Austin-Healey’s and the Austin Healey Car Club of NZ and Others

[Roger Dowding]

Timo Makinen and Paul Hawkins 1965 Targa Florio in the works 3000 that was later raced at Targa as an ex-works car by Ted Worswick.
" the track length in the race's last decades was limited to the 72 kilometres (45 mi) of the Circuito Piccolo delle Madonie, which was lapped 11 times "

Last run as a race in 1977 - since then a Rally.

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A long distance Rally - over 4000 miles 1964 Spa Sofia Liege that became known as Marathon de la Route -
it changed the start and middle destination at one stage Rome being the turnaround point - still finishing in Liege, Belgium.
1960 - when Pat Moss and Anne Wisdom won in the Austin Healey 3000 Mark One - the Rally was Liege - Rome - Liege
1961 - also the Liege - Rome - Liege Rally - an Austin Healey 3000 came 6th overall
1962 - Run as the Liege - Sofia - Liege Rally. Austin Healey 3000's came 5th and 8th overall two other AH3000's retired
1963 - Run as the Spa - Sofia - Liege Rally - Paddy Hopkirk and Henri Liddon came 6th
1964 - again run as the Spa-Sofia - Liege Rally - won by the car pictured below;
Rauno Aaltonen and Tony Ambrose - BMC works team BMO93B came first

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- some statistics on the Rally.
97 cars started 21 finished.
BMC team was 3 Austin Healey 3000's the others dnf/retired for Timo Makinen D Barrow ARX92B - punctures, Paddy Hopkirk Henri Liddon BRX852B - gearbox
Morris Cooper S for J Wadsworth M Wood 20th overall and 3 MGB's all retired

1965 - There does not appear to have been an equivalent rally usually held in August however there was a Munich - Vienna - Budapest Rally BMC came first overall with Rauno Aaltonen and Tony Ambrose in a Austin Mini-Cooper S.
1966 - The rally was called Marathon de la Route
1967 and in 1968 again called - Marathon de la Route.

[Roger Dowding]

Done by a graphic artist - posted by Rick Neville -
A great trio of 100S, including the very famous one from Le Mans 1955.

AHS3504

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The most popular and famous colour scheme - Ivory over Lobelia Blue.

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The Lance Macklin Le Mans car involved in the horror crash with Levegh Mercedes - almost stopped the event being held again and Donald Healey didn't take a team back for several years

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Cheers
Keep calm/safe and carry on

[Roger Dowding]

Healey video - hope it runs OK !!

" https://www.facebook.com/NatGeoUK/videos/513493029363951/UzpfSTEwMDAwNzE1MjEyNjY0MzoyNTE2NDE5NDk4NjA2NDMw/ "

[Roger Dowding]

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and keep in touch

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If beer is not your thing then this ;

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and just to keep it Austin Healey - a new [ to me ] photo - this car will be another story soon. The car as seen has NZ connections - sold new here in 1955, one of only two that were>

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[Ray Bell]

Found this page today, a part of a report on a hillclimb at Foley's Hill at Mona Vale in 1958.

https://i.postimg.cc/wMVwwjgL/0320fr-AMS1258foleyshillhealey.jpg

[Roger Dowding]

Ray Bell
" Found this page today, a part of a report on a hillclimb at Foley's Hill at Mona Vale in 1958. "

Thanks
Ray, must look up the map as worked in Mona Vale back in 2010 for a few months then went to Newport, with the " Manly Warringah -later Northern Beaches - Credit Union ". know a few of the roads around there - remember there was a big Hill coming into Mona Vale from the West - connected to the Pacific Highway going North quite a few Km's inland..

Cheers
Roger

[Milan Fistonic]

A couple of adverts from 1955 Motor Sport magazines.

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[Ray Bell]

Google up 'Lane Cove Road, Ingleside', Roger...

It won't be hard to find then. Though I admit I've never found it myself, but I didn't have the advantage of having Google Maps or anything like that when I looked.

It's just off Mona Vale Road, which is the main road you've mentioned. I would say that Mona Vale Road supplanted Lane Cove Road when it was built and left it usable for motor sports for a while. Sprints were also held somewhere up the top of it on a straight road, probably Walter Road.

[Roger Dowding]

Memorabilia / Regalia / Collectables - call them what you like ..
Came across these with connections to Austin Healey ..

These were Rally Plaques - issued by BMC to the various Marques A-H MG, etc for wins class or main classification.

