An Uncommon Identifier
Jensen only officially offered one version of its Interceptor in the U.S. market: the 440-powered, rear-drive one. Known officially as the Series III, these grand tourers hit these shores in limited numbers from 1971 to 1976. Yet they are often mistaken for the visually similar yet wildly rare and technologically advanced 4-wheel-drive variant – the Jensen FF – that was never officially offered here.
The Jensen FF (for Ferguson Formula four-wheel drive) is recognized as the first-ever 4-wheel-drive sports car/muscle car/supercar. It had a center differential offering full-time four-wheel drive. Only 318 were built between 1966 and 1971. While “Regular’ Jensen Interceptors cost $15,500 in 1973 (or about twice the price of a Jaguar E-Type V12 convertible), FF models cost much more. Today, their low production volume and high auction value mean most people may never see one.
You may see an Interceptor, however. Since the cars look nearly identical, how can you tell which is which? You get one clue: Interceptor models have one vertical fender vent, while FFs get two. Think of it this way: you can tell it’s an FF by the additional cooling vent, necessary for the front differential – which was quite uncommon on grand touring cars until recently.
Just as the FF has a handy indicator for car-spotters to recognize it, Jesus prayed fiercely for a trait that would identify his followers: unity.
“I pray also for those who will believe in me through [the disciples’] message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me… May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-21, 23)
Imagine being with Jesus as he wraps up his “prayer of intercession” – his longest recorded prayer, rounding out his bittersweet farewell to his disciples. Throughout the prayer, he emphatically declares his unity with God the Father, up to and including this bold petition that the same unity would extend to ordinary people who follow him.
It’s a unity far beyond what his disciples would have been used to. But Jesus knew they would need it to get through some hard times on the horizon (perhaps they might even need the hard times to engender that unity). More importantly, he knew this he was charging this rag-tag group of disciples with the task of not just continuing the habits he taught them, but teaching an entire generation of people from nations around the world. They would need something unexpected. In a world saturated with bickering over petty differences, political aspirations, and selfish ambition, they would need total unity.
Today, unity is still the most urgently needed action for Christ followers. It’s an action so counter-cultural that it’s still the best way of demonstrating real love to people who aren’t used to seeing unity. Unity is counter-cultural because it’s contrary to the selfish, sinful nature that rules inside of most people. But because God unites believers with him, unity with other people suddenly becomes possible:
When friends have an argument and it’s easiest to cut ties and walk away, unity with God means forgiveness is now an option.
When your family blows up over little things and it seems like keeping a safe distance is in everyone’s best interests, unity with God means loving your imperfect family is the best way forward.
When someone in your church embarrasses you and you feel like ignoring them for awhile, unity with God means forgiving them in your heart right away, and then honestly sharing your heart with them to rekindle the relationship.
Jesus prayed for unity, and God began offering it right away. The disciples stuck together after Jesus’ death and burial, and even in the years to come they recited Jesus’ sayings to each other to comfort each other. They needed unity for survival, for staying faithful to the will of God, and for uniting with entire new demographics of people searching for something rare and elusive: unity.
Seeing any kind of Jensen Interceptor is a treat. There’s nothing exactly like it; an American heart (383 wedge V8, replaced in 1971 with the 385-horsepower big-block 440), Italian design, and English construction (and charm). Three unique strengths, united as one. Those two fender vents may signal certain Jensens as FF models, but all Jensens signal unity.
