1976 Jensen GT

Jensen GT (Sports), 1975-1976

The Jensen GT was in production from 1975-76. Styled in house, it is a front-engine, rear wheel drive sports estate car seating two adults and two children.

The Jensen GT has its roots in the Jensen-Healey project, and it's clear to all observers that the two cars are related. In truth, the Jensen GT is little more than a Jensen-Healey with rear seats and a fixed roof - a conversion in the same manner as the Reliant Scimitar's conversion from SE4 to SE5. From the interior you could be forgiven for missing this at first, owing to the GT's more luxurious interior that owes more in its execution to the last of the Jensen Interceptor SIIIs. There's a walnut dashboard and corduroy seating, as well as the rear seats and luggage capacity. Outside there were heavier rubber bumpers, but otherwise it was largely as its open sister.

Jensen launched the GT in something of a rush; the Interceptor had not been well-received during the oil crisis and Jensen's sales slumped. The idea was that the new model would draw in new buyers as well as offering a more economical alternative for potential Interceptor buyers. But it came too late. Jensen liquidated in the year of the GT's launch, and would close its doors for good the following year. The GT could well have been a big seller, but it was never allowed the opportunity. Mechanically it shared everything with the Jensen-Healey, though additional emissions equipment and weight slightly blunted its performance figures. Jensen didn't replace the GT directly, though the Jensen CV8 concept of 2000 might have sat in a similar market position.

The Jensen GT has two natural rivals - the Reliant Scimitar GTE offers easier parts availability and a wider club scene, while the Lotus Elite shares the Jensen drivetrain and exclusivity while offering distinctly more challenging 1970s looks. If you fancy open air thrills, the Jensen-Healey upon which the GT is based might also be an entertaining alternative, though beware you'll need to leave the kids at home.