- Jensen-Healey
Infobox Automobile
name = Jensen-Healey
manufacturer = Jensen
production = 1972-1976
class = sports car
body_style = 2-door convertible
2-door coupé
engine = 1973 ccLotus 907 engine
transmission = 4 or 5 speed manual
length = 162 inches (4115 mm)
width = 63 inches (1613 mm)
height = 48 inches (1213 mm)
weight = Auto lb|2408|0 cite book |last=Culshaw |first= |authorlink= |coauthors=Horrobin |title=Complete Catalogue of British Cars |year=1974 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |id=ISBN 0-333-16689-2]
wheelbase = 92 inches (2342 mm)
predecessor =
successor =
designer =The Jensen-Healey is a two-seater
convertible sports car that was originally produced between 1972 and 1976 byJensen Motors , Ltd. Roughly 10,000 were produced atWest Bromwich ,England . A relatedfastback , theJensen GT was introduced in 1975.Design
With the demise of the
Austin-Healey 3000 , car dealerKjell Qvale was looking for a new product to replace it. He entered into discussions withDonald Healey and Jensen Motors, who had built the bodies for Healey'sAustin-Healey cars. Kjell Qvale became a Jensen shareholder and Donald Healey became the chairman. The Jensen-Healey was designed in a joint venture by Donald Healey, his son Geoffery,William Towns and Jensen Motors. It was hoped that Healey could help to contribute the sense of style that made the Austin-Healey a hit.In 1974,
United States Government-mandated rubber bumpers were attached.Engines and transmissions
Many engines were tried out in the prototype stage including Vauxhall, Ford and
BMW units. The Vauxhall 2.3 L engine met United States emission requirements but did not meet the power target of Convert|130|hp|kW|0|abbr=on. A German Ford V6 was considered butindustrial action crippled supply. BMW could not supply an engine in the volumes needed so Jensen looked to Lotus who had a new, untested engine available. Thus all Jensen-Healey models came equipped with the then-new 1973 ccLotus 907 engine, a two litre, dual overhead cam, 16valve all-alloy powerplant. This setup puts out approximately 144 bhp (107 kW), topping out at 119 mph (192 km/h) and accelerating from zero to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds.International variation
Vehicles for
Europe an distribution and sale contained dual side-draft twin-throatDell'Orto carburetor s; those exported to the United States had dual side-draft single throat Zenith Strombergs in order to meet emissions requirements. Theoil cooler was absent in the earliest models.The initial transmission was a four speed
Chrysler unit sourced from theSunbeam Rapier . Later aGetrag five speed was used. Interestingly on the five speed gearbox the fifth gear is not an overdrive gear but a direct 1:1 ratio.uspension and braking
Suspension was simple but effective with double wishbone and coil springs at the front, and a live rear axle with trailing arms and coils at the rear. Brakes consisted of discs at the front and drums at the rear. The suspension, steering gear, brakes and rear axle were adapted from the
Vauxhall Firenza with the exception of the front brakes which were from theMorris Marina .Interior
Jensen-Healey interiors started out austere and functional, with plastic
centre console s and all-black colour schemes. (Some earlier models do sport brown interiors, however.) Later, aesthetic extras such aswood grain and padding as well asair conditioning were added. 1976 Jensen GT models went even further by offering elaborate burr walnut wooddashboard s and paisley-patterned seats.Demise
The
oil crisis hit Jensen Motors hard, greatly damaging the sales of their very large V8 Interceptor model and thus degrading their financial condition as a whole. The Jensen GT was then hurriedly brought to market, requiring massive labour expense and taxing the firm's budget even further. As the Jensen-Healey continued to garner mediocre sales in theUnited Kingdom (though the car was relatively popular in the United States), the situation proved to be too much for the company, which, amidstrike action , component shortages andinflation , proceeded to liquidate in 1975 and close their doors in May 1976.Racing
Jensen Motors ran a factory team to capture the
SCCA D Production Championship in 1973 and 1974. This effort was put together by Huffaker Engineering inCalifornia .The initial drivers in 1973 were Lee Mueller and Jon Woodner. In 1974 the lone entry was Lee Mueller. Although it was a new car, the Jensen-Healey went on to become one of the few cars in SCCA History to capture a championship in its first year of racing (1973). Lee Mueller captured a second D Production championship in 1974. The factory support ended in 1974, however the West Coast Jensen-Healey dealers combined to put together a late effort in 1975. Huffaker built a new car and although beginning the SCCA season late Mueller, driving again, was able to qualify for the runoffs in Atlanta. A third championship nearly came to pass but the Healey was edged out by the Ex C Production Triumph TR 6 factory team car of Group 44 racing, driven by John McComb.The Huffaker factory cars were later campaigned by the likes of Carl Liebich, Stefan Edliss, Tim Lind, Joe Carr, Tom Kraft and Jim Reilly.
Bruce Qvale and Joe Huffaker Jr. from Huffaker Engineering, of
Sears Point Raceway ,Sonoma , California, successfully campaigned a Jensen Healey in SCCA E Production, winning the SCCA title in 1995. From 2005 until 2007, Ron Earp of Cary,North Carolina campaigned a 1974 Jensen Healey in SCCA Improved Touring S class.Model timeline
* Jensen Healey Mark I: March 1972 – May 1973;
VIN 10000 – 13349 (3356 manufactured)
* Jensen Healey Mark II and JH5: August 1973 – August 1975; VIN 13500 – 20504 (7142 manufactured)
* Jensen GT: September 1975 – May 1976; VIN 3000 – 30510 (509 manufactured)
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