Battle of the Rollers: 2007 Saturn Sky vs 1970 Jensen Interceptor

Picture this; you are stuck at home under stay-at-home orders and you need something to occupy your time since your internet connection is dead.  What you need is an engine and a vehicle that needs an engine.  Then you just need a few wrenches, some zip ties, a welder, and some fresh 5w30 oil.  The only question is -- which do you get, do you get a 2007 Saturn Sky setup for LS1 swap offered for $2500 or do you get an powertrain-less 1970 Jensen Interceptor offered for $3995, both are offered on Los Angeles craigslist.

Simple Project? 1971 Jensen Interceptor Mk II

Over the years, I've purchased many different project cars and they've come in various shapes/sizes/conditions...but I've always been enchanted with the idea of a project that requires only basic tools, a single parking space, and mostly elbow grease.  A project that doesn't involve pulling a car off its frame, or massive rust repair, or rebuilding a fiddly vanos module...yeah...that would be a great project. Perhaps this Jensen might offer the right combination of mechanical, electrical, and hard work that could keep you busy, but not break the bank with expensive specialist work? Find this 1971 Jensen Interceptor 2 offered for $9000 in Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

It Ain't Easy Being Green: 1973 Jensen Healey Convertible

This next tip comes from Zach Z who wrote a nice poem to go with the 1973 Jensen Healey offered for $6000 in Bend, OR via craigslist:

It is easy being green.
I've not always liked these, 
but that'd be mean.

This thing, it's too clean;
The thorough application of armor all,
it's left a sheen.

That said, the collectors have not been keen.
So maybe Kermit was right,
and it's not easy, being green?

My Junk Is Burning, Man: 1997 Chevrolet S-10 Jensen Speedboat Art Car

In case you live under a rock (and YES, i do understand living under a rock with all the scary stuff out in the big wide world...this next thing being a case in point...anywho) there is this festival of drugs  and debauchery out in the Nevada desert that is called Burning Man...but should probably be called I spent a week in the desert blasted out of my gourde on methamphetamines and now I've got this rash and my junk is burning man...but that doesn't fit well on a bumper sticker.  But who am I to judge anyway...wait..I'm exactly the person to judge because I created a blog specifically to pass judgement on other people and their cars...yes.  Therefore, I judge this car...awesome, but overpriced.  Find this 1997 Chevrolet S-10 Boat Art Car offered for $8000 in Oakland, CA via craigslist. Tip from Hugh.

Strange Brew: 1976 Jensen GT Coupe

This next car made me have the following conversation in my head: "Whoa, that looks awesome, I need it.  And the price.  Yikes, must be a scammer.  Or...maybe it is just a good deal?"  Yeah.  I've had that conversation in my head a number of times...too many times to really count...but against all better judgement I've decided that this must NOT be a scam and is just a cool car without a huge following that is offered for a reasonable price. Find this 1976 Jensen GT Coupe offered for $11,900 CAD ($8988 USD at time of publication) in Langley, British Columbia, Canada via craigslist. Tip from Erik202.

Auction Watch: 1973 Jensen Interceptor Mk III

Find this 1973 Jensen Interceptor Mk III here on eBay offered for $14,750 buy-it-now located in Santa Ana, CA.

A Lot of Cologne: 1975 Jensen-Healey

The Lotus 907 motor, though not expensive to rebuild today, was likely seen as a huge liability back in the disco days. Given the supply of unwanted Capris and their compact and torquey Cologne V6's, this Jensen had its alloy swapped for iron pretty early in life. Find this 1975 Jensen-Healey for sale in Thousand Oaks, CA for an extraordinary bargain price of $2,975 via craigslist.  Tip from Sean

A Cry For Help: 1970 Jensen Interceptor II

The first step of any self help program is to admit that you have a problem.  It can be smoking, drinking, drugs, or collecting Jensens, but when you look into your garage and see that all of your time/money is being dumped into this addiction, you need to find help.  When you have collected your 4th Jensen Interceptor and are storing the top to who-knows-what on a Porsche 911...it might be time for a garage sale.  Find this 1970 Jensen Interceptor II offered for $14,600 reserve-not-met here on eBay with 4 days to go, located in Encino, CA.

