History shite; build cards and green ink letters, circa 1970

[Guest]

My old Jensen has a very good file of papers to go with the flakes of rust and oil leaks.

 

These were bespoke cars, and the first owner had a bespoke relationship with the factory. The car still has a rear windscreen sticker announcing "built and serviced by Jensen Motors Ltd, West Bromwich".

 

First, here is the build card from November 1969:-

 

 

I have the build sheets - typewritten checklists with inspectors' initials.

 

The car was delivered to Lt Colonel Brown in Norfolk in early January 1970. The Colonel had elected not to instal air conditioning (optional at that time, standard later, I have often cursed him for his choice, especially when I drove the jalope to Italy in 2010). Here is an exchange of correspondence about the cabin becoming too hot:-

 

 

 

 

Further letters ensued, but the upshot was:-

 

 

Lastly, here's a happier exchange. The Colonel is pleased with the work done on the carburettor (a Carter Thermoquad four barrel device) by a tech sent to Norfolk by the factory: "at long last the car really wants to go".

 

 

 

 

This is better than the standard Customer Services

 

"Dear Sir. Thank you for your letter pointing out that the car that we sold you is shite. Here is some boilerplate marketing blah.

 

Now, piss off.

 

Love, Ginormoshitbagmotors PLC"

 

stuff of nowadays.

[Guest]

This, BTW, be the heap aforesaid:-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HMC]

Lovely motor. I find the early history and correspondance etc really interesting. Lt Col Brown certainly sounds like an interesting character. I wonder what other manufacturers and models pricewise he may have considered before going for the interceptor?

[Pete-M]

I enjoyed that, ta.

 

The Interceptor I used to drive was a Mk3 7.2 convertible, but some arse had removed all the A/C system from it. On a rainy summer day that thing was intolerable.

 

People who remove aircon systems from road cars, the "just uses fuel, open a window instead.." brigade need a good hard kicking sometimes.

[Guest]

Lt Col Brown had owned a Mark I Interceptor before he bought this Mark II, having seen the revised model at the Earl's Court Show in the autumn of 1969.

 

The Colonel drove the Mark II around Europe a few times. He was, it appears, a particular man, and insisted on the engine being rebuilt after 4,000 miles because of an alleged dodgy bearing. His nephew has told me that the Colonel sold the Jensen in about 1976 and bought a Triumph Dolomite Sprint. The Colonel died at some time in the late 80s or early 90s.

 

I used to own a Lotus Europa Special that had with it every single bit of paper generated in relation to the car since 1974. The owner had recorded every addition of fuel and oil in a little red book. There weren't any entertaining letters, however.

[RedSparrow]

Hey that was interesting, thanks. The colonel sounds like a right pain in the arse. I can imagine the frustration in the factory when they opened yet another letter from him.

 

Lovely car BTW.

[Guest]

Cheers. The Colonel may well have been a man of the WW2 generation, and not one to feck about with.

 

He lived in a large and comfortable looking house: I have driven the Fabboceptor past it.

 

After the Dolomite, he had an XJS V12, apparently.

[Guest]

PS: I am not the Colonel. Much more common and pimpy.

 

The car requires to be driven whist wearing shades and a watch which are big enough to be seen from space, and I found a cheesy Connolly leather car coat from the early seventies to complete the "Pimp of the Year 1970" look. I am too oikish to own a Bristol, and too skint for an Aston, but the Jensen strikes just the right note of half cool-half naffness.

 

 

[HillmanImp]

Looks like he was in the news recently too.

 

http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/historic_day_for_southwold_golf_club_1_1443852

 

Great read. There was a lot of old letters with the Lancia Volksy and I spent some time reading when we got it, and also a lot of reciepts fo the people that did the rather dodgy repair work that I might consider naming and shaming.

 

And Breadvan, looking at the photo are you Mike Brewer.......

 

Sorry

[Guest]

You can claim your five pounds!

 

I have driven the car about 13,000 miles in the last 2 and a bit years. Yes, it has broken down a bit. The fuel consumption is a joke. I love the feckin thing.

