Here’s one of the tidiest Jensen-Healeys I have ever seen. The paint pops, the trim is clean, the engine is rebuilt. The owner has pampered the car and it shows; I also appreciate the effort to clean the car before its photo shoot. It’s for sale here on craigslist with an asking price of $12,900. The new owner can drive it home from Newton, Massachusetts. Thanks to Mitchell G for finding this spiffy roadster, which hails from early in the second generation of Jensen-Healey production, before the factory was forced to fit dreadfully large rubber bumpers to meet safety regulations.
The Jensen-Healey was the recipient of Lotus’ new type 907 twin-cam in-line four-cylinder, the first production version of the 900 series. Breathing through twin Dell’Ortos at home, the engine was good for 140 bhp, but US delivery vehicles were saddled with a lower compression ratio and dual Zeniths. The untested engine experienced severe teething problems in early cars. Oil seepage, low oil pressure and fuel leaks culminated in expensive warranty claims, damaging the car’s reputation along the way. Consequently, despite improvements that ameliorated most of these issues, the car never sold well. But all the basics are on board: decent suspension, front disc/rear drum brakes, and either a four- or five-speed manual gearbox (1974 was the demarcation between the two ‘boxes). This car with its rebuilt engine has promise.
A mild facelift in 1974 fancified the interior, adding a wood dash. This one appears to be an upgrade over the original plain grain pattern. I don’t care for the custom red/black interior, but then I am annoyingly married to factory fare. The seller notes that the convertible top is new, but a photo reveals its fit is less than perfect.
Despite its relative rarity, the Jensen-Healey has not elicited the same collectible aura afforded to its less exotic British kin – the MGB and the Triumph TR6. Only 10,503 were ever made, up against the MGB’s 512,000 and the TR6 at 91,850. But like many things we would never look at twice when we were young, this model is slowly gathering fans. Consequently, prices are drifting upwards, with very nice Jensen-Healeys now selling in the mid-teens. Still, this example advertised in Hemmings sits in four-figure territory. Personally, I would opt for our subject car with its rebuilt engine, provided the seller can document the work. What do you think?
The niggly engine problems notwithstanding, this car’s name and looks don’t match up. Jenson and Healey both put out some real good looking cars but none of that good looks got into this car with the exception of the rear view which looks lifted off the TR6. I’ve been buying cars (lots and lots of them) and started with how they looked and sorted out the drive trains later. Still doing it with our two drivers, a 2011 Mini Cooper S and a 2021 Chrysler full up van with the big engine and a 9 speed transmission that’s as fast as anything that big out there and is a pleasure just to look at. Cooper tops out at 138 and got to van up to 119 before I ran out of room.
I disagree, the JH is a like it or not design. I took one in trade 8 years ago and I had a blast driving it. The engine has no real torque until the revs get above 3000 and then it is fun machine. They won a lot of races when they were campaigned. I actually like the look of the JH, I wouldn’t have taken it in trade. bobhess, take a ride in one . I sold it after a couple of years to buy a 86 911 Targa. I know what you mean about speed.
Have driven one and they are nice drivers. My beef is they made a car with most of the good running and stopping pieces and put little effort in putting a little glamor over it.
It does have more than a passing resemblance to the TR6. Done at the same studio? Michelotti? I wouldn’t pass on a good one but for this amount I would hope to find the Triumph and the extra cylinders.
Hopefully whoever rebuilt the engine did it to European specs, as the rest of this makes for the cleanest one we’ve seen here yet IIRC. And yes, Michelle the seat redo would be the FIRST thing addressed in my garage. Otherwise than that minor nit this is a beauty!
Fifty years ago I worked for one of the largest Jensen Healey dealers on the west coast. Oh, the stories I could tell! Great concept on paper, the execution in metal however . . . Remember Rocky and Bullwinkle? The narrator was William Conrad and one day he pulls his big El Dorado onto our lot, his son exits the car and beelines to the showroom. I went to speak with Bill, says his son wants to test drive a Jensen Healey. One of the salesmen, Scott, takes the kid out. After about 30 or so minutes Conrad askes me if it’s normal for a test drive to take that long. Being a smartass 19 year old, I replied that by now we could usually count on a phone call asking for a tow truck! Not two minutes later, here comes the sweaty salesman and the kid, pushing the dead little sports car down Van Nuys Blvd and back onto the lot! They, uh, didn’t buy one that day!
A friend down the street had one these.He was fiddling with it all the time, we’d talk and I’d help him with some of the things,he was doing.He had a 15 year old daughter who wanted to drive it to show off at school, no license not even learner’s permit.He and his wife took 3 days off to go to funeral for his best friend from college, well we know what happened, daughter tried to take it to school to show off and wrecked it 2 blocks from home.When he got home and saw car he was heartbroken and mad at same time.She didn’t get a driver license while living at home, not till she went to college.Back to car right wing and bonnet and windshield frame
were broken, and of course windscreen as the English called these parts.This was in middle 80’s I worked for cargo airline at that time and would have 2 day layover at air base in England so I said I would see if I could find parts, cause I could bring them back in locked company material cargo bay, boss knew we did this both ways from US to England and vice-versa.So went to 2 breakers yard (junk yards) and parts for really good prices, brought them to him, and he had body shop do repairs and repaint,was very good looking car, last I heard he still has it and drives it in the summer.
There are two types of Jensen Healy’s for sale – Projects that need work and new rebuilt engine!
The cynic in me says, you really missed the two types, those that need work, and those that are going to need work . . .
Ha ha – like two theories of rust: rust you can’t see and therefore can ignore, and rust you can see and have to do something about.
I had a bright yellow one, just to make some money. Mine also had a roll bar, the cars did not come with one, but you could buy one at the dealership and bolt it in. Looks great but a tad high on price. Posted about a month ago.
Third type of Jensen Healy waiting for v-6 motor or small block Chevy motor and transmission swap.
Yep!