Lot Ended
Description
Restored by Cropredy Bridge in 2006 and only 22,000 miles since; large
history file; few owners, the current for 18 years; super condition; driven
70 miles to the sale
A heady mix of
American muscle, Italian flair and British craftsmanship, the Interceptor just
oozed jet set glamour and was an immediate hit with Sixties high society. A
natural rival to the Aston Martin V8, it was equally rare, equally expensive,
better made and marginally more potent to boot, making it perhaps the classic
car bargain of the modern age.
Unveiled at the
1966 Earls Court Motor Show, it was styled by Touring of Milan with some subtle
tweaks by Vignale and was initially powered by a 6,276cc Chrysler V8 driving the
rear wheels through a TorqueFlite automatic transmission which promised near
supercar performance.
The MkII cars came out in 1969 and featured many
detail improvements including uprated front suspension and brakes, different
front-end styling and a more modern dashboard. Power was also up slightly to
330bhp and 425lb/ft of torque. The last model of the line was the MkIII which
came out in 1971 with an even plusher interior, central locking, improved
dual-circuit brakes, new GKN alloy wheels and a bigger 7.2-litre
engine.
Only 5,620 Interceptors were made in total and only around 600
are still road registered in the UK today so it is still an occasion to see one
pass by.
First registered in September 1973 when
it had the registration number NUL 30, this gorgeous Interceptor MkIII has no
early history but in 1999 it was acquired by a Mr Goodwin of Milton Keynes (the
car’s 4th owner) and gained its current number, NJL
303M.
At this point the car was showing just
under 39k miles and it was promptly sent to Interceptor specialists Cropredy
Bridge of Banbury for a major service and check-over, as detailed in invoices on
file. Over the next seven years Mr Goodwin covered 3,000 miles in the car before
returning it to Cropredy Bridge where it was purchased by our vendor in
2006.
He commissioned them to carry out a
substantial restoration to get the car into the wonderful condition you see
today. This included repairs to the chassis and the bodywork (new sills, floor
panels, wing sections, wheelarches etc) plus a full respray from gold to the
current shade of turquoise blue which suits the car beautifully and
complements the green-tinted Sundym glass.
They also went right through the car mechanically, incorporating
various upgrades to ensure that it would be a reliable daily driver. These
included a high-torque starter motor, modern alternator, uprated Superpak
radiator and Bosch cooling fans. The engine, gearbox, brakes, suspension and
steering were also overhauled as required, with many new parts fitted, all
detailed in invoices and a CD of images on file.
Our vendor has now covered some 22,000 miles in the car, including
trips to Le Mans and back and tours of Scotland and Ireland, the odometer
currently showing 63,588 miles. During his 18-year ownership it has been
meticulously maintained with regular visits to Cropredy Bridge and elsewhere to
keep it in tip-top condition.
Although it no
longer needs one, it has been MOT tested every year, the current ticket being
valid until 31st August with just a couple of minor advisories
(‘slight oil leak; slight play in o/s/f ball joint; brake load sensing valve
linkage defective but function not impaired’). It comes with a nicely presented
history folder, parts catalogue, maintenance manual and an indoor car cover,
having been garage-stored when not in use.
As you
can see in the photos, it looks very nice indeed and we are told that it drives
as well as it looks with working air con and none of the over-heating issues
that can plague this model.
Driven some 70 miles
to the sale, it has been starting promptly and running beautifully as we have
moved it around on site, with good 55psi oil pressure. On offer here at a very
enticing guide price, this lovely and well-historied Interceptor is ready for
new adventures. We like it a lot!
For more information
contact James on 07970 309907 or email [email protected]