demand respect. We used to get the car serviced at Charles Folette ? Some expensive garage up in London that robbed my old boy blind.

Fuel wise, christ, 8/9 mpg so god knows how much one of these would cost to fuel in todays market.

I had a ton of jenson parts, removed from a salvaged car back in the 80's. Even had the rear window, but I couldnt sell this to anyone, couldnt even give it away, eventually blasted it apart with a shogun :-)

My mum sold her jenson, trade it in for a nissan siliva ! back in 86'. The number plate on the car was UJA 8, and doing a dvla check, its still about :-)


SBK

SimonD

Reading this is interesting. I've always liked the Interceptor but this thread really confirms that anything but a top example is worth very little. Anything with major problems or non-original bits will struggle to fetch the cost to scrap it.

I do see the appeal though. I remeber Noel Edmonds talking about his; he had a rear blow out at speed and said that the car was so nose heavy that it had very little effect on his ability to steer it to the side of the road and stop.

hodgy0_2

I remember reading the same article

Noel was also raving about the old Rover Vitesse IIRC

vindaloo

Depending on means ££££s and means 'technical ability'...

Junk the carbs and fit Holley FI.
Get a more modern auto-box with an overdriven lock-up top gear.

The Zohan

Hi there,

Try here or look for a Classic and Sportscar review and buyers guide for them

Jensen Owners' Club

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

I remember reading that the Interceptors were the first car fitted with (a basic) ABS system, well ahead of its time

Tony

RobinSherwood

If I remember correctly when the Interceptor was being designed they actually tested it to make sure the car did remain in control if it should suffer a high speed blow out. So this being the case they obviously did a good job.

RobinSherwood

That was actually the Jensen FF which was closely related to the Interceptor but not officially badged as one. They looked identical but were actually longer.

They were fitted with the mechanical Dunlop Maxaret ABS system and I believe it was the first road car to be fitted with ABS. The FF (which stands for Ferguson Formula) was also famously four wheel drive, making it easily the most advanced road car of its time.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Tony

sins

the 7.2 litre provided 330 bhp on carbs and returned single figure mpg in the mk3

a 3.5 litre rover v8 with EFi provides 195bhp and would probably return around 25 - 27mpg in the mk3, given kerb weight around 1600kg

On top of that, the massive customisation potential of the rover engine could see 350bhp out of the 3.5 if required, plus easy to add LPG

Sounds like a good idea to me, but depends on what you want the car for. I'd rather go for the mpg than the bhp and you'd still get that low rumbling v8 burble...

Turbo2

Hmm, 2004 thread revived in early 2009 and then again in late 2010. I imagine that the OP hasn't been keeping tabs on this for quite some time.

But whilst it's back I'add my bit: Interceptors have rocketed in price on the continent. 2 average cars have sold at auction for around 50k recently!