Jensen-Healey
| Jensen-Healey | ||
|---|---|---|
Kerb weight 2,408 lb (1,092 kg) [1] | | |
The Jensen-Healey is a British two-seater
, England, from 1972 until 1976.Launched in 1972 as a luxurious and convertible sports car, it was positioned in the market between the Triumph TR6 and the Jaguar E-Type. A related fastback, the Jensen GT, was introduced in 1975.
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 dealer in the U.S., San Francisco-based Kjell Qvale, was also keen to find a replacement to the Austin-Healey 3000; Qvale would become 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 increasingly strict U.S. safety 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.
Early cars (1973-1974.5) were fitted with two-piece steel and chrome bumpers originally designed for the Jensen-Healey. Later cars used redesigned black rubber bumpers to comply with US government regulations and meet the new 5-mph crash standard.
Engines and transmissions
Various engines were tried out in the prototype stage including
International variation
Vehicles for European distribution and sale contained dual side-draught twin-throat
The initial
Suspension and braking
Suspension was double wishbone and coil springs at the front, and a
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 America (
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, 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 Jonathan Woodner. In 1974 the lone entry was Lee Mueller. 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
Collectibility
Being a convertible two-seater performance sports car, the Jensen-Healey scores highly as a collectible car.[citation needed] In recent years the majority of cars advertised for sale in the UK have been imported from the US, with the number of registered cars in the UK rising from 330 in 2014 to 420 in late 2019.[7]
Model timeline
- Jensen-Healey Mark I: July 1972 – August 1973; VIN10,000–13,349 (3,356 manufactured)
- Jensen-Healey Mark II and JH5: August 1973 – August 1975; VIN 13,500–20,504 (7,142 manufactured)
- Jensen GT: September 1975 – May 1976; VIN 30,000–30,510 (509 manufactured)
Jensen-Healey sales by country.[8]
| Markets | Mk. 1 | Mk. 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA and Canada | 1,945 | 5,689 | 7,634 |
| United Kingdom | 1,114 | 906 | 2,020 |
| Europe | 125 | 209 | 334 |
| Australia & New Zealand | 75 | 211 | 286 |
| The Far East | 98 | 87 | 185 |
| The Middle East | 0 | 33 | 33 |
| Jamaica | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unspecified | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Total | 3,357 | 7,146 | 10,503 |
See also
References
- ISBN 0-333-16689-2.
- ^ "The Jensen Healeys". Austin Healey club. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ Erik Frank; Ben Thongsai (1 May 1997). "BMW 2002 Transmission FAQ". bimmers.com.
- ^ "Kjell Qvale, 1919-2013". autoweek.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ Sports Car Feb 1976.
- ^ "1973 Huffaker Jensen-Healey". Supercars.net. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ "JENSEN JENSEN-HEALEY". Howmanyleft.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ISBN 0-900549-21-1.
External links
