A John Bonham-Owned Jensen Interceptor Heads to Auction, Possibly With a Crash History

A 1972 Jensen Interceptor III once belonging to John Bonham hits the block this Saturday, July 25, through Iconic Auctioneers in the U.K. The reef blue coupé with red interior, expected to sell for £40,000–£50,000, comes with documentation confirming Bonham’s ownership — but the auction listing stops short of detailing his history with the car.

That gap invites speculation. Two Zeppelin biographies recount an episode from September 1977: Bonham, leaving a pub in Cutnall Green, sped his Jensen Interceptor off the road and into a ditch. Bob Spitz’s account says the drummer was “shitfaced as usual,” and the crash broke two of his ribs. He crawled out and walked home. Whether this is the same car remains unclear; a representative for the auction house did not immediately confirm the connection.

The Interceptor was acquired by its current owner in barn-find condition and rebuilt between 2020 and 2023 at a cost exceeding £83,000. The restoration erased any visible scars. Bidders will be buying a documented Bonham vehicle, but the more colourful story stays in the realm of the possible — a footnote to the myth, parked alongside the car itself.