This 1952 Jensen Interceptor (chassis INT233452) is one of only 52 two door saloons and 88 total built. Found languishing in the New Mexico desert where it was used as target practice, the car is now offered with at least 50 bullet but sans chassis, suspension, transmission and rear end. Its original, free-turning motor is included however, and these relatively unknown MkI cars’ scarcity and handsome styling make this one worthy of a labor intensive restoration. Find it here on eBay in Albuquerque, New Mexico for $8,500 OBO.

​Rust isn’t an issue as these cars were bodied in hand-formed aluminum, and overall condition is better than we’d expect with decently straight body panels and a good collection of surviving trim including grille, front bumper, hub caps, badges, various vents, handles and more shown in the listing’s gallery.

​As shown below, these early Interceptors have an almost Bentley like presence on the road, and we think this one would look great wearing a similar two tone black/bluish-gray color treatment.

​A RHD car, all instrumentation and switchgear remains intact and is included in three separate, leather covered dash components. Though not pictured here the original radio is also included, and these pieces would likely be nearly impossible to source elsewhere. A seat frame is also among the car’s inventory of parts, as is a bullet-torn and dried up piece of leather trim on the inside of the driver’s side door. We wonder if factory documentation recording its original spec and colors still exists.

​As the seller points out, Jensen used a modified Austin A70 chassis to underpin these cars, and we do find tired projects from that model line for sale somewhat regularly. Built from 1950-’57, 1952 saw the addition of an optional Laycock de Normanville overdrive unit to the existing 4-speed manual, and power came from a four liter straight six originally designed for duty in Austin’s large Sheerline sedan. Like the chassis, a transmission shouldn’t be too difficult to source, but then again Briggs Cunningham had one custom built from the factory with a 331 Hemi…

​A chassis swap would be tempting, but this one deserves to be set right—undoubtedly a huge challenge, but one that we sincerely hope someone with the proper resources is up for.