Donald Healey - Later Life

Later Life

BMC purchased Jaguar and was renamed BMH in 1966. In 1968 it merged with Leyland Motors and formed British Leyland. In the wake of these organisational changes, in 1970 Healey became chairman of Jensen Motors with the enthusiastic backing of key US based Austin-Healey distributors. This was a long and fruitful relationship for Healey, in part because Jensen had been making body shells for Austin-Healey since the 1952 demise of the similar Austin A40 Sports. Healey's first project with a Jensen was re-engineering the Jensen 541S with a V8 engine in 1961, the resulting car being a personal favourite of Healey's. Ten years later, Healey helped design the Lotus engined Jensen-Healey together with Lagonda designer William Towns, to replace the Austin-Healey, which BMC were discontinuing.

Donald Healey died in Perranporth at the age of 89.