Your classic: Jensen-Healey

| 22 Aug 2024

For most of my adult life I have been fascinated by Jensen cars.

I love Richard and Alan Jensen’s history and have always wanted an Interceptor – or preferably an early four-wheel-drive FF with the old-style fascia.

Reality kicked in, however, and, following an Alfetta 2-litre, Opel Ascona 1.9 SR plus several Land-Rovers and Range Rovers, it just so happened that we had a Ford Anglia, a Sunbeam Alpine and now, as our ‘main’ classic, a lovely Daimler V8-250.

‘They are hugely undervalued cars, with a combined Jensen, Healey and Lotus DNA – what’s not to like?’

The Daimler is here to stay and used extensively, both all over the UK and abroad.

However, after selling my Triumph Vitesse rally car – which was a story in itself – I wanted to have a drop-top as a second classic and so, to combine this with my fascination for Jensen, I started looking for a Jensen-Healey.

The story of Jensen-Healey is interesting.

The two companies joined forces after Austin had terminated its contract with Healey in 1967, which brought an end to the famous Austin-Healey 3000.

The Jensen-Healey takes pride of place whilst on a visit to the Healey Museum in Vreeland, The Netherlands

The Jensen-Healeys are powered by a twin-cam, 16-valve, 2-litre Lotus engine, which was also later used in the early Esprit (such as James Bond’s famous white submersible, ‘Wet Nellie’).

In total, only around 10,000 Jensen-Healeys were produced between 1972 and 1975, with most being exported, so finding a good right-hand-drive example was going to be a challenge.

I joined the Jensen Owners’ Club, because there is always a wealth of information among such groups, and was advised to buy a Jensen-Healey mainly on bodywork, which will always be the most expensive thing to repair.

The Jensen-Healey is kept next to Mark’s Daimler V8-250

In other words, it is easier and cheaper (or less expensive, if you prefer) to fix an engine or gearbox.

Finally, in November 2021, after many persuasive phone calls and emails, I managed to convince Andy Brooks of Jensen specialist Richard Appleyard fame to part with his own, much-loved car, a 1974 Mk2 in Buttercup Yellow called ‘Babs’.

The photographs he had sent me showed a straight and rust-free example, which he had used extensively – including on European Jensen club events – so I knew it was also reliable.

He had acquired the car in 2017 from Gerry Emms, who’d meticulously restored it on his driveway across a 12-year period.

This Jensen-Healey is used for road trips in the UK and beyond

After I transferred the money, Babs was picked up and delivered to me on a transporter.

Against all the advice I had bought the car unseen, with my decision based merely on the photos and Andy’s reputation.

I needn’t have worried: when Babs arrived, she looked absolutely beautiful.

Apart from visits to some local and regional classic shows, our first proper outing in the car was in August 2022, when we returned to the country of my birth, The Netherlands, for a little Healey pilgrimage – namely to a Healey Menswear clothing shop in the lovely little town of Meppel, and then to visit the fantastic Healey Museum in a small place called Vreeland.

This Jensen-Healey at the Isle of Man Festival of Motoring

I also participated with my brother Tjerk in the local Gijs van Lennep Legend rally, which is held in aid of a local charity for disadvantaged youths.

More recently, we attended the Isle of Man Festival of Motoring with the Jensen Owners’ Club, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Jensen-Healey model.

After having used our Jensen-Healey extensively, I am very pleased with the car.

It drives incredibly well and is super-comfortable, even for my 6ft 4in frame.

The Jensen-Healey was bought sight unseen, but Mark has no regrets

I think they are hugely undervalued sports cars, with the combined Jensen, Healey and Lotus DNA. What’s not to like?

It have only had a couple of electrical gremlins, but nothing an auto electrician couldn’t fix.

I do most of the maintenance myself, but use a local classic car engineer for the more technical work, with safety and reliability being my main objectives.

Next up, we plan to attend the Jersey International Motoring Festival, and after that catch the ferry to France and pay a visit to the Normandy beaches, then continue through the Belgian Ardennes to Holland before taking the ferry back to Newcastle.

I’m still debating with my wife Lorna over which car to use for the trip: the Jensen-Healey or the Daimler. We’re spoiled for choice.

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