As the decade of the 1960s closed, Donald Healey was seeking a new venture – one aimed particularly at generating a replacement for the Austin Healey 3000. Kjell Qvale, a prominent US car dealer, also wanted a new car for his showrooms. Meanwhile, Jensen Motors, which made the bodies for Austin Healey, had capacity available. As the team fell into place, the product goal evolved to a luxury sport convertible, utilizing redesigned underpinnings from the Vauxhall Firenza. The motor remained a question mark well into the process. Healey wanted at least 120 bhp, narrowing the choices considerably. Colin Chapman’s Lotus twin cam was just the ticket, with over 140 bhp. The new car was named the Jensen-Healey and it was introduced in 1972. Here on craigslist is a 1973 Jensen-Healey roadster, with an asking price of $6950. This very slightly needy car is located in Scottsboro, Tennessee. Chuck Foster submitted this tip to us; thanks, Chuck!
The answer to “why own a Jensen-Healey” resides in the engine bay. The Lotus type 907 two-liter, twin-cam, four-cylinder engine – dubbed the Torqueless Wonder – is still capable of slinging the car from zero to sixty in about eight seconds thanks to excellent top-end performance and the car’s 2300 lb curb weight. US cars received two Stromberg carburetors; owners often switch these for Webers or Dell’Ortos. While our seller waxes poetic over the rarity of the 1973 Jensen-Healey, the first cars were plagued with enough drawbacks that the nameplate was doomed – an irony since later cars were much improved. The roster of changes introduced in 1974 includes improvements in cooling architecture and oiling in the block as well as a Getrag five-speed, versus the four-speed in this example. The seller reports that despite a long slumber in storage, this car started and ran great with fresh gas and new spark plugs, and it shifts well. The rubber is aged, so the car needs new belts, hoses, and tires. This is an interference engine, too, so mind that timing belt! The master cylinder and battery have been replaced.
The interiors of early cars were undistinguished, with blocky black plastic everywhere. In 1974, faux woodgraining relieved the dash and console of its Darth Vader look. Wear here is commensurate with the odometer’s 71,000 miles – slightly shabby but easy to live with. The convertible top is brand new.
The seller indicates the paint is “useable”; rust is confined to two spots ahead of each rear wheel. Might be the photo angle, but the front bumper appears slightly crooked. Overall this Jensen-Healey has been the recipient of some valuable work already – a seller who is willing to get the car running for one thing. Meanwhile, probably in the time it’s taken me to write this, these cars have ticked up another notch in price. Last time I paid serious attention to Jensen-Healey’s, they were selling well under $10k. But take a look at these two: this 1973 that sold for $14,250, and this one, at $18,500. Yikes! Better nab this craigslist car before it gets away.
Don’t see 18.5K for this one with all that will need to be done to put it back on the road. Looks like a commercial flip to me. The early models were a mechanical nightmare as Michelle indicated. I have driven one of the early cars and they are nice drivers. No sports car here, just a nice cruiser.
I had a bright yellow one. Seller says this is excellent?
You’ve plucked another page for the past, Michelle, this one is in the chapter of “what COULD have been a great sports car”. The styling and build was vanilla pudding, the engine and drivetrain should’ve been the chipotle Tabasco to wake up that pudding but it was diluted by the Laissez-faire attitude of corporate resting on its decades old-and expired-laurels.
Regardless, this should be rescued but it’s apparent that someone is more enamored with the money than reality of revival.
Hope it finds a good home, it needs and deserves it.
Looks like his daily driver is the Joker inspired Spitfire in the background.
Have owned a couple..Average cars at best…I would not pay more than $4000 for a nice one…
I believe the car is in Scottsdale , Alabama, not Tennessee(and with Georgia plates on it?)
The engine is a true ’73, which has the rope seal, making it less desirable. The master cylinder is from the TR6, a cheap but potentially hazardous problem since the TR6 has the cylinder pointing up keeping the front hole on a level plane(must be kept full).
It appears(can’t tell from the pix) the bumpers are good, a true plus.
Seller does NOT show the floor pans which were prone to rust unless properly protected.
Also, there were over 10,000 made, not 1945 as this seller indicates
As pointed out, sounds like a ‘flipper/shop” trying to get rid of it ..
If anyone is interested, I can help you with this model on what to look out for(rust in particular) and anything else you may want to know.
I think he means there were 1945 of the Mk I cars made, at least that is how I read it. I just read an article in Classic & Sports Car (Apr 2023) profiling a long-owned ’72 J-H that was rebuilt to 2.2 liters, using throttle-body injection instead of the Dell’Orto’s and a Toyota five-speed with many parts sourced from Lotusbits. NOW the car is what it should be.
I had a ’63 Austin Healey 3000 Mk III in cream with a black interior. That car was pure sex on wheels, and would outrun most cars on the road then. If I had it now – in the condition it was when I had it – it would be worth close to half of six figures. This “replacement” of the Austin Healey is absolutely pathetic compared to the style and performance of what it replaced – like replacing a Porsche 911 with a VW Beetle. I really don’t understand why anyone would want this thing – unless they could get it for a song and a dance – and even then I would not include the dance.
When I worked for a bank in 75 a customer came to see me about his Jensen . He laid the keys on the desk and proceeded to describe all the problems he had with it and said I brought to you because I can’t afford payments and the repair bills. The dealer could not keep it running and no shop would touch it. We tried to sell it but no on called to see it. We took it to an auction and the buyers would not bid on it. The dealer took it for pennies on the dollar and the bank lost a big chunk of change.
“The shift lever falls readily to hand.”