[Healeys] get a load of this one..

[Oudesluys]

In the late sixties compulsory crash tests, amongst others, were 
introduced all over the world which meant that some cars with a separate 
chassis could not comply or economically made to comply with the set 
standards. Also the old engine design did not allow better emission 
values together with sufficient power. It would have meant a complete 
redesign. This led to the intended successor of the Austin Healey 3000, 
the Healey designed Jensen-Healey, based on Vauxhall Viva HC/GM 
underpinnings, which was seriously compromised by the hurry of Kjell 
Qvale (the main importer of Austin-Healey in the USA, who had bought 
Jensen in the late sixties as they were the builders of the bodies and 
frames of the big Austin-Healey's) to put the car in production.
Sadly they f****d up in a big way because the Jensen Healey MKI 
(1972-1973) was very underdeveloped at the introduction as the Lotus 
engine showed serious short comings and the build quality was atrocious. 
The much better finished MkII introduced in late 1973 dealt with most of 
the earlier short comings and was a good piece of kit. By then it was 
however to late to restore confidence to the public and the story ended 
in 1975/1976.
Lighter at 970kg, than the big Healey with similar power (144HP, which 
could simply be increased to around 160HP and if you went all the way to 
250+HP), it had better performance, comfort, ride, road holding/handling 
and had very low emission values.
The looks are a bit of an acquired taste to put it mildly, the interior 
is bland, but the under bonnet looks are terrific. It was the sole 
reason I bought my Jensen-Healey MkII.
Kees Oudesluijs


Op 20-2-2016 om 11:33 schreef J. Armour:
> Can someone remind me why Healeys were not able to be sold in the USA? 
> Did this issue of 'safety regulation' ( obviously for our own good so 
> we were not all killed ) not start out in California?
> Am I being politically incorrect or just stating history
> Joe
>
> *Mike wrote;*
>
> *
> *Subject: Re: [Healeys] get a load of this one..
>
> Sorry. Used to the Spridgets list where we can say anything we want.
> Mike
>
>
>
>
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