Vladimir Antonov: Screw Spyker, I'm Building A Jensen
As the Saab/Spyker/Swedish Automobile mess falls deeper into chaos and hopelessness, Saab’s erstwhile knight-in-shining-armour, Vladimir Antonov has been slowly backing away from the ugly scene. Indeed, his firm CPP Holdings was supposed to buy Swedish Automobile’s Spyker Supercar division, but that deal has been on hold while Swedish Automobile concentrates on keeping Saab alive. And though the Birmingham Post reports that CPP still plans on buying Spyker eventually, it’s clear that having washed his hands of the Saab situation, Antonov is looking elsewhere in order to secure a Victor Muller-free future. But could Britain really offer a loaded young Russian an appealing sportscar brand to sink his hard-earned (or not, whatever) cash into? Anyone know what TVR is up to? Actually, it seems Antonov has gone one better than TVR, and has secured the right to make an “all-new” Jensen Interceptor from the ex-Jaguar plant at Browns Lane, Coventry. Does it get any more wealthy-Russian-trying-to-make-his-mark-on-the-British-sportscar-scene than that? According to Autocar, the new Interceptor will feature aluminum chassis and bodywork, with an attendant “ultra-exclusive” pricetag, and will be shown sometime next year ahead of a 2014 rollout. Because, oligarch.
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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It must have a Chrysler V8. 465 hp should do quite nicely.
Needs a hemi
Maybe a Coyote would fit. Say it, "Jensen Police Interceptor".
Back in the day (60s) Ford was so pissed off at Ferrarri after Enzo backed out of a deal for purchase of the firm and Enzo going to Fiat for money..that Ford decided to GIVE engines waay at such low prices many small firms took the bait. Chrysler ..not to be out done did the same but since MOPAR engines where a lot heavier few chasis in the UK and NONE in italy were suitable but bristol and jensen went for it. The total number of car made with these small block ford motors from AC, Sunbeam (built by Jensen) , and TVR were about the number that would fall of the deliver trucks in a single day for ford that the old man did not car. He just wanted to irk ferrari. To some extent it worked to a lot it didi not. The Mark 4 did push ferrari out of sports car racing to F1. and the cheap V8 did force Ferrari up the food chain..Did it work in total. Dunno it depends...ford is independant ..Ferrari is now run by FIAt and if you check the milae these cars get...well they are bought to look good in the gargae. Iwas in the market and the average I see in Southern Cal is about 2000 miles a year until the first service then about 1000 per ear after that. The number f 328 QV with under 20K miles is astounding.