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the B - BMC Bag with all the various marques mentioned ;
The A - H side

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The " Other " brands - Nuffield side

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Thanks Milan for the adverts, more for the archives
and
Thanks Ray Bell for the map details - will have a good look, and I do remember a road running parallel to Mona Vale Road - somewhere off there was the Rubbish Dump - Transfer Station - a road that went South towards Frenchs Forest - from memory !

[Ray Bell]

If it's the one I know, that was some kilometres further along...

Old stamping grounds, eh?

[Roger Dowding]

" Old stamping grounds, eh? "

Indeed, Ray - just looked at a map..

The Recycle Station was in Belrose - on the road that went from Mona Vale Rd neat Terrey Hills, there was also a Centre there where big retailers had " surplus stock " store - used to visit often
Looking at a map I also see Powderworks Road
- My bus from Brookvale went through there. I used to get the more direct bus that went the main road - until one day was a bit late and my lovely Manager - years younger than me " Tore a Strip of me " as they say - so used to get the slower earlier bus [ an hour earlier ] that went Powderworks - and have about 30 minutes to grab a scone and a coffee and chill out before work.

Great memories, later worked in Newport ( on the beach almost ) and got the Branch Managers car to get to work from Dee Why - magic and low stress..

[Milan Fistonic]

Another advert from Motor Sport, this time April 1958.

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[Roger Dowding]

The car is owned and raced and rallied by Tim Pyne - in Australia and has ventured to other parts of the world.
Car is registered in WA and came to NZ for the 2000 Targa
This article from New Zealand Classic car dated November 2000 [ I don't recall seeing it and if I did haven't kept the Magazine - May have to try for a Back Issue ] - the scans are by owner Tim Pyne.

The article ;

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To follow are some other photos of the car from Tim's archives.

[Roger Dowding]

Photos from Tim Pyne's own archives. taken at various events.
The Lady is Tim's co-driver and partner Brigitte ..

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[Roger Dowding]

Story from Tom Parkinson - Admin for the Austin Healey 100S Facebook page.
Tom owns [owned an AH 3000 UJB 143 ].


1st Photo - Terry Valmorbida in AHS3909 into the bales Albert Park the GP meeting 1958

The story - for the last four photos;

" 1958: Albert Park - Melbourne GP - synchronised cornering of #61 AHS 3906 Jim Goldfinch and #77 AHS 3909 - Terrry Valmorbida /Paul Hawkins].

Plus #61 [AHS 3906] being undercut by Bill Paterson [Cooper T39] - both cars road registered.
1956: Australian TT.

Add in Ross Jensen [#18], gun NZ driver on AHS 3908 and we get to see all five 100S that ran at Albert Park between 1956 and 1958. Jensen's car was Weber-equipped and ran a fastest lap of 2 minutes 10.2 sec compared to Whiteford's fastest of 2:09.8. Whiteford retired, Jensen was 8th outright, Phillips [AHS 3906] was 10th. Sam Miller [AHS 3905] did not place. Moss and Behra [Maserati 300S] dominated. Fastest lap by Moss : 1:55.8.

1957: Victorian TT [March 1957] Ron Phillips [#9 AHS 3906] fresh from winning the 40-lap AGP Sports Car race at Caversham WA on March 4th., crashed out of the TT at Albert Park after the engine "blew up". He did however set the fastest AH time at Albert Park of 2min 8.8sec. "



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The photos; in order as above.

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[ERC]

Just remember I have several boxes of NZ Classic Car awaiting your collection Roger!

[Roger Dowding]

Just remember I have several boxes of NZ Classic Car awaiting your collection Roger!

Yes Ray I know - " One Day Roger Fitch - One Day " when this is over and I get to Auckland - they will be going the Hillcrest as the family house is vacant again - Am hoping to get the MX5 back there too in a Garage to work on.

How many Magazines Ray ? - an estimate - would be great if this one is there Nov 2000.

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[Kwaussie]

Just spied this car for sale today - using a Healey 3000 frame with Devin body

http://race-cars.com/carsales/other/1560275283/1560275283ss.htm

[ERC]

I'm sure that one will be there Roger. I have just about all up until about May 2014. There are 6.5 x 5 ream paper boxes.

[Ray Bell]

Put those in the boot of a Healey and it'd drag its tail something terrible!

[Roger Dowding]

I'm sure that one will be there Roger. I have just about all up until about May 2014. There are 6.5 x 5 ream paper boxes.

Thanks, ERC,

Should not be a problem - so when we can [ as in allowed to travel ] get to Auckland, will be in touch.

