1974 Other Makes Jensen

Healey Convertible

Manual

16893

Clear

Gasoline

1974 Jensen, Model: Healey. Every car has a story or two behind it, and this one has more than one, of mine; this is one of two that I have, still possessing my first Jensen Healey acquired, some fifteen years ago, which now sits quietly in the Southern California sun. Over the years I have had some five of these, methinks, including a Jensen GT. I bought this one from Old Cars and Parts in Santee, California some years ago, a concern concerning itself with Model A cars and parts, or did, back in the day. Had a mechanic-then-friend help me tow it to someplace else to work on. A mechanic or two, then a shop or two, got it running; I drove it once, up Wintergardens Blvd. in Lakeside California; still wasn’t right; I thought ignition timing (hence, a bricks-and-mortar garage to reset, once again, rather than the mobile mechanics I had been using); other opinions were carburetor retuning. Whilst in Lakeside California, the door panels and door hardware were taken by a nice upholstery lady to redo; I had obtained from a commercial supply house auto upholstery vinyl covering, batting, and fiberboard panels; using the old panels as patterns, I cut new ones to exacting fit, nicely done. That nice upholstery lady disappeared with all that, including the door hardware which I have had to replace – largely off eBay and piece by piece – since. Whilst there, the brakes were done by a mechanic, using a new but technically-incorrect master cylinder I had unknowingly acquired; some other work was done as well, then. Whilst there, I had the radiator re-rodded and redone by a re-radiator shop, one of the few who still did that sort of thing. This car later made it to the old Miller’s Garage in Ocotillo, California, where it was essentially on display there, alongside Interstate 8 between San Diego and Yuma Arizona, for some years. Whilst there, a German Sheppard-Rottweiler mix female pet/guard dog - actually a rescued dog from the Imperial County Humane Society – thought to chew the upholstery from the seats. Bad Dog. Whilst there, I obtained from Eric at British Masters in North County San Deigo a used door panel, to once again use as a pattern, to do that same task again, which did. Whilst there, I replaced the starter motor with a newly manufactured one (though, see below). Whilst there, I came up with the bright idea - never seen one afore me - and fitted the hood with a second Jensen Healey hood prop. Whilst there, and attempting to get it running again, I rebuilt the carburetors once-twice-thrice; got gas got spark no go. I consulted with Randy Zoller of El Cajon California, the British Car Guru of San Diego and surrounding geography; multi-talented, nice nice guy, borderline brilliant (like me); explaining my perplexity, he was nice enough to take the time, and ‘bench’ the pair of carbs, together with me; dismantling once again, and with all laid out on his bench there, he said to me, “Bob, I have bad news for you”. “What?” “There’s nothing wrong with these”. He wouldn’t accept any money from me for his time. As acquired, and as is now, someone before me with their own stories about this car had replaced the metal to the underside; these cars are prone to rust (period British metallurgy, with lots of impurities), and do so from whatever locale, even California, a concept known there as ‘coastal rust”. All sheet metal work done, a stable and solid body now, though a few surface bubbles and blems of long standing, and completely stable. Having two of these, I was restoring both simultaneously; both tanks were removed (and still are), and were cleaned and treated with the POR-15 system, simultaneously. Since that time, a manufacturer in the San Diego area has now fabricated replacement stainless steel tanks, which I had intended to obtain, instead. Since then too, another worthy improvement now on the market are gear-reduction starters for these, which I have come to realize, was the factor in “got gas got spark no go”, above – in that, the engine wasn’t spinning over fast enough. Something as simple as a stronger battery, and it probably would have fired up. I remember now, a factor in others. Still worthy improvements though, both of the above. This car has now made it to Phoenix Arizona (note the multiple tows, across country, to here). The World’s Supply House for Jensen Healy parts – Delta MotorSports – is within walking distance from here, part of the rationale in its being here, though untouched for over a year now, since here. The Factory Hardtop now on the car is not original to it; I traded another Jensen Healey, whole, to Eric at British Masters for it when I was acquiring too many of these, whilst sharing a house with a number of attorneys in Mission Bay Park, San Diego. I am partial to that hardtop, understandably, as it had been on the other one, and used by me for many miles. I might still like to retain, therefore; and as this may be subject to prior local sale, this is an option. Another gem, or pair of gems on this that I might like to retain are the Lotus valve covers on it; quite rare, and again, as this could be subject to prior local sale, and as I have a pair of more original Jensen Healey valve covers in California, yet another option. Life is full of option