Hello
Lotus did indeed design and built the engine that went into the Jensen-Healey.
Initially the gearbox came from Vauxhall while later cars were fitted with a ZF
five-speed. It was the first modern DOHC four-valve engine built on a
production line.
There were a few problems with the engine as Jensen pushed Lotus to supply the
engine before it had sufficient testing. There were faults that came out in the
hands of owners and subsequent expensive service claims. It was the costs to
repair the engines that sent Jensen into the red.
However to drive a well sorted Jensen-Healey is a delight, especially one
fitted with the ZF gearbox.
As to the Renault engine, I think you might be thinking of the S1 and S2 Lotus
Europa that was fitted with a Renault 16 engine and gearbox that was turned
around the other way than what it was in the Renault. Later Europas had the
DOHC Lotus engine, but still with a Renault box.
Hoo Roo
Patrick Quinn
Blue Mountains, Australia
-----Original Message-----
From: Healeys [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Bob
Spidell
Sent: Saturday, 4 August 2018 12:15 AM
To: Healeys
Subject: [Healeys] Jensen-Healey Question
Reading an issue of 'Old Cars Weekly,' I came across an article about
the Lotus Elite. It stated:
"... the new rear-drive 1974 Elite offered a front-mounted Lotus
907-series 1973cc twin-cam four-cylinder engine. In fact, it was the
first Lotus to offer this potent mill. This was essentially the same
engine that the company supplied to Jensen Motors for its Jensen-Healey
sports car."
I don't know much about the J-H, but I'd always heard it had an engine
from Renault. I doubt a small company like Lotus could design and build
its own engine, was the short block supplied by Renault or did Lotus
actually design and build an engine, and did it power the J-H?
Bob
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