Cheers

and Ray Bell, Re " Put those in the boot of a Healey and it'd drag its tail something terrible! " - I once [ around 1987 ] went to collect a load of bricks in my late 1970's Minivan - a 998 cc one from the President of AHCCNZ, Mark Donaldson .. the drive home was interesting as the steering was amazingly light, probably should have pumped the rear tyres up to over 40 psi, like you did for speed events ..

The van survived - it was a great workhorse - had the Dominion Motors wagon conversion - a folding back seat and sliding side windows. It lived the with the AH 100 and the MGB GT a " BMC menage a trois " with a foreign interloper as the daily driver.
Here in real life

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Here in a diorama I am working on while I can't get to work on the MX5 or pick up ERC's magazines and sort out the 6 huge boxes from seaqnmac Sean that I collected over a year ago .. first was inertia now covid -19 is the excuse !!.

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[Roger Dowding]

Australian 100S cars - a few photos from Melbourne in 2006 when they were there in force to support the AGP -

AHS3905 and AHS3906 being loaded on a Transporter in Adelaide heading for Melbourne.

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On the grid at Melbourne

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both Tony Parkinson photos

Four AHS well five actually OON 441 is a works car one of the 5 - that were built alongside the 50 customer cars.
AHS3904, 3905, OON AHS3901 and 3906.

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Tony Parkinson archives.

Posted before - this of four of the AHS along with a Cooper Bristol which is a famous car too !!.

Melbourne 2006.. Michael Cass photo - Paul O'Neill archives
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[Roger Dowding]

As mentioned on a new thread - Barry Moon racer of an Escort in the Leisuretime series and also an Austin Healey guy, passed away a couple of days ago - knew Barry from around 1981 - 82 when he bought his first Healey a Blue AH 100, and joined the Club. I bought my first Big Healey a 100 in early 1982 [ Been a Sprite Man four times prior to that ].
AHCCNZ President Mark Donaldson advised me that Barry was still a AH Club member and until recently he and Hazel attended a few meetings in recent years.

A photo of Barry in his later Healey a 3000 that we travelled to Masterton and back for the 1989 AH Club Rally.

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Another photo - think I was the rope holder this time.

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Prior to Leisuretime the Escort et al, Barry raced a Mini - seen here at a Hill Climb in 1970 ..

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A Graeme Lindsay photo - ACC event so guess Chamberlain Road

See my last post was an " Epic Fail " all the photos fell off.
Will try again another Day.

[Roger Dowding]

A sequence of photos from Jonathon Whitehouse - Bird posted on the Sebring Sprite Facebook pages.

" Sebring 1962. The Healey 'works', alloy bodied, Mk.II Sprites of Stirling Moss, Steve McQueen, Innes Ireland and Pedro Rodriguez line up before the start.

The Le Mans type start sequence follows, with Moss opening up a sizeable lead by the end of the first lap. ".

Photographer now known - Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird purchased them form the great American Photographer Dave Friedman who was a prolific Photog in the late 1950's - 1960's onwards.

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Moss in the lead

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Have a few more photos of the cars and the surviving one Race #22 of Pedro Rodriguez - some from the event others are of the car today.
Not Concours but in good condition with the Patina of its life visible - will be for another post

Lots more photos have come to light on these Alloy Bodied Mark 11 Sprites at Sebring in 1962,with Moss, McQueen Ireland and Rodriguez.
Some more form the Dave Friedman collection of Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird, and some others from Douglas Morton - who was there - will add to the story for all of us Spriteologists ..

[Milan Fistonic]

Prior to Leisuretime the Escort et al, Barry Moon raced a Mini - seen here at a Hill Climb in 1970 ..

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A Graeme Lindsay photo - ACC event so guess Chamberlain Road.

This must have been that event.

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[Roger Dowding]

This must have been that event.

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Thanks Milan for that - well before I met Barry in 1980/81.
see the Mini-max in there before Ross Hollings owned it to - will pass that onto Ross, with your permission.
Was near your place on Wednesday - lunched at Courtyard Cafe in the main street on the way home from Auckland. Cheers

[Roger Dowding]

An Austin Healey Saloon - well this had the same motor as the 100/6 [ 100 SIX ] at 2639 cc.
... and as I told the owner of the car Kevin Hirst, a few of us Sprite Guys in the AH Club back in the mid 1970's nearly bought a wagon to use as a tow car for the Sprites ..needed a trailer too !! .. the story was that although we had good ideas we had no spare money - so it never happened, even though we knew a guy selling an A95 wagon -
PS there was a nice one here when this photo was taken by ERC the wagon in the background - spoke to the owner Ron I think was his name a member of the Flying A Club..

