Jensen Interceptor

Jensen Interceptor: which version to buy and why

If you are choosing a Jensen Interceptor, the catalogue has one generation (1966–1976), one body (Cabrio), and four named versions: 7.2 MT, 7.2 AT, 6.3 MT, and 6.3 AT. The useful split is not generation versus generation — there is only one — but engine size and gearbox.

If you are choosing a Jensen Interceptor, the catalogue has one generation (1966–1976), one body (Cabrio), and four named versions: 7.2 MT, 7.2 AT, 6.3 MT, and 6.3 AT. The useful split is not generation versus generation — there is only one — but engine size and gearbox. The 7.2 pair adds 50 hp (375 versus 325) on the same 1588 kg kerb weight; the MT pair uses a 4-speed Manual, the AT pair a 3-speed Automatic. Top speed is 240 km/h on every version. 0–100, fuel use, tank size, ground clearance, wheel sizes, and torque are not measured in this dataset, so they cannot decide the purchase.

Which Interceptor version to buy

Buy 7.2 MT if the numbers that differ are what you are paying for: 375 hp (280 kW) at 4700 rpm, 7206 cm³ Gasoline V-shaped 8, 4-speed Manual, RWD, 1588 kg. Versus 6.3 MT that is +50 hp (+15.4%) and +930 cm³ on identical kerb weight, so mass per horsepower falls from 4.89 kg/hp to 4.23 kg/hp (0.65 kg/hp less). Versus 7.2 AT the engine is the same; you only change a 3-speed Automatic for a 4-speed Manual.

Buy 7.2 AT if you want the same 375 hp / 280 kW / 7206 cm³ package with a 3-speed Automatic instead of the 4-speed Manual. Versus 6.3 AT the arithmetic is identical to the MT comparison: +50 hp, +930 cm³, same 1588 kg, same 240 km/h.

Buy 6.3 MT if you want the smaller 6276 cm³ Gasoline V-shaped 8 at 325 hp (239 kW), still RWD, still 1588 kg, still 240 km/h, with the 4-speed Manual. You give up 50 hp versus either 7.2 version and keep the extra ratio of the 4-speed versus 6.3 AT.

Buy 6.3 AT if you want 325 hp and the 3-speed Automatic. It is the lowest-power Automatic in the set. Versus 7.2 AT you lose 50 hp and 930 cm³; versus 6.3 MT you lose one gearbox ratio (3 versus 4) at the same 325 hp.

There is no restyling listed as a separate generation. All four versions share start 1966-01-01 and stop 1976-12-31, Cabrio body, Front, longitudinal engine, Carburetor, Independent, spring front suspension, Dependent, spring rear suspension, and Disc brakes front and rear. Boost is not measured on any version.

Generations: what actually changed between versions

The Interceptor in these data is 1 generation only (1966–1976), Cabrio, four modifications. Nothing in the table is a later generation with a different body or a different kerb weight. “What the extra money buys” therefore cannot be a newer chassis here; it is either +50 hp and +930 cm³ (6.3 → 7.2) or one extra gearbox ratio (AT 3-speed → MT 4-speed).

Shared across all four: Gasoline, 8 cylinders, V-shaped, Front, longitudinal, Carburetor, RWD, 240 km/h, 1588 kg kerb, Independent, spring / Dependent, spring, Disc / Disc. Not measured on all four: torque (Nm), 0–100, city/highway/combined consumption, tank, CO2, eco class, gross weight, ground clearance, wheels, compression, bore/stroke, valves per cylinder, boost.

Engines and specs

Engine placement is Front, longitudinal and the feed system is Carburetor on 7.2 MT, 7.2 AT, 6.3 MT, and 6.3 AT. Peak rpm is listed only for the 7.2 pair (4700); for 6.3 MT and 6.3 AT power rpm is not measured.

Specific output from the given figures: 7.2 MT / 7.2 AT make 375 hp from 7206 cm³ → 52.0 hp per litre. 6.3 MT / 6.3 AT make 325 hp from 6276 cm³ → 51.8 hp per litre. The 7.2 is not a higher-strung engine in these numbers; it is almost the same output per litre on a 930 cm³ larger Gasoline V-shaped 8 (50 hp extra tracks the extra capacity, not a jump in specific output).

kW gap: 280 − 239 = 41 kW in favour of either 7.2 version.

