Lynley on BBC One: DI Thomas Lynley's vintage car is 'star of the show', but what model is it?
Like Bergerac before him, Lynley favours a flashy sports car
Lynley arrived on BBC One in style this week, with the leading man turning up in a rather swish car.
DI Tommy Lynley zoomed into action in his unusual vintage car, which left many viewers searching for the model and make.
Fans of the new crime drama will know that the new detective arrived in Norwich from London’s Met with a posh accent, expensive tailored suits, and THAT car. A vehicle so precious to him that he refused to let his partner DS Barbara Havers eat a pastry in it… In fact, when she first set eyes on it, she blurted out “you are kidding me!?”
So what car does Lynley drive? Here’s everything you need to know!
What car does DI Thomas Lynley drive?
Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley drives a 1970s Jensen Interceptor Mk II in the BBC crime drama. It’s a very rare car, extensively refurbished, and there are very few around these days. His model is dark grey.
The 1970s Jensen Interceptor Mk II was a luxurious British grand tourer, introduced in late 1966. The model featured revised styling, including the grille, and lights. It also had a more comfortable, “regulation-compliant interior”, powered by Chrysler’s big-block V8 engines (initially 6.3L, later 7.2L) paired with a TorqueFlite automatic gearbox.
The car was known for its distinctive fastback shape, powerful performance, and appeal to celebrities, “blending American muscle with European style”.
The strong acceleration (0-100 km/h in under 8 secs) was also a big appeal. The Mk II – a refined version of the original Interceptor – ran from late 1969 to 1971, with a total of 694 right-hand drive (RHD) UK models built. That’s not a lot.
DI Lynley is in good company with his love for vintage cars. Inspector Morse was famous for driving a Jaguar Mk II, while Jim Bergerac preferred a Triumph Roadster. Scandi Noir fans will know The Bridge’s Saga Norén zipped about in an unique, olive-green vintage Porsche.
‘I get to zip around in a vintage sports car’
Actor Leo Suter, who portrays DI Tommy Lynley in the cast of the detective drama, loved driving the car for the role. Talking about what attracted him to the role, he told us: “It feels like doing a police-procedural is a good notch on an acting CV. There’s something really satisfying about playing the detective in a crime show. You are holding the hand of the audience as you, and they, unpick the crime. That’s a wonderful relationship to be aware of during the filming process.
“Add to that the fact that I get to zip around in a vintage sports car and do a few high speed chases – it makes for a lot of fun.”
In the four-part series, Thomas Lynley’s upper-class upbringing shines through time and again with tailor-made suits and the 1970s Jensen Interceptor Mk II for private and professional use. Something Thomas saw as a huge perk of the job.
He added: “There are definitely some perks for me as an actor getting to play Inspector Lynley. Getting to drive the Jensen Interceptor was most certainly a highlight. There was one sequence where I got to skid across a gravel drive, which felt very exhilarating.
“And the process of finding the right tweed jacket for The Inspector was very special. I actually found that coat for myself in a small shop in Dublin. Our director (Ed Bazelgette) loved the coat so much that he got the costume department to go buy the rest of their stock and that became Inspector Lynley’s jacket!”
‘The car is the star of Lynley’
Viewers were quick to share their respect for DI Thomas Lynley’s car.
One gushed: “The car was the star! #Lynley.”
Another added: “Love [that] the Detective Inspector drives a Jensen Interceptor. As cool as Gene Hunt’s Quattro #lynley.”
A third said: “Lynley is a British detective procedural. The main character, Lynley, drives a British car I was not previously aware of. The Jensen Interceptor.”
“I liked the Jensen Interceptor in Inspector Lynley,” said another, while one more said: “Watching Lynley. I wouldn’t mind having his car – Jensen Interceptor.”
Another wasn’t quite as impressed, typing: “He’s got a car like Morse, but he’s just a pretender. #Lynley.”