Converted the photo to Monochrome to be in period..

Thanks ERC for the photo and Kevin and Jayne Hirst for the car being at Caffeine and Classics - last Sunday.
My own photos to come.

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A photo -posted elsewhere of an A95 at Bathurst - with a rather modified 2.6 motor .. have the details on it too !

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another well used A95 that actually had the Ruddspeed Austin Healey 3 litre motor - as run by the McLaughlin Brothers.
The motor went back into the Ruddspeed, after a Austin 4 Litre motor was removed.

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[Ray Bell]

Graeme Tribe (or John Moxon) in 1966...

DNF, apparently.

Entered also in 1965 but didn't start.

[Roger Dowding]

Graeme Tribe (or John Moxon) in 1966...

DNF, apparently.

Entered also in 1965 but didn't start.

Yes photo from John Moxon archives - they ran out after brakes after about one lap - motor was still 2639 cc but with Waggot modifications, and that little oil cooler on the front

[Ray Bell]

Ran out of brakes?

No doubt, I've seen those brakes... no wonder they went to discs for the A99 in 1959/60.

Like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZudOFndylQ&t=734s

By the way, though he says the power booster is Japanese or something, it's actually original, I remember that type of booster from my several ownerships of these models.

[Kevin Hirst]

Ran out of brakes?

No doubt, I've seen those brakes... no wonder they went to discs for the A99 in 1959/60.

Like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZudOFndylQ&t=734s

By the way, though he says the power booster is Japanese or something, it's actually original, I remember that type of booster from my several ownerships of these models.

Shot down to Taihape on wednesday & picked up a 3ltr motor & gearbox to overhaul for our car, they were about to be burried in a big hole with tons of other parts, round trip 1200km back home in Mangawhai at 7pm, pretty full on sorta day

[Roger Dowding]

Shot down to Taihape on wednesday & picked up a 3ltr motor & gearbox to overhaul for our car, they were about to be burried in a big hole with tons of other parts, round trip 1200km back home in Mangawhai at 7pm, pretty full on sorta day

Good rescue Kevin, a big run too .. haven't done that sort of distance in years.
Cheers
Roger

[Roger Dowding]

More photos from Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird
- one of the 1962 Alloy bodied Sebring Sprites. car is in good condition, not concours though - a driver

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One of the original cars under construction at The Cape .. photo from J Whitehouse-Bird archives.

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#22 is the Pedro Rodriguez car [ must check that out ] It is 9253 WD ..

[Oldfart]

Roger Dowding, as you are the Healey man, have the pencil drawings of the last Healey Le Mans drawings ever been seen by you? They disappeared in a workshop on The Concourse Henderson a long time back. (As in over lunch time).

[Roger Dowding]

Roger Dowding, as you are the Healey man, have the pencil drawings of the last Healey Le Mans drawings ever been seen by you? They disappeared in a workshop on The Concourse Henderson a long time back. (As in over lunch time).

No I have not seen them and they are not in my possession, if they were you could have them back and I would just take copies
RN " Oldfart ".. actually in Auckland at the moment - do you know which workshop, I could ask ??

I do however lose things too - like the Line Drawing of an Austin Healey Hundred - side and topview - with measurement marks on it - was an Envelope A3 size that you got at Snowmass in 1982 and could get Posters to store inside it - the envelope .. looked a bit like this one of the DMH 100 Coupe but in monochrome..

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This from the Dutch Healey Museum archives ..

Cheers RN " O " ..

[Oldfart]

I was given them just outside of Perranporth, the family and I shared another hobby. I hesitate to name the workshop, let's just say they claimed to be specialists in the marque. I left them with said place one morning so they could get them large format copied. when I returned they said they had never seen them, although one of the other staff told me that he had been shown them over lunch.

[Roger Dowding]

Some more from the 1962 Sebring 3 hour Race.
with Moss #15 , McQueen #16 , Ireland #17 and Pedro Rodriguez #22.

Rodriguez chasing an Abarth #4

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Innes Ireland

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both photos Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird archives - by Dave Freidman

3 more shots of Rodriguez #22, chasing an Abarth - photos Doug Morton

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Have a few more to come too !! - some in colour.

[Milan Fistonic]

Unusually I didn't date this clipping about R. Leathers' Ruddspeed Austin Healey 3000.

