Faults:

Lots... but over the 40 years I have owned the car I have fixed/modified/improved everything on the car.

General Comments:

I love the car and would not have anything else.

I have a 250hp 907 engine from Lotusbits, a re-engineered 5 speed Getrag, 4 pot front disc brakes, custom wheels, custom body and interior, leather Recaro seats, a custom roll bar, a custom top and many other custom features.

Faults:

Master brake cylinder rebuild.

Rebuilt 2nd gear in transmission.

Replaced leaking valve cover gaskets.

General Comments:

The performance of this car is it's best feature. It's a sleeper. Stock HP was rated at 140 - and reviews at the time showed 0-60 as low as the mid 7's. Generally people expect similar performance to other small roadsters (MGB, Triumph, Alfa, Miata) - but when properly tuned it's much quicker. It's a high-revver, and sounds great at the high-end, especially. Especially impressive to me is that the car won it's class in SCCA back in the early 70's and then won again 25 years later.

The handling is very good. Probably not the tightest in it's class (anti-roll bars, etc aren't standard equipment - but available) - but it also provides a nice ride. It soaks up small and medium bumps nicely and provides a nice touring ride. I have driven it on a 2000m + trip to California that was quite comfortable.

Parts are easy to get and reasonably priced for a vintage car. There is a great Internet community and club (JHPS) available to owners. It has been quite reliable - more than I expected when I bought an old British car.

Faults:

Relatively little. Fuel pump and a bad electrical connection.

General Comments:

In October 2005, I bought my THIRD Jensen Healey, so I guess that answers the question “Would I buy another?”

My favorite is the red 1973 I call Candy. Yes, sweet she is. I have had no major problems with her… just minor ones that happened at inopportune times.

The cars generally had problems with (at the time) hybrid and untried, Double Over Head Cam (DOHC) Lotus 907 engine. With only 4 cylinders, they delivered an impressive 120-130 BHP at 6000 RPM. The rack and pinion steering and a low slung suspension make them handle very well. They love windy mountain roads almost as much as I do when behind the wheel.

Only 10,000 were built during its 3 year run (in comparison, twice as many 2005 Mustangs were sold the first DAY of sales!). They were prone to rust and engine troubles, and with the company in financial ruin, the Jensen Motor company closed in 1996.

In my opinion, this is a vastly undervalued car. Performance and styling unsurpassed for the vintage. With very few left on the road – power and sporty convertible looks - it should have a resale price tag equaling its cousin, the Austin Healey 3000. Unfortunately it does not.

Many readers might not know what they look like… Check out the Jensen Healey Preservation Society http://www.jensenhealey.com/

So, if you can find one running and relatively rust free, buy it. You will be in for the ride of your life!

Faults:

The motor was rebuilt at 44000 miles.

The ball joints were replaced at 46000.

General Comments:

This car is seriously quick and handles like it is on rails.

It feels like the last true British Roadster.

If you take the back Jensen Healey badge off and drive it in any state except California, most people have no clue as to what it is.

The best feature of the car is the Lotus motor, it is also the worst feature.

Like most cars it has bugs, but most of the bugs can be solved for very little cost provide you catch them before they cause big problems.

The worst bug is the plastic fuel T which leaks and causes engine fires, the cost and time to replace is not much, but if not taken care of, engine fire.