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WhatsUpDOHC Member 
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Hello JHPS - I hope that this is the right place for introductions. I just joined this forum as I have been interested in buying a Jensen Healey for a while - I've been seeing them cross BaT and have been researching the car. The first issue is that I'm 6'5" - I found out about this forum by searching whether I would fit and found that I could move/modify the seat. This is the short-term plan once I buy one. Also, I've never seen a Jensen Healey in person - I go to and participate in local Cars and Coffee, car shows, Concours d'Elegance, you name it and I've never seen a Jensen Healey. So I'm going forward with a bit of faith. If there are any members in the Southern/Central New Jersey or Southeastern PA areas - Would I be able to see your car at a show? FWIW - I have two 2003 Mercury Marauders (One supercharged) - Hence the DOHC. So, I hate to introduce myself and ask for favors but I've found a Jensen Healey (1974 MKII 4 speed) in Riverside CA and I wonder if there are any members in that area who could take a look at it for me. If it turns out to be a good car, I know that I'll have to ship it but I'm OK with that. The car looks good from pictures - No rust, ~2500 miles on a "refreshed" engine because of oil leaks (New pistons, rings, bearings, seals, ... in 1995), ~44K miles, repaint, no hard top, seats/interior needs work...... If I buy it, I'd have it shipped to a local Lotus specialist to have a look at it as it's sat for a while between drives. Also - The garage is recently cleaned out so I have the space (and my wife is kind of on board) so everything is "In place". Thanks for reading my long winded post - I hope that this is the beginning of a Jensen Healey ownership for me: The long term plan is to have the 907 stroked and "built" with other suspension/brake/interior modifications. Mark |
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redracer Member
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WELCOME! Not sure if 6'5" would be too tall, but a friend who is 6'3" fits fine. There is a "SEARCH" box at the top along with the "FORUM" section to help you and maybe your Lotus mechanic. best wishes bruce/ RedRacer |
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noomg Member
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Mark, If you could fit in any LBC this would probably be the one. Unless this guy has made you a offer you can't refuse I wouldn't be in a big hurry to buy it, we're not talking Elva Currier or Lotus Super 7 here, these days Jensen-Healeys are like buses, if you miss this one there'll be another one along in 20min or so. Also if you're shipping across country you're looking at around $1500. I don't know what your budget is but it's not hard to find a J-H in excellent condition for $15,000 or less. If you're willing to be patient, 6 to 12 months if necessary, you can probably find one closer in excellent condition with all those upgrades you want already installed. IMHO since they are so affordable and you've never seen one you'd be much better off with a car in excellent condition than trying to save a few bucks with a project car. |
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DonBurns Member
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I'm 6'3" and fit OK. Not sure 2 more inches is a problem. I have to put my legs around the steering wheel is all. I have driven a 246 Dino, 308 GTB, Muira, and Countach, and the JH is better for tall people. Brits are generally taller than Italians, I think. |
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Randallclary@icloud.com Member
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This is Randall Clary, I own 13046 and live in Riverside, CA. OI restored my car about 5 years ago and it is running like it should. I would be honored to look at the car for you and give you my impression. call me at 909-938-2090. Use my existing email at randallclary@icloud.com for further communication. It will be much easier for me to forward photos and info. Again my phone is 909-938-2090. Where are you located? BTW, I have an excellent hardtop that could be shipped with the car for no additional expense other than the sales price. $500. Not an issue if you decide not to buy it. I wou;d still be honored to look at the car for you. Last edited on 10-08-2021 03:54 am by Randallclary@icloud.com |
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WhatsUpDOHC Member
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redracer wrote:WELCOME! Not sure if 6'5" would be too tall, but a friend who is 6'3" fits fine. Thanks Bruce - I've been looking around the site. Great information here! |
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WhatsUpDOHC Member
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noomg wrote:Mark, Thanks noomg! I agree that it's better to buy a car with all modifications done. I'm keeping an eye out. The JH in Riverside looks good and *could* be a good price - Even with cross-country transport and some work. We'll see. |
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WhatsUpDOHC Member
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DonBurns wrote:I'm 6'3" and fit OK. Not sure 2 more inches is a problem. I have to put my legs around the steering wheel is all. I have driven a 246 Dino, 308 GTB, Muira, and Countach, and the JH is better for tall people. Brits are generally taller than Italians, I think. Good to know, Don! Fingers are crossed - Thanks for the reply! |
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WhatsUpDOHC Member
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Randallclary@icloud.com wrote:This is Randall Clary, I own 13046 and live in Riverside, CA. OI restored my car about 5 years ago and it is running like it should. I would be honored to look at the car for you and give you my impression. call me at 909-938-2090. Yo Randall!! Thanks so much for the offer to help! I'm in Southern NJ - Just East of Philly - Riverton, NJ 08077 I'll shoot you an email message with a link to the car - I'll also provide additional pics and documents that the seller sent me. Maybe we can talk this weekend. The seller won't be back until Tuesday - I was planning on contacting him on Wednesday. If I do buy the car, I'll probably take you up on the offer of the hardtop. Thanks again for the assistance! Mark |
