Description
Imperial War Museum | Duxford, Cambridgeshire
Viewing: Tues 8th April from 12pm
Auction: Wed 9th April from 9am
Location: IWM Duxford Airfield, Cambridge CB22 4QR
1976 Jensen GT
Former Jensen Owner's Club concours winner
Estimate
£15, 000 - £17, 000
Registration No: MOH 717P
Chassis No: 30500
MOT: Exempt
Supplied and originally maintained by Mists Garage of Birmingham
Offered with the original owner's handbook and maintenance schedule
Former Jensen Owners' Club Concours d'Elegance winner 2 years in a row, with trophies and certificates
7-page magazine feature in Classic Cars, May 2001
Benefits from an older restoration which involved a re-paint in what we believe to be Jaguar 'Solent Blue'
Many people were dismayed at British Leyland's decision to axe the Austin-Healey 3000. Not least among them were Donald Healey - the man behind the name - and Kjell Qvale, who had done more than anybody to market British sports cars in the USA and who had enjoyed particular success with the 'Big Healey'. Adamant that the MGC was no substitute for the venerable Healey, Qvale - the son of a Norwegian sea captain - set about solving the problem himself. He discovered that the Healey family had been working on the prototype of an all new two-seater sports car and that Jensen (who had produced the bodies for the Healey 3000) was the obvious company to build it. Aston Martin DBS designer Bill Towns was commissioned to develop the styling and the Jensen-Healey was born. Power came from the 4-cylinder, 2-litre, twin-cam, Vauxhall-based Lotus 907 engine which drove through the four-speed Chrysler gearbox of the Sunbeam Rapier. The independent front suspension and live rear axle came courtesy of the Vauxhall Firenza, as did the rack-and-pinion steering and the disc/ drum braking system. Bearing in mind Qvale's ambitions for the American market, the car was equipped with Federal style impact bumpers from the outset. The performance of the Jensen-Healey was brisk by the standards of the time, the 140bhp engine endowing the car with a 0-60mph time of some 7. 5 seconds and a top speed of over 120mph. The open two-seater was produced from March 1972 to late 1975, during which time some 10, 000 were manufactured. While home sales proved to be slow, the car justified Qvale's foresight by being quite popular in America. However, Jensen was by now in financial trouble. Sales of the V8 Interceptor had been hard hit by the fuel crisis and profits for the Jensen-Healey were not yet filling the void. Enter the Jensen GT, a 2+2 estate-like Coupe version of the Jensen-Healey - a model it was hoped would broaden sales and keep the company afloat. Sadly, the gamble failed. The GT was produced from September 1975 to May 1976, when the factory was finally forced to close its doors after just 509 examples were produced.
First registered in 1976 and originally supplied by Mists Garage of Birmingham to Mr W. Brighton, this Jensen GT displays a mere c. 33, 967 miles. Featuring the Jensen GT's optional burr walnut fascia and the 5-speed Getrag gearbox fitted to all the later Jensen-Healeys, 'MOH 717P' was the subject of a large restoration in the early '90s and is understood to be finished in Jaguar's 'Solent Blue'. This led it to win first place in 1992 and 1993 and then second place in 1994 with the Jensen Owners’ Club Concours d'Elegance. It has award letters on file, trophies and a plaque in the interior to signify this. It went on to feature in May 2001's 'Classic Cars' magazine in a head-to-head test against the Lotus Elite in 'Estates of The Art'. Considering the Jensen has been stored for over 20 years, it still presents well overall. However, attention would be needed to the paintwork to bring it back to its previous, award-winning level. The interior's wood and leather is noted as being in ‘great condition’. At time of consignment, the engine started up easily and sounded well. Now offered for sale, there is a substantial leather binder supplied from Jensen - filled with old invoices, MOTs, concours awards, an owner's manual, service book, the build sheet and the latest V5C document.
** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply**
Parking and entry into the auction is free for auction attendees with a catalogue, available at the door.