Performance, mpg, and what is not measured

Top speed is 240 km/h on 7.2 MT, 7.2 AT, 6.3 MT, and 6.3 AT. The 50 hp gap does not show up as a higher listed maximum in this catalogue.

0–100 km/h is not measured for any version. City, highway, and combined consumption are not measured; mpg therefore cannot be compared from these data. CO2 and eco class are not measured.

Weight-to-power from kerb mass 1588 kg: 7.2 MT and 7.2 AT are 1588 / 375 = 4.23 kg/hp; 6.3 MT and 6.3 AT are 1588 / 325 = 4.89 kg/hp. The 7.2 pair is 13.4% less mass per horsepower at the same 1588 kg. Per kW: 1588 / 280 = 5.67 kg/kW on the 7.2 pair; 1588 / 239 = 6.64 kg/kW on the 6.3 pair.

Torque is not measured, so pull at a given rpm cannot be ranked except by the listed horsepower.

Dimensions, weight, and chassis that do not split the choice

Kerb weight is 1588 kg on all four versions. Gross weight is not measured. Ground clearance is not measured. Fuel tank is not measured. Wheel sizes are not measured.

Front suspension Independent, spring and rear Dependent, spring on 7.2 MT, 7.2 AT, 6.3 MT, and 6.3 AT. Front and rear brakes Disc on all four. Drive RWD on all four. None of these fields pick a winner; they only confirm the four cars sit on the same listed chassis numbers.

Reliability and problems (what the numbers can and cannot say)

This dataset does not list failure rates, service intervals, or known faults. Reliability cannot be scored from hp, displacement, or gearbox type here. What can be stated: all four are Carburetor Gasoline V-shaped 8 cars with Front, longitudinal layout and RWD, 1966–1976 Cabrio. Boost is not measured (no listed turbo/supercharger field to compare). Eco class is not measured.

If “problems” means mismatch between expectation and listed figures: do not expect a consumption or 0–100 comparison — those cells are not measured. Do not expect a later generation with less weight — kerb stays 1588 kg. Do not expect the 7.2 to list a higher top speed than the 6.3 — both are 240 km/h.

Direct arithmetic: what the extra capacity and extra ratio buy

6.3 → 7.2 (same gearbox family)

• Power: 325 → 375 hp (+50 hp, +15.4%); 239 → 280 kW (+41 kW, +17.2%).
• Displacement: 6276 → 7206 cm³ (+930 cm³, +14.8%).
• Specific output: 51.8 → 52.0 hp/l (essentially flat).
• Kerb: 1588 kg unchanged.
• kg/hp: 4.89 → 4.23 (−0.65 kg/hp, −13.4%).
• Top speed: 240 km/h unchanged.
• Fuel, 0–100, tank: not measured, so they are not part of the “extra” you can count.

MT versus AT (same engine)

• 7.2 MT vs 7.2 AT: 375 hp, 7206 cm³, 1588 kg, 240 km/h identical; Manual 4 vs Automatic 3.
• 6.3 MT vs 6.3 AT: 325 hp, 6276 cm³, 1588 kg, 240 km/h identical; Manual 4 vs Automatic 3.

The gearbox step is one extra listed ratio on MT, not more power.

Cross pairs

• 7.2 MT vs 6.3 AT: largest listed gap — +50 hp, +930 cm³, 4-speed Manual vs 3-speed Automatic, same 1588 kg and 240 km/h.
• 7.2 AT vs 6.3 MT: +50 hp and +930 cm³ against a 4-speed Manual; you trade engine size for the extra ratio.

Prices are not in these data, so “extra money” is only the extra listed output and the extra gear, not a currency figure.

Specs summary for a buying shortlist

1. Want the lowest kg/hp in the set: 7.2 MT or 7.2 AT (4.23 kg/hp, 375 hp, 7206 cm³). Then pick Manual 4 (7.2 MT) or Automatic 3 (7.2 AT). 2. Want the smaller 6276 cm³ Gasoline V-shaped 8 at 325 hp: 6.3 MT (Manual 4) or 6.3 AT (Automatic 3). 3. Want one extra listed gear at a given engine: 7.2 MT over 7.2 AT, or 6.3 MT over 6.3 AT. 4. Do not choose on 0–100, mpg, tank, clearance, wheels, torque, or gross weight — all not measured. 5. Do not choose on generation or body: one generation, Cabrio, 1966–1976, four versions only.

7.2 MT, 7.2 AT, 6.3 MT, and 6.3 AT are the exact catalogue names to keep when you open a modification page.