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WhatsUpDOHC Member
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OK - In looking at the online post, I see that the car is in South Pasadena, CA - Not Riverside. I can't believe that I screwed that up. The car was purchased in Riverside............ So, are there any JHPS members in the area of South Pasadena, CA who could take a look at the car for me? Again, I appreciate any assistance. Thank you! Mark |
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Randallclary@icloud.com Member
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I’ll still look for you if you don’t get any other responses. Please give me a call and we can discuss or give me your number. Mine is 909-938-2090.Randy Clary |
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DonBurns Member
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Mark- Do you know the car's chassis number? Maybe a long shot, but perhaps someone already knows some history onthe car. -Don |
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WhatsUpDOHC Member
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Don Here's the ad https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1467690/1974-jensen-healey-mkii-for-sale-in-south-pasadena-california-91030 Mark |
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noomg Member
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Mark, Not sure how you want to go but this one looks like a nice stock clean driver at a good price. Add around $1,500 to ship cross country and you've got a nice driver in your driveway for about $6,000. I'd call that a good deal. This doesn't have any of the upgrades you wanted so your options are buy this one and drive it until you get around to those upgrades or pass on this one and keep looking for something closer to what you want, of course it will cost more. My vote, I'd take this one. I've owned my J/H for 28 years and I've always wanted to do these upgrades. The problem is the car is so much fun as it is I've just never gotten around to it! |
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discogodfather Member 
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Height isn't the biggest factor since height can come from longer legs or a longer upper torso, etc. I am 6ft 1 and 275lbs and I am at the limit of the footwell in terms of actuating the pedals (measured as fully extending my leg to depress the clutch) with the seat all the way back. Topless there is obviously no limit other than the edge of the windshield and that comes into my view a bit too much, but it's not dangerous and I don't need to "duck" like I do on some older British cars. With the soft top up my head would touch the cloth but it was not uncomfortable. With a factory hard top (which actually raises the roof line from a soft top) I get about 1" of clearance, very comfortable. Since I am wide the door cards and the center console basically make up the bolsters for me, so it feels like I am sitting in a fitted racing seat. All in all the JH is one of the most comfortable British roadsters ever made for big guys, with the caveat that if your upper torso is long, or you are over about 6ft 3", that you may have line of sight issues with the edge of the windshield frame. You could mess around with the foamed headboard (meaning make something custom that was a bit thinner than stock) but this would be minimal in terms of line of sight, maybe a half an inch. The other mod would be to remove seat foam and make the seat sit lower, or go with some custom seats that you can make closer to the floor. Like I said, I feel like I am at the limit with a 6ft 1" height and a longer upper torso. Last edited on 10-16-2021 12:04 am by discogodfather |
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WhatsUpDOHC Member
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Thanks again, noomg! I'm thinking that it is a good car. My latest issue is that I got a quote for an enclosed transport and it's $3,500! I'm looking for an open transport now - I thought that I'd be in the $1000-1500 for transport. Mark |
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noomg Member
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Mark, If you eventually need a transport service you definitely need to shop around, $3,500 sounds REALLY high. I shipped my '67 El Camino from Florida to California in an enclosed trailer for $1,000, that was 2013 which is why I guesstimated $1,500. Also the figure I usually hear on the various classic car sites is $1,300 to $1,500. I'd go to the Bring a Trailer website, it's a popular online classic car auction site. Most of the cars get shipped interstate, I'm sure they have contacts with auto transport companies. I don't think they'd sell many cars if the buyer had to pay $3,500 on top of the sale price. |
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WhatsUpDOHC Member
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BaT was $1900. I tried another carrier, Autostar Transport (a friend recommended), and got a quote for $1250. Now, I'm trying to get a conference call together with the owner, his mechanic and Randy Clary. Maybe Wednesday. |
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WhatsUpDOHC Member
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A quick update. Randy Clary and I had a video conference with the owner of the car in South Pasadena. The day after the call, the seller emailed me and let me know that he noticed a large oil spot under the car after he had parked it overnight. He was going to send me pictures of the oil spot but has not yet. So, while I wait for the pictures, I'm back on the hunt. Thanks again, Randy!! |
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