Jensen-Healey

Jensen
Jensen-Healey (1972-1975)
Jensen-Healey / Jensen GT
Production period:	1972-1976
Class :	Sports car
Body versions :	Roadster , station wagon coupe
Engines:	Otto engine : 2.0 liters (106 kW)
Length:	4115 mm
Width:	1613 mm
Height:	1213 mm
Wheelbase :	2340 mm
Empty weight :	1116 kg

The Jensen-Healey is an open sports car that was manufactured by the British automobile manufacturer Jensen Motors between spring 1972 and mid-1976 . In total, more than 10,000 vehicles left the West Bromwich plant . He added as a less expensive model, the exclusive sports car of the Interceptor - Series , the Jensen 1966 to 1976 built.

history

Jensen had made about 10,000 bodies for the Austin Healey 3000 from 1959 to 1967 ; so the body shop had been well utilized for years. After the production of the 3000 was discontinued, Jensen first tried to use the capacities that had become free with the Jensen P66 , which he developed himself ; the car, which was not considered to be formally convincing, did not go into series production. Instead, Jensen focused on producing the much larger Interceptor . In the late 1960s, the American Jensen importer Kjell Qvale was looking for a successor to the Austin-Healey 3000, which had sold extremely well in the USA . After negotiations with Donald Mitchell Healey and Jensen Motors, Kjell Qvale joined Jensen as a shareholder. The development of the Jensen-Healey was ultimately a joint venture between Donald Healey, his son Geoffrey and Jensen Motors.

The design

The Jensen-Healey was initially offered as a small two-seater roadster with a fabric top. A hardtop was also available as an option. In the course of the model upgrade for the Jensen-Healey Mk. 2, the interior was revised in addition to technical changes and the sports car received larger bumpers made of plastic that complied with American guidelines. Today the first series of the Jensen-Healey is referred to as Mk. 1. Shortly before Jensen Motors went bankrupt in 1976, the Jensen GT was presented based on the Jensen Healey. The two-seater combi - Coupe follows in the tradition of shooting-brake in the style of Snow White coffin Volvo P1800 ES , the base, the Volvo P1800 was manufactured until 1963 when Jensen. Since Donald Healey had already retired from the business at the time, Jensen had to do without the addition of Healey.

The technology

The use of very different engines was tested during development. The discussion included units from Ford , BMW , Saab and Porsche . Ultimately, the new Lotus 907 four-cylinder engine with 1973 cubic centimeters was chosen, which was also to be used in the Lotus Esprit from 1976 . The engine with double overhead camshaft ( overhead camshaft ), 16 valves and two Dell'Orto - carburetors (for the US market were Stromberg carburetors used) makes the Jensen-Healey 144 hp, enough for a maximum speed of over 190 km / h and an acceleration from zero to 60 miles in 8.7 seconds.

The four-speed manual transmission of the Mk. 1 from Chrysler was replaced in the Mk. 2 by a five-speed transmission from Getrag .

The use of proven technology was also trusted for the chassis and brakes. The front axle with double wishbones and coil springs came from the Vauxhall Firenza, as did the rigid rear axle with coil springs, the steering gear and the rear braking system. Only the front brake system comes from the Triumph Spitfire .

Technical problems

The first vehicles in the new series in particular had technical problems which, however, were largely resolved as part of the model update. Loss of oil from the engine due to poor seals but also poor workmanship of the body shaped its reputation as an unreliable car. The susceptibility of the entire body to rust is also typical of the English sports cars of the 1960s and 1970s.

Model variants, quantities and prices

• Jensen-Healey Mk. I (03 / 1972–05 / 1973): 3357 vehicles
• Jensen-Healey Mk. II (08 / 1973-08 / 1975): 7146 vehicles
• Jensen GT (09/1975–05/1976): 511 vehicles

Of these 11,014 vehicles, only 39 were sold in Germany . The selling price was around DM 27,000. For comparison: A Golf I cost around DM 8,000 in 1974, a Mercedes 450 SL around DM 38,000 and a Jensen Interceptor Cabriolet DM 80,000.

On the classic car market, the prices for a ready-to-drive Jensen Healey range between 5,000 and 18,000 euros, depending on its condition.

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  Jensen GT (1975-1976)

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  Rear view

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  View of the engine built by Lotus

Web links

• Jensen Owners' Club website
• Jensen-Healey Preservation Society
• Jensen-Healey: Sports car with a lotus heart