Paul Katsus is employed by a large electrical utility as a service consultant. Although not a car collector, Paul Katsus has enjoyed studying sports and muscle cars. An interesting sports car from the past, the Jensen Healey deserves not to be a footnote in automobile history. The Jensen Healy was a British 2-seater convertible sports car produced by Jensen Motors in West Bromwich, England. The Jensen Healy was produced from 1972 -1976. A fastback version of the car, known as the Jensen GT was produced from 1975 -1976. The Jensen Healy model Mark 1 was manufactured from March 1972 through May 1973, with a total of 3,347 Mark 1’s produced. The Mark 2 Jensen Healy was produced from August 1973 through August 1975, a total of 7142 Mark 2 were sold making it the highest sales volume Jensen of all time. A grand total of 10,503 (10 prototypes, 3,347 Mk.1 and 7,146 Mk.2) were produced by Jensen Motors. The Jensen GT Fastback total output was 473 examples.
When it was launched in 1972 the Jensen Healy was as a fast luxurious convertible sports car that was positioned in the market between the Triumph TR6 (it was lighter and had 40 more horsepower than the TR6) and the Jaguar E-Type. With its 50/50 weight balance, the car was well received for its exceptional handling. The lightweight all alloy Lotus 907 engine not only attributed to the ideal weight balance but also provided brisk acceleration. The engine produced by Lotus and suppled to Jensen was a two liter, dual overhead cam; sixteen valve all alloy power plants with a 7,000 RPM redline. The engine produced 144 horsepower and would propel the vehicle from zero to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds and had a top speed of 119 mph. The cars curb weight was at 2,408 pounds, with a wheel base of 92 inches. This Lotus engine was the first mass multi-valve mass produced in the world.
Initially on the Mark 1’s and early Mark 2’s the transmission was a four speed gearbox produced by Chrysler. Cars from 1975 onwards used the same five speed Getrag gearbox as the BMW 2002. This transmission was built as a high performance close ratio sports car gearbox. The fifth gear in this transmission was not an overdrive but a direct 1: 1 ratio.
In 1975 Jensen Motors went through financial crises due to a worldwide recession combined with the oil crises. The sales of the much larger and high end Chrysler V-8 powered Jensen Interceptor model dived due to the dual financial crises. In 1975 the Jensen Healy GT fastback model was rushed into the market. The expenses of bringing this new model market created a strain to the already cash strapped company. Jensen Motors could not recover and was forced to liquidate in 1975 and close forever in May 1976. Paul Katsus would remind readers that Jensen Motors not only created the Lotus powered Jensen Healy but also the Chrysler V-8 powered Jensen Interceptor. Paul Katsus would like to encourage readers to remember British cars include more than MG’s, Jaguars, Triumphs, Aston Martins, Rolls Royce’s, and Bentleys.
When it was launched in 1972 the Jensen Healy was as a fast luxurious convertible sports car that was positioned in the market between the Triumph TR6 (it was lighter and had 40 more horsepower than the TR6) and the Jaguar E-Type. With its 50/50 weight balance, the car was well received for its exceptional handling. The lightweight all alloy Lotus 907 engine not only attributed to the ideal weight balance but also provided brisk acceleration. The engine produced by Lotus and suppled to Jensen was a two liter, dual overhead cam; sixteen valve all alloy power plants with a 7,000 RPM redline. The engine produced 144 horsepower and would propel the vehicle from zero to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds and had a top speed of 119 mph. The cars curb weight was at 2,408 pounds, with a wheel base of 92 inches. This Lotus engine was the first mass multi-valve mass produced in the world.
Initially on the Mark 1’s and early Mark 2’s the transmission was a four speed gearbox produced by Chrysler. Cars from 1975 onwards used the same five speed Getrag gearbox as the BMW 2002. This transmission was built as a high performance close ratio sports car gearbox. The fifth gear in this transmission was not an overdrive but a direct 1: 1 ratio.
In 1975 Jensen Motors went through financial crises due to a worldwide recession combined with the oil crises. The sales of the much larger and high end Chrysler V-8 powered Jensen Interceptor model dived due to the dual financial crises. In 1975 the Jensen Healy GT fastback model was rushed into the market. The expenses of bringing this new model market created a strain to the already cash strapped company. Jensen Motors could not recover and was forced to liquidate in 1975 and close forever in May 1976. Paul Katsus would remind readers that Jensen Motors not only created the Lotus powered Jensen Healy but also the Chrysler V-8 powered Jensen Interceptor. Paul Katsus would like to encourage readers to remember British cars include more than MG’s, Jaguars, Triumphs, Aston Martins, Rolls Royce’s, and Bentleys.