Jensen Interceptor review

As with all old cars, it’s light, airy and easy to see out of. JIA does offer a reversing camera if you want it, but that giant rear glass makes reversing a doddle. Want a good geek fact? The self-dimming rear view mirror is from a Saab.

The driving position is wonderful, with legs outstretched and steering wheel sitting in your lap. No airbag of course, but you can rest your elbows just so and feel a master of all you survey. Special mention for the seats, which show it was possible to have both comfort and support back in the 70s. You nestle deep into them and they never gave us any backache.

Any good switchgear quicks?

The two we’re already mentioned are the main ones: the ignition key living in the centre console and the foot operated main beam switch. JIA has also fitted both ABS and Racelogic traction control, with control dials tucked away. Best not to fiddle with them.

Don’t read too much into the chunky metal switchgear of this one. JIA has refined the clunky design since this one was built, and in fact been through the whole interior, improving quality, straightening stitch lines and making all fixtures and fittings more robust.

Can you genuinely seat four people?

Put it this way, it’s genuinely not far off as spacious for passengers as a current Bentley Continental GT. And it’s got a much bigger boot.

Headroom in the back is more generous than you expect given the way the roofline appears to start dropping and, as with the fronts, the two seats are deep and forgiving.

But it’s the sheer amount of luggage space that’ll blow you away. The floor area back there rivals any estate, and it’s deep too. You can’t fold the rear seats, but that’s unlikely to limit you at all.

What are the main takeaways?

Some of the work JIA has done jars: rather than having a fixed infotainment screen, we’d prefer one that hid away in the dash. But the white-on-black Smiths dials and gauges are perfection, the chrome gives it just the right tone, the leather creaks, the colour scheme is period-perfect, it’s warm and welcoming and doesn’t demand very many compromises.