Prototype Jensen Interceptor emerges amid Australian hoard

Historied coupés have been seeking solace in Australia’s classic-friendly climate

Two desirable GTS with interesting early history in the UK have turned up for sale in Brisbane, Australia. Vendor Mark Jansen of Oldtimer Australia has researched the cars, a 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 and a 1966/’67 Jensen Interceptor, and reports a surprising discovery in the Jensen’s past.

‘The prototype Interceptor was built by Vignale on a CV8 chassis and no longer survives,’ he says. ‘Then came two experimental Interceptor chassis numbered JM/EXP/115 and JM/EXP/116. The first was bodied by Vignale, then used for motor show and press duties before eventually being sold on with a new chassis number, 115/2495. The second one – this car – was later renumbered 115/2496.

‘We think the chassis was retained by Jensen’s engineering department for testing before eventually being bodied by Vignale in late 1966 or early 1967. It was then registered JOV 402E and sold.’

The first owner, an Australian lady, had tried to buy an FF. Jensen was nervous about selling the complex new fourwheel-drive model outside the home market and persuaded her to take an Interceptor instead. She used the car on her honeymoon around the UK and Europe, but not before the car was handed back to Jensen with a significant list of defects. She took it home to Australia later in the year.

It subsequently passed through various owners before moving to Queensland in 1996. It was off the road for many years but changed hands again in 2016, when it was apparently capable of running and driving. It could be the earliest Interceptor chassis still wearing its original Vignale body – the other EXP car was repaneled by Jensen.

Also under Mark Jansen’s charge is a DB2/4 that’s been off the road since 1976 when it seems to have suffered a cylinder head gasket failure. He says, ‘The car has some sporting history – there are photos of it competing in an AMOC hill climb in the UK in the early Seventies. By 1975, it was exported from the USA to Australia and bought by a gentleman racer and antique dealer from New South Wales.

‘After only a year of use it remained parked up in his shed, covered in dust and leaves. He died in 2018 and the car changed hands, but the planned restoration was stopped by ill health before it got started.’

Although scruffy, the DB2/4 is complete and appears to have dodged any serious rust

Dust hides the earliest Vignalebuilt survivor

The Jensen’s interior looks to need little more than a good clean

Aston was parked up in 1976 until its owner died in 2018