Jensen-Healey

Jensen-Healey
Overview
Manufacturer	Jensen Motors
Production	1972–76
Assembly	West Bromwich, England
Body and chassis
Class	Sports car
Body style	2-door convertible
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Related	Jensen GT
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 L Lotus 907 I4 (petrol)
Transmission	4-speed manual 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	92 in (2,337 mm)
Length	162 in (4,115 mm)
Width	63 in (1,600 mm)
Height	48 in (1,219 mm)
Kerb weight	2,408 lb (1,092 kg) [1]

The Jensen-Healey (1972–76) is a British two-seater convertible sports car, the best-selling Jensen of all time. In total 10,503 (10 prototypes, 3,347 Mk.1 and 7,146 Mk.2) were produced by Jensen Motors Ltd. in West Bromwich, England. A related fastback, the Jensen GT, was introduced in 1975.

Launched in 1972 as a fast, luxurious and competent convertible sports car, it was positioned in the market between the Triumph TR6 and the Jaguar E-Type. The 50/50 weight balance achieved by the use of the all alloy Lotus 907 engine led to universal praise as having excellent handling.

Design

When production of the Austin-Healey 3000 ended Donald Healey opened discussions with Jensen Motors, who had built the bodies for Healey's Austin-Healey cars. The largest Austin Healey Car Dealer in the US Kjell Qvale was also keen to find a replacement to the Austin-Healey 3000 then became a major shareholder of Jensen, making Donald Healey the chairman. The Jensen-Healey was developed in a joint venture by Donald Healey, his son Geoffrey, and Jensen Motors. Hugo Poole did the styling of the body, the front and back of which were later modified by William Towns to take advantage of the low profile engine and to allow cars for the U.S. market to be fitted with bumpers to meet increasing U.S. regulations. The unitary body understructure was designed by Barry Bilbie, who had been responsible for the Austin-Healey 100, 100-6 and 3000 as well as the Sprite. It was designed to be easy to repair, with bolt-on panels, to keep insurance premiums down.

In 1973, United States Government-mandated rubber bumpers were attached. In 1974 "5mph" bumpers were required.

Engines and transmissions

1973 Jensen-Healey at the 2005 Clonroche Vintage Rally, Ireland

The Lotus Type 907 twin-cam engine fitted with european spec Dellorto carburetors in a Jensen Healey

Lotus 907 engine as used in 1974 Jensen-Healey. North American version with dual single throat Zenith Strombergs.

Various 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 130 hp (97 kW). A German Ford V6 was considered but industrial action crippled supply. BMW could not supply an engine in the volumes needed. Colin Chapman of Lotus offered, and Jensen accepted, his company's new 1973 cc Lotus 907 dual overhead cam, 16-valve all-alloy engine. This multi-valve engine is the first modern dual overhead cam 4 valve per cylinder engine to be mass-produced on an assembly line. 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 7.8 seconds (8.1 seconds for the emission controlled U.S. version).

International variation

Vehicles for European distribution and sale contained dual side-draft twin-throat Dell'Orto DHLA carburetors (similar to Weber DCOE carburetors but with improved progression circuits); those exported to the United States had dual side-draft single-throat CD175 Zenith Strombergs in order to meet emissions requirements. The oil cooler was absent in the earliest models.

The initial transmission was a four-speed Chrysler unit, which was also used in the Sunbeam Rapier. The Mk 2 cars from 1975 onwards used the same Getrag 235/5 five-speed gearbox that was offered as an optional but rare gearbox on some models of the BMW 2002.^{[note 1][2]} As a deliberate sports car gearbox, this was a close-ratio gearbox: unusually, fifth gear is not an overdrive gear but a direct 1:1 ratio.^[3] Even closer ratios for competition were available from Getrag and sometimes fitted to Jensen-Healeys, but were not a factory option. The Jensen-Healey was sold in Japan, with right-hand drive, but was fitted with USA-spec equipment. It complied with Japanese Government dimension regulations and the engine displacement did not impose a high annual road tax obligation.

Suspension 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 the widely used Girling Type 14 Calipers.

Interior

Jensen-Healey interiors started out comparatively austere and functional, with plastic centre consoles and all-black colour schemes. (Some earlier models do sport brown interiors, however.) In August 1973, aesthetic extras such as a clock, wood grain on the dashboard and glove-box and padding as well as air conditioning as an option were added. 1976 Jensen GT models went even further by offering an elaborate burr walnut wood dashboard and paisley-patterned cloth seats, with leather as an option.

End of production

The oil crisis hit Jensen Motors hard, greatly damaging the sales of its very large V8 Interceptor model and thus degrading its 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. By 1974 Lotus was able to supply the required number of engines and production reached 86 cars a week but despite this, the overall situation proved to be too much for the company, which, amid strike action, component shortages and inflation, proceeded to liquidate in 1975 and then close in May 1976.

Racing

Jensen Motors ran a factory team to compete in the Sports Car Club of AmericaSCCA D Production Championship. This team was put together by Huffaker Engineering in California, USA.

Although it was a new car, the Jensen-Healey went on to become one of the few cars in SCCA history to win a championship in its first year of racing (1973). The roadster also, fairly uniquely in Sports Car Club of America history captured five SCCA national “D” production championships.^[4]

The initial drivers in 1973 were Lee Mueller and Jon Woodner. In 1974 the lone entry was Lee Mueller. 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.^[5] Huffaker built a new car and although beginning the SCCA season late Mueller, driving again, was able to qualify for the runoffs in Atlanta.

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 raced a Jensen Healey in SCCA E Production, winning the SCCA title in 1995. From 2005 until 2007, Ron Earp of Cary, North Carolina raced a 1974 Jensen Healey in SCCA Improved Touring S class. The 1973 National Championship winning car was raced by Lind Bros Racing in Waterloo, Iowa USA from 1974 to 1981. Stored from 1982 until 2006 when the car was sent back to Huffaker Engineering for a complete restoration to original 1973 specifications. The car is still owned by Lind Bros Racing and has been driven to victories in Vintage Racing by Pat Lind and Joe Huffaker. In 2013 the car won at the Rolex Monterey Historics, and was awarded the Presidents Cup.^[6]

Model timeline

• Jensen Healey Mark I: July 1972 – August 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 30000 – 30510 (509 manufactured)

Jensen-Healey sales by country.^[7]

See also

• List of car manufacturers of the United Kingdom

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jensen-Healey cars.

• Jensen-Healey Preservation Society
• Jensen cars
• Healey Racing
• Delta Motor Sports