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Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: FourLoti on Sunday,May 05, 2024, 06:12:17 AM

Title: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
Post by: FourLoti on Sunday,May 05, 2024, 06:12:17 AM
My daughter knows I'm into Lotus cars, so she keeps an eye out in Seattle and this popped up in her feed. Not sure if was FB or something else, but it would be entertaining to read the ad text.

Ron



Title: Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
Post by: BDA on Sunday,May 05, 2024, 06:28:32 AM
At least they probably got the model year right… Maybe.
Title: Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
Post by: EuropaTC on Sunday,May 05, 2024, 09:18:49 AM
Buy with confidence......   

clearly enthusiast owned and maintained.....   ;)
Title: Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
Post by: 4129R on Sunday,May 05, 2024, 10:44:32 AM
Unless I am very much mistaken that is a 2 litre or 2.2 litre Jensen Healey with a Lotus 16v engine.

Or am I missing something?
Title: Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
Post by: BDA on Sunday,May 05, 2024, 10:50:28 AM
Nope! You got that right but the seller has somehow mistaken a '74 Jensen Healey for a '74 Elise. But I can understand that. The '74 Elise did bear a striking resemblance to the '74 Jensen Healey!  :)
Title: Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
Post by: 4129R on Sunday,May 05, 2024, 02:21:57 PM
Nope! You got that right but the seller has somehow mistaken a '74 Jensen Healey for a '74 Elise. But I can understand that. The '74 Elise did bear a striking resemblance to the '74 Jensen Healey!  :)

WTF is a '74 Elise ???

Elise production started in 1996.

The '74 Elite was a hard top, not a soft top.
Title: Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
Post by: BDA on Sunday,May 05, 2024, 02:58:02 PM
Quote
WTF is a '74 Elise ???

That's the joke!!  :)

Maybe you weren't able to see the attached picture. The picture was of an ad where a guy is selling what he calls a "'74 Lotus Elise" but he shows a picture of what is probably a '74 Jensen Healey (I know of no way to tell the year of a Jensen Healey)! So the guy is a bit confused.
Title: Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
Post by: Richard48Y on Sunday,May 05, 2024, 06:27:07 PM
Fakebook can be difficult to place ads on as they have no heading for many makes.
No heading for Jensen or Jensen Healey, but they do know Lotus.
So Lotus engine is close enough to advertise as a "Lotus", um yea.
The more clever sellers will follow the misapplication with the correct description.
This seller is not that clever.
Title: Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
Post by: 4129R on Monday,May 06, 2024, 02:51:58 AM
10,503 produced between 1972-1976.

I can't say that I have seen one for a very long time. Where are they all?
Title: Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
Post by: Richard48Y on Monday,May 06, 2024, 07:33:19 AM
Pretty common in CA and NV USA where they have not rusted away.
How many would you like?  ;)
Title: Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
Post by: 4129R on Monday,May 06, 2024, 08:43:43 AM
Over 440 in the UK apparently (180 off the road), but as they have a steel body, I suppose metal worm will have taken its toll on many.

Weighing over a ton with 144bhp maximum, they are slower than a Europa both on top speed and acceleration.
Title: Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
Post by: FourLoti on Monday,May 06, 2024, 09:41:57 AM
They show up FS from time to time. Here's a few that sold on BAT this year.  https://bringatrailer.com/jensen/jensen-healey/

Including that rare Jensen GT. I was tempted to bid on that as my next project, but wised up in time to save myself :)  Interesting fact I read is that Donald Healy resigned from the JH board because new American owner, Kjell Qvale, decided to position this model upmarket as a sort of a "junior" Jensen Interceptor, and dropped the Healy name. Thus, Jensen GT.

As to this FB ad, there's another JH in the photo so I doubt the seller was confused, more likely hoping the Lotus title would get more (clueless?) eyeballs than JH.

Ron
Title: Re: Semi Off Topic: Rarest Lotus of All? LOL
Post by: Bainford on Monday,May 06, 2024, 12:10:07 PM
They show up FS from time to time. Here's a few that sold on BAT this year.  https://bringatrailer.com/jensen/jensen-healey/

Including that rare Jensen GT. I was tempted to bid on that as my next project, but wised up in time to save myself :)  Interesting fact I read is that Donald Healy resigned from the JH board because new American owner, Kjell Qvale, decided to position this model upmarket as a sort of a "junior" Jensen Interceptor, and dropped the Healy name. Thus, Jensen GT.
Ron
I have always thought the Jensen Healey was a bit of a chunky looking roadster, but that Jensen GT is a good looking car. Still a shame about those front bumpers, though. I'm not sure if I was aware of these.