1974 Other Makes Jensen Healey

Up for auction is a 1974 Jensen Healey sports car.  I bought this Jensen for $2. 50 with the intention of returning it to street condition and keeping it as a week-end driver but my health isn't going to let me do that. When I bought the car. it was presented as a non-running car that only needed the fuel system cleaned and a new starter to run.   The previous owner stated it also had some rust issues that would be fairly easy to repair. That is usually the case with British sports cars.  

First the good points. It is in good shape with a decent body and interior for it's age. The car appears to be box stock and original.  The body has the usual nick's and ding's but nothing too bad. The driver's side rear quarter panel has two dents that should be fairly easy to repair. The hood and trunk lid both open and close properly. The interior is in fair shape and has not been altered or cut up. The driver's seat does have a tear that can be seen in the pictures. The passenger seat is in good shape. The dash pad is cracked. The carpet is good. It still has the original radio with a 8 track. The radio works fine but not sure about the 8 track. The console is in good shape with no rips or tears. It has the original soft top and cockpit cover and a removable hard top. The hard top needs new rear glass.  The car also has the original owners manual and paperwork for the purchase along with various warranty and service paperwork. The car was first purchased in 1975  from Overseas Motors in Lubbock. Texas. The engine appears to be original. It came with the original air breather but it's not on the car in the pictures. The 4 speed transmission shifts as it should and the clutch feels good.  It still has the original wheels including the spare. The tires look good but are weather cracked and should be replaced. The carbs have been re-built. The engine turns over easily but the  starter usually just clicks. The starter is available on-line for around $150. The gas tank is solid but needs to be cleaned and sealed or replaced. The tanks are also available on-line for around $350.

The problems are with rust issues. The car was sold to me with minor rust issues. The man I bought the car from probably did not know about the rocker boxes because the factory under coating was still in place and it looked normal.  It does have the usual rust issues with two holes in the truck and 2 holes in the rear floorboards. Those can be easily repaired by welding in patch panels. The main problems are the rocker boxes. These cars came from the factory with a thick tar like undercoat. The undercoat covers everything under the car except the cables and the exhaust.  On a whim. I  laid down beside the car and started poking around the underside with a screwdriver. It all looked good with the under coat till I poked the drivers side rocker box and the screwdriver went through.  The box on the passenger side has rust issues at the back and could be repaired by a good metalsmith. The drivers side box is worse and needs to be replaced. Both sides also have places that attach to the boxes that will need to be patched. The parts are available on-line but it would be easier and cheaper to remove the boxes and have copies made at a sheet metal shop.

The car is too nice and complete not to finish. It's much to nice to be parted out. The car could be brought back to running and driving condition without repairing the rust issues. This car would make a great project car.  If there are any questions. please ask.

Also published at eBay.com

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