 

SUM MOAR PICZ

 

Groovy mirrors (shite for seeing stuff in):-

 

 

The panel:-

 

 

The Chyrsler V8 6.3 litre engine, regularly used, so not shiny clean:-

 

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

 

After the Dolomite, he had an XJS V12, apparently.

 

Bloody hell. Frying pan / fire!

[chaseracer]

 

BV, you look like the slightly disreputable younger brother of 'Martin Buckley out of Classic&Sportscar'...

[Guest]

I shall take that as high praise!

[ashmicro]

I wonder is the Mr Qvale, the Mr Qvale of MG SV (nee Qvale Mangusta) fame?

[chaseracer]

The very same.

[eddyramrod]

Jensen pics

 

Oh dear, I'm going to have to take a cold shower now and change my pants! By 'eck that's even more gorgeous than... er... whatever Mancunian beer it was that Melanie Sykes used to advertise. I can't remember a time when I haven't lusted after a Jensen Interceptor; I was 7 when they were launched and from the moment I saw one, I wanted one.

 

I've never so much as sat in one.

[ashmicro]

^^ Boddingtons.

[eddyramrod]

Of course it was, thank you. How could I forget that? Anyway, it doesn't matter, because neither the beer nor Melanie Sykes is as gorgeous as a Jensen Interceptor, and one blue mk2 in particular...

[Guest]

Cheers dude. I might have to sell the Fabboceptor. I will try not to, but, if I do, and you can rustle up the wonga....

 

Pedantry phacktoid: the Boddingtons Beer ad girl was initially the lovely Sarah Parish.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EwsknLta6o

 

 

[Craig the Princess]

I have driven the car about 13,000 miles in the last 2 and a bit years. Yes, it has broken down a bit. The fuel consumption is a joke. I love the feckin thing.

 

I fecking love Jensens, but 13,000 miles in one? At over £6 a gallon that must be almost £80,000 in petrol alone!

[Guest]

Only £80,000? I had hoped for more.

 

The epic trip to Italy and back was the biggest petrol comedy event. Most of my family and friends went to jail for insider trading on petrol futures as I had told them I was going on me hollies. Dudes, I'm sorry dudes, I'll come and visit soon, promise.

[Adrian_pt]

Lt Col Brown (MBE) joined the Army in 1924 which would have made him well into his seventies when buying the V12 XJ-S! Seems to have been a prominent person in a few other fields - on the board of a private London bank (Cater Allen) and so on. Definitely sounds like one of the old school....

[TagoraSX]

That is very, very nice.

[eddyramrod]

Cheers dude. I might have to sell the Fabboceptor. I will try not to, but, if I do, and you can rustle up the wonga....

 

There speaks a man who hasn't read a word I've posted in the last 12 months! But given enough time, yes, I'd love to. I suspect even Doctor Who doesn't have enough time, but even so....

[Pete-M]

The Interceptor I used to fiddle about with used £20 of juice in an afternoon. Without moving, just to set up the carb and ignition timing properly.

 

On a run, I think it'd do 14-15. In town, in heavy traffic battling with fuel vapour locks on a sunny day, 4 mpg. I seem to remember it worked out at something insanely stupid like £13 a mile for the first six months of trying to make it work properly, and we tried to use it most days when it wasn't raining.

[Guest]

I get about 6 to 8 mpg in town, and about 16 mpg on a long cruisy run. Daft beyond the realms of daft, but I didn't buy the jalope to save cash.

 

I mitigate my Karbon khrimes by waiting in lay-bys and on hard shoulders for dudes in RAC vans.

 

Here is the car at its natural home.

 

[Guest]

A bit more of the gran turismo blah:-

 

[RoadworkUK]

By Christ that's glorious. Another unachievable ownership goal for me, I can only hope that my best mate gets one so I can enjoy it while he goes slowly bankrupt.

 

If the V8 ever goes seriously tits up, I'd put a big old claggy commercial diesel in it.

[Guest]

Check out the Colonel's gaff:-

 

http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-228394-ashtree-farm-house-attlebridge-norfolk/map

[michael1703]

 

 

 

Do you know what those mirrors are called?

 

I might need a nearside one