Open top misery: Talk to me about Jensen-Healeys

[cort16]

For 4 grand you could get a ropey v8 powered TR7, which really should be the the worst of all worlds.

[Taff]

Jensen Healey - crap, but not cheap either.

 

The open air smells so much better when the car cost you 600 quid.

 

this. do this

[cros]

Suggesting an mx-5 in instead of the Healey is like proposing to go on a 3 month knife fighting/bear knuckle grizzly bear training course at the top of a mountain deep in China then deciding to go for a weeks all inclusive in Lanzarote instead.

Good analogy that. Comparable odds of making it back home.

[Alexg]

Ta for the input folks. Maybe the JH is not an ideal candidate for short term frolics. There are two on eBay currently, both too expensive for me and both purchased within the last 2 weeks and listed again by their new owner. The Scimitar SS1 has been on my radar for quite a while, but for once I am thinking about something the Missus isn't going to refuse to get into. I like TR7 coupes, but I don't like the drop-tops. I'm currently looking at Midgets - Less outlay, should be easy enough to punt on.

[nacho man]

The bloke who I bought my scimitar off bought one to use as his daily.

 

 

He was mad as a box of frogs mind.

[Bren]

I could never take anything seriously that had the word "Jensen" but was not followed with the word "interceptor."

[oldcars]

Good analogy that. Comparable odds of making it back home.

Have you seen some all inclusive's in Lanzarote, personally i would take the first option.

[vulgalour]

I know nothing about them other than that I really like how they look in orange.  Oh, and they look even better in person than in pictures as I learned when I saw this one in 2013.

 

 

[Luxxo Waftybarger]

Rover Cabriolet. No brainer surely.

[cort16]

Use your loaf. Fiat bruschetta?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REPOSSESSION-PART-EX-1998-LHD-FIAT-BARCHETTA-1-8-PETROL-CONVERTIBLE-/231580392885?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item35eb445db5

[Vince70]

[cros]

.....I'm currently looking at Midgets - Less outlay, should be easy enough to punt on.

Assuming you mean the car, I'd say its much more fun than the B. A series engined ones beating Ferraris at Cadwell Park should leave youI in no doubt of their potential. You just need to be able fit inside and avoid getting squashed as just about every other vehicle on the road is bigger.

[lisbon_road]

My avatar.  No more to be said.

 

[Alexg]

Despite what I have just said, I've slapped a semi-committed bid into this.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/jensen-healey-rare-car-only-132-left-07817-865-722-/131533551692

 

Apparently the plates worth £1850, I call bullshit on that. But I'd still take it off and cash it if it was worth £185. Now we wait before I up the ante.... I hate 10 day auctions.

[garethj]

Buying something unsuitable is to be congratulated, although cast half a look at this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1989-TVR-S1-Convertible-2-8-/131508265846?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1e9e80e376

 

"This very nice MK 1 TVR S1 Convertible is in very nice condition and is ready to use for the summer. it comes with a very nice Ford V6"

 

Repetition of "very nice"

[Fabergé Greggs]

Buying something unsuitable is to be congratulated, although cast half a look at this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1989-TVR-S1-Convertible-2-8-/131508265846?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1e9e80e376

 

"This very nice MK 1 TVR S1 Convertible is in very nice condition and is ready to use for the summer. it comes with a very nice Ford V6"

 

 

Seemed to take about 4 goes with the camera to build up the confidence to try a new angle.

[anonymous user]

Well done that man, I like it when someone asks for advice, listens to it, takes it all on board, sees the error of his ways, agrees with the advice  - and then thinks "Sod it, I was right in the first place".

 

Welcome to my world.

[Junkman]

The thinking man's Jensen Healey, perhaps?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUNBEAM-ALPINE-SERIES-2-FULL-MOT-ROLLING-PROJECT-IN-VERY-GOOD-CONDITION-/191588492840

[Jon]

The 'Play it safe' mans' Jensen Healey, perhaps?

 

 

[Sudsprint]

Despite what I have just said, I've slapped a semi-committed bid into this.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/jensen-healey-rare-car-only-132-left-07817-865-722-/131533551692

 

Apparently the plates worth £1850, I call bullshit on that. But I'd still take it off and cash it if it was worth £185. Now we wait before I up the ante.... I hate 10 day auctions.

Looks brilliant to me. A completely 'under the radar' car that no one (other than a few sad cases) will recognise. Go for it!

[Richard]

I like that, I hope you're viewing it before committing though.

 

It's odd that he singles out the Lotus Sunbeam as having the same engine, because it doesn't.

[Junkman]

They are nice cars, no doubt.

How fragile are these engines really?

[xtriple]

I had a Lotus with the 907 engine and it was okay. Leaked oil at a fair old rate but went well and kept going even after I rebuilt it! I had to take the engine out to change the clutch, which was fine, it was the oil seal at the back of the engine pissing the black stuff out and getting all over the plate that made it slip. Had a weird arrangement with a directional 'thrower' you had to get on the right way round on the end of the crank to protect the seal from oil that was the wrong way round on mine!

 

While I was in there I thought 'might as well...' and ended up spending a fortune on bits.

 

Don't know what parts availability is like now but back then it was a fucking expensive nightmare! Lotus dealers carried nothing in stock and the factory had nothing either but the specialists had everything.. at a price!

 

Shims for the valves clearances so if you've ever worked on bike engines, a piece of piddle and the carbs don't seem to go out of tune once they are set up properly.  The poor old Jenson got the shitty end of the stick though as Lotus let them do the fault finding so I would expect the JH to be worse unless fettled since new... which it will have been as they don't seem to last all that long without fairly major attention.