GTP Cool Wall: 1966-1976 Jensen Interceptor/FF

[XS]

It has the drivetrain of lots of Mopar muscle. Not one, but two big blocks and everything that you could order in a Challenger/Cuda/Superbird/Charger etc. minus the AWD.


How is it "slow"

As stated, weight mostly slowed it down. Hemmings has 0-60 at 7.5 seconds and the quarter mile at 15.2 seconds, which isn't too bad for the era, but is also only a hair faster than a full-size New Yorker with the same powertrain. The Interceptor SP which has the 440 Six Pack is the more performance oriented model for sure. That model was just under 15 seconds on the quarter.

 

[Dagger311]

440 alone makes it sub zero, never mind the styling.

 

[GTRacer22]

Interceptor. SZ.

 

[niky]

Skips the comments.

"I only came here for the pictures."

Sub-zero.


-


And yes, I would pay to watch an "Interceptors" TV show. Even if it does have Richard Hammond in it.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Sub-zero all day long.

 

[Joey D]

I know nothing about this, but it's not shouty like a regular muscle car and it's unique enough to make me interested. Low cool.

 

[Zenith]

The "Like" Wall is real.

Who cares if it's fast or slow? Just look at it. If that doesn't do it, listen to it. If that still doesn't do it, sit in it. It's Sub-zero.

 

[Tyger]

I see acceleration figures being compared (and it was still no slouch) but if also consider maximum speed, not sure many mopar/muscle cars made 130+, especially into the 1970s? It's a GT car through and through, you could probably drive one at 120-130 for hours in the right conditions.

 

[Slash]

I see acceleration figures being compared (and it was still no slouch) but if also consider maximum speed, not sure many mopar/muscle cars made 130+, especially into the 1970s? It's a GT car through and through, you could probably drive one at 120-130 for hours in the right conditions.

Mopar muscle under the right conditions were capable of 140-160 but under extreme factory circumstances (powerful motor matched with super tall gearing). Most had the power to pull high speeds, however they were like most muscle cars incredibly limited by their gearing.

 

[Tornado]

The only American cars in the 1970s post-fuel crisis that could comfortably eclipse the 130 range were the Plymouth Fury police cars loved so much by Roscoe P. Coltrane (which essentially shared the de-smogged 440 + Torqueflight the Jensen had), the SD-455 Trans Am, and whatever best engine you could get in a Corvette in any given year. Everything else was either to weak or too poorly suited to aerodynamic requirements that they couldn't get close.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Plymouth Fury police car

One of my guilty pleasures:

Slight language warning.


The Furys look so good. They're utterly awful, but so good at the same time. I want one.

 

[Centroid]

I think it's worth pointing out that as well as being the first 4WD sports car, it was the first road car to feature ABS.

 

[Aesthetics]

I feel the AMC Pacer failed miserably in trying to be a miniature version of this.
And even then it's still cool.

Easy Sub-zero.

 

[CSMDuty11]

Nearly all my least liked things about a car in one ugly package.

Would you kindly care to elaborate on said "things", chap?

 

[ScottPuss20]

It has 4 wheel drive. It has a V8. It's British. It's sexy.
Sub Zero

 

[Stotty]

It's a GT car through and through, you could probably drive one at 120-130 for hours in the right conditions.

You probably couldn't... Interceptors do 10-12mpg just knocking around. At 120-130mph you'd empty the 20g fuel tank in an hour.

 

[yabiggoose]

SZ, just, SZ.

 

[Tyger]

You probably couldn't... Interceptors do 10-12mpg just knocking around. At 120-130mph you'd empty the 20g fuel tank in an hour.

OK an hour, not hours, sheesh. My point was that it was set up as a grand tourer with tall gearing as opposed to most muscle cars which were geared more for quick accelleration in short bursts (as Slash confirmed). A lot of GT cars have lousy fuel economy figures, just make sure there are some gas stations en route

 

[Cano]

One of the most awesome british cars ever made, if not the.

 

[Tornado]

One of my guilty pleasures:

Slight language warning.


The Furys look so good. They're utterly awful, but so good at the same time. I want one.

Think of the poor highway patrol officer who had to trade in his dual exhaust 440 Fury, that could rip off 7 second 0-60 times even on narrow fleet-spec wheels and tires and chase down anything on the road that wasn't imported, with a wheezy 2 barrel 318 Newport (like the officers who started the chase in the video had) that couldn't even break out of the double digits.

 

[eight6er]

Would you kindly care to elaborate on said "things", chap?

Sure, it's very heavy, has a long bonnet and hatchback which is a really ugly shape IMO. Some parts don't look like they were made specifically for this car, like the side windows, it has a lot of chrome, it has options for 4WD, convertible, and huge engine. The only things I like about car are the headlights are not bad and the name is cool.

 

[Stotty]

A lot of GT cars have lousy fuel economy figures, just make sure there are some gas stations en route

A lot of 'so called' GT cars.

I see a lot of cars described as 'GT cars' (generally big, powerful saloons, or coupes that are too big/heavy to be 'proper' sports cars). But personally, I don't see how a car that needs refueling every 1-2 hours is the best way of covering long distances. Having done some big European trips myself (>1,000 miles), I want to stop as little as possible as stopping makes the journey take longer - having to stop to fill a 20g/90l fuel tank means losing 15-20 minutes travelling at your 'cruising' speed.

My last trip was back to West of London from Florence (1,000 miles in 13 hours), and I stopped only once for fuel (my car at the time did c.550 miles on a tank cruising at c.120mph+.

 

[Tyger]

I'm assuming your car wasn't built in the 1960s though, so not the best comparison. A lot of the GT cars around then were pretty thirsty. Not "ideal" perhaps but there you go.

 

[TexRex]

SZ.

 

[Sage Ages]

Sure, it's very heavy, has a long bonnet and hatchback which is a really ugly shape IMO. Some parts don't look like they were made specifically for this car, like the side windows, it has a lot of chrome, it has options for 4WD, convertible, and huge engine. The only things I like about car are the headlights are not bad and the name is cool.

This isn't a like wall though. If you don't think it's cool for those reasons, than that's fine.

 

[MatskiMonk]

It's like a Ferrari FF, but older.

 

[Space Dynamics]

I feel like if this was an American car it wouldn't be getting such good ratings.

"Fat American boat"

"its English"

"... I mean what a beautiful import! Such class!"

 

[TexRex]

It's like a Ferrari FF, but older.

I think it missed the boat in terms of shooting brake styling and I hate that its name harkens to the Jensen FF (another 4WD 'brake, 'FF' referring to Ferguson Formula), but it gets a Cool nod thanks to its unique drive system:

 

[eight6er]

This isn't a like wall though. If you don't think it's cool for those reasons, than that's fine.

It's a really ugly and awkward looking car being the main reason. I find looks are important for gauging coolness of a "sporty" car. The fact it has nothing else going for it in my eyes makes it seriously uncool.

 

[AudiMan2011]

It's a classy British GT car with big American muscle under the hood which just has the air of coolness about it. The FF being the first production sporting car with all-wheel-drive is another plus point.

Only things bringing it down are the typical 60's-70's British reliability and it's incredible thirst, especially with the 440 engine.

Otherwise, solid Cool.