Jensen-Healey History

A joint venture with Donald Healey, the Jensen-Healey was a two-seat convertible meant to fill the gap left by the discontinued Austin-Healey 3000 and bring Jensen high-volume sales. Built from 1972, it used the new Lotus 907 all-alloy twin-cam 16-valve four producing around 140 bhp — the first car to use that engine.

It became Jensen's best-selling car by far, with 10,503 built — more than every other Jensen model combined. But early cars suffered reliability and rust problems while the immature Lotus engine was developed, and the rushed, costly launch (and the later GT estate variant) strained the company's finances. Combined with the 1973 oil crisis, inflation, and strikes, those troubles contributed directly to Jensen's liquidation and 1976 closure.