August - The Huffaker Jensen-Healeys

Cars of the Month for 2012
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zacmarshall
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Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:22 pm
Location: Bristol, UK

August - The Huffaker Jensen-Healeys

Post by zacmarshall »

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This is the 1973 Huffaker Jensen-Healey, pictured at Laguna Seca this August by James Elliot (pictures cropped and resized by me). The car is being driven by Joe Huffaker jnr.

The Jensen-Healey is one of very few cars to win its class first year out. Lee Mueller won the 1973 SCCA D Production championship in the number 43 car.

Number 43 was later sold to Pat Lind and campaigned with great success until 1980, when it was put into storage. In 2003 the car was taken out of storage and sent back to Huffaker Engineering for a complete restoration.

Huffaker converted 5 Healeys for club racing, they were based in San Rafael, California and enjoyed a close working relationship with the then owner of Jensen Kjell Qvale in San Francisco. Just to confuse matters the 1974 car also bore the number 43 (see the links below for more details)

The Huffaker Healeys differed from the production cars in having the engines modified with De Long racing cams, forged pistons giving a compression ratio of 12.3:1, special piston rings, stiffer springs (but stock valves) aluminium flywheel, heavy duty clutch and an aluminium radiator. The Stromberg carburettors were retained although modified. These engines produced 196 BHP as against the standard car’s 140. 0 to 60 was 7.2 against the standard car’s 9.7 (US spec). 0-90 mph times were 14.1 against 22.7, standing quarter of a mile was covered in 15.1 at 93 mph against 17.3 at 80.5.
Limited changes were needed to the suspension (Koni adjustable shocksand higher rated springs, front and rear anti roll bars and a Panhard Rod). Huffaker commented that the ‘Jensen-Healey’s suspension and consequently it’s handling is exceptionally good despite the live rear axle, just as it comes from the factory.’

At the time (1974) Huffaker would build you a Healey racer for $11,400 including the purchase of the standard car ($6,290)

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For more information please see the Huffaker Website http://www.huffakerengineering.com/projects.htm
There is also a write up taken from the JPHS magazine at http://www.huffakerengineering.com/ProjectJHText.htm

There was a very interesting article in Road and Track magazine in 1974, I think this is in the excellent Brooklands Books Jensen-Healey book available from Regalia (it is also in the Unique Motor Books ‘Healey Book’ but the print quality leaves a lot to be desired)

There is also the http://www.healeyracing.com/ site with some fantastic photos and interesting information.
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ex FF II, Interceptor I, II and III, SP, GTs and Healeys. You might say I got the bug....
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newfiegt
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Location: Central Scotland

Re: The Huffaker Jensen-Healeys

Post by newfiegt »

Lind Bros Racing have some nice pictures. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... NA&cad=rja" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

NewfieGT
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