Jensen Interceptor goes for £15,000

An historic Midlands-built sports car has sold for more than six times its estimated value at auction.

The 1976 Jensen Interceptor, built in West Bromwich, went under the hammer at a specialist auction in Bury St Edmunds on Saturday selling for £15,000 despite an estimate of just £2,500.

The car was found along with six other top of the range sports cars including Maseratis, Bentley, and DeTomasos after the owner's death.

The cars were kept in pristine condition by the former engineering boss who has not been identified by the auctioneers Lacy, Scott & Knight.

A Bentley Mulsanne Turbo had just 609 miles on the clock whilst a DeTomaso had 700 miles with cellophane wrap still on the seats.

The collection was expected to sell for a total of £160,000 but eventually sold for £190,000.

A Bentley Continental R Mulliner, from about 1999, which had been valued at up to £35,000, achieved the highest sale price of £45,500.

The 1996 Bentley Mulsanne Turbo sold for £39,000; a Maserati Khamsin, from about 1982, sold for £25,000, and a Maserati Quattroporte III, registered in 1989, reached a value of £14,500.

Two DeTomasos, a 1988 Longchamp GTSE and a Deauville from 1983, fetched £34,500 and £16,000.

A Nissan Patrol, believed to have been used by the owner as his everyday vehicle, sold for £5,800.

Edward Chrichton, from Lacy, Scott & Knight, said the firm was surprised when they came across the dust-covered cars.

He said: "When I opened the door to the barn I just burst out laughing. You could say we were somewhat surprised.

"I saw a DeTomaso with only 700 miles on the clock and cellophane covers on the seats and I thought, 'We've probably got something here'."

Jensen Interceptors were sporting GT cars hand built in the Midlands by Jensen Motors between 1966 and 1976.