5k: Peterpan's Coffin: 1976 Jensen GT Shooting Brake

If you think the Volvo 1800ES was alone in the segment of Northern European shooting brakes from the early 70s, you would be mistaken.  A little company called Jensen Motors built the Jensen-Healey convertible starting in 1972, but added a hardtop in 1974 to create the Jensen GT.  Find this 1976 Jensen GT currently bidding here on eBay for $7,100 buy-it-now with 1 day to go, located in Florence, Oregon.  Tip from Roy F.

15k: Ital-mer-ish: 1973 Jensen Interceptor Mk III

The Jensen Interceptor makes for an interesting statement in a classic car. It tells the world that you like classic American V8 power, Italian styling, and British execution.  Taken by each component, it really makes sense, but as a whole the Jensen is not extremely collectible and is sort of unloved step-child of the British car community.  Is the mix breeding the problem, or are there other forces at play?  Find this 1973 Jensen Interceptor Mk III here on eBay currently bidding for $15,200 reserve-not-met with a few hours to go.

11k: Interception, Your Honor: 1972 Jensen Interceptor

If one of us doesn't act quickly, this mechanically sound but aesthetically needy MKIII will end up shackled to an iron workbench in a sealed garage in the middle of an arduous, meticulous restoration. Do you have what it takes to look past its singular dent and shoddy interior for the sake of its robust Chrysler V8? Are you willing to drive this British muscle car the way it was meant to be driven, leaving the patina-noting dweebs in a smokey burnout? Can you intercept this Interceptor? Find this 1972 Jensen Interceptor MkIII for $11,000 in Dallas, TX via craigslist.  

15k: Chrysler V8: 1972 Jensen Interceptor Mk III

When looking for a British coupe powered by an American V8 from the pre-1975 era, pickings are limited if you are on a budget.  The occasional Sunbeam Tiger can be found for something other than highway robbery, but forget Cobras, even the home built kit cars are overpriced.  Set your sights a bit lower and you'll stumble into the Chrysler powered Jensen Interceptor.  Find this 1972 Jensen Interceptor Mk III for sale in Norwell, MA currently bidding on ebay for $18,100 with 2 days to go. Tip from Jerry L.

6 of 50: Betty: 1967 Jensen Interceptor, Project

The Jensen Interceptor featured an Italian designed and built body with American V8 power and British build quality...hey, 2 out of 3 ain't bad.  Check out this 1967 Jensen Interceptor with factory 383 cubic inch Chrysler V8 and right hand drive. This project can be intercepted in Seattle, WA for $12,500 or best offer...or trade via craigslist. Simultaneous tips from Cameron S and Ryan T.

15k: Texas Toast and Crumpets; 1971 Jensen Interceptor

The Jensen Interceptor followed the classic formula of big American V8 shoved into a European body.  You can expect to see one destroyed in the soon to be released 6th installment of the Fast and Furious movie franchise, or you can buy one for less than the cost of a new Civic.  This 1971 Jensen Interceptor is for sale in Eugene, OR currently bidding on ebay for $15,600 reserve-not-met with a few hours to go.

Jensen Interceptor in Fast & Furious 6 Trailer?

If you were watching the Super Bowl (like most of America) you probably saw the Fast and Furious 6 trailer...and in between the explosions we saw some sweet cars getting driven hard in a highly computer graphics assisted world - including a Jensen Interceptor driven by Vincent Torretto's (Vin Diesel) supposed to be dead ex-main squeeze "Letty" (Michelle Rodriguez).  If you can ignore bad acting, serious ignorance of physics, over-abuse of CGI, the Fast and Furious movies have brought to the big screen an undeniably awesome collection of internal combustion powered machines over the past decade.  Find the full trailer here on youtube.

Screen capture at 00:55 in FF 6 Trailer