#chrysler v8

Jensen Interceptor III, 1971. Powered by Chrysler’s 440ci V8, the Interceptor had originally been designed at Carrozzeria Touring but financial difficulties at the Italian coachbuilder meant Jensen bought the design off them and had the first series cars built at Vignale before taking over production themselves at West Bromwich, near Birmingham in England. A combination of the early 70s fuel crisis, world-wide recession, and problems with the Jensen-Healey sports car pushed Jensen Motors into receivership with the last Interceptors being made in 1976. 

Jensen C-V8, 1962. Designed by Eric Neale, 500 C-V8s were made in 3 series between 1962 and 1966 initially powered by a 361ci Chrysler V8, then after 1964 it was upgraded in Chrysler’s 330hp 383ci engine. The engine was placed behind the front axle making it one of the first front-mid engined cars. The bodywork was fabricated in fibreglass with aluminium door skins. 

Jensen Nova, 1967, by Vignale. Alfredo Vignale’s proposal for a replacement for Jensen’s C-V8 was designed by Giovanni Michelotti using chassis JM/EXP/117, a short wheelbase version of the Interceptor platform. It was powered by a Chrysler 383 V8 engine with a Chrysler 4-speed manual gearbox. Originally presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1967, the 2-seat Nova was finished in dark green with a beige and black interior and a “wrap-around” rear hatch window. After the show Vignale stripped the car down, changed the rear window and lights, resprayed it off-white cream and re-trimmed the interior in red leather. The now white Nova was presented at the Turin Motor show. However Jensen had already decided to go with Carrozzeria Touring’s proposal for the 4-seat Interceptor and the Nova went no further

sourceJensen Museum