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[Roger Dowding]

Milan,
Thank you for that - will pass a copy on to Myles Hicks, who is continuing Gavin's task of restoring the Ruddspeed..

[Roger Dowding]

Photos downloaded and resized - only one Austin Healey - Allan Horner, an AHCCNZ member who also has a Sprite with Toyota Twincam power that he runs in the Classic Touring Track series - The Sprite wouldn't start so the 3000 came.

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The Flying A's - Kevin Hirst A95 Saloon and Ron ? with an A95 Wagaon - a good pair.

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Will put others cars on the MX5 thread - the MX's that were there !!

[Roger Dowding]

there were two NM [ AM's ] at C and C in June - different ones to those that have been before that I have seen.
The Left Hand Drive a restoration project was for sale - all there but scruffy [ a bit like a certain MX5 I know of ].

Anyway the photos .. and RHD and an LHD .. are they Austin or Nash ?

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[Ray Bell]

I read up on this a while back...

I think they were built by Austin at a separate plant to the A40s from which they got their mechanicals.

[Roger Dowding]

A couple of photos posted on the BMC Competitions Dept facebook page.
Pat Moss had an off during a Rally.

Information from a Peter Scott " This, I believe, is SMO 746 and on the 11.4 km Solutude race track near Stuttgart on the 1960 Lyons-Charbonnieres Rally. It was driver only with the cars starting at 5 second intervals. Pat had caught and passed all the cars in her class including a number of Porsches and this was the Glemseck, a long open hairpin and the last corner before the finish. She lost control and hit the barrier of railway sleepers, one of which went through where the passenger would have been. The car then rolled. Pat was trapped but future husband Erik Carlsson was watching from the finish line cafe and rushed to the car, ripped off the sidescreen, and pulled Pat out, little the worse for wear. Apparently a brandy, supplied by the Mercedes team, ensured full recovery. "

Must have a look in the Bill Price book " The BMC/BL Competitions Dept " history to find out more.
Photos posted by Sal Paul

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Is this [ this is ] how it looked in later life photo from Joe Armour's archives
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The Book

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a bit more on the story - apparently there are details in Pat Moss' own book which I do not have.
This from Tom Coulthard - " Bill Price relates that though this car was SMO 746 it carried SMO 745’s plates (the 5 is just visible in the front shot); 745, the car identified in the entry, had been in an accident just before the rally, so the mechanics did an all-nighter to prepare 746 in its place and swap identities. Both cars were repaired, 745 for Pat Moss to drive on the Geneva Rally the following month (April), 746 for John Gott on the Alpine in June. "

[Ray Bell]

Did they run the event in the opposite direction to normal?

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
I may have done this one already, but I liked how BMC used racing for their marketing.
October 1959.

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(Ken H)

[Ray Bell]

Google Earth says they've done some earthmoving at the location of the pic on the lower left, Ken...

https://i.postimg.cc/YqDfP6Gs/0720santamonicabvdandsthfiguera.jpg

[Roger Dowding]

Great piece of Advertising and BMC / A H History Ken H,
Thanks.
Ray Bell - about the Pat Moss/Carlsson accident- I do not know -must read up the Bill Price book
- then need to get hold of the Pat Moss story / biography

[Roger Dowding]

Before - just stripped of parts - lights etc.

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some time later - all stripped back

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The car is progressing well - more to come.

May 2024 - Car is finished and being fine tuned as it were !!.

a recent Brett Young photo

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[ERC]

SMO 746 when run by John Gott - Mallory Park 1970

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[Ray Bell]

That looks mean!

Very tastefully mean, too.

[Ray Bell]

Has this page every crossed your bows, Roger?

http://www.acmefluid.com.au/larry/specials.html

[Roger Dowding]

Has this page every crossed your bows, Roger?

http://www.acmefluid.com.au/larry/specials.html

Ray Bell,

That is great - I knew about a Ghia Aigle based on a Sprite, not the 100 based one, the Ward Special [ have posted photos on the forum ] and the Green Hundred with the Pininfarina sharp edged body styling.
The others I did not know about.
Thanks for posting. Must do some more looking

Cheers
Roger

[Roger Dowding]

Among the magazines that ERC gave me is this a 1999/2000 restoration of a Bug-eye Sprite.
as we know " Faminz " from TRS is doing one at the moment - a couple of his pics posted above.

The article from February 2000 issue of " New Zealand Classic Car ".

The cover

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The article

Pages 1 - 2
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says P 2-3 should be P 3 - 4.
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Pages 5 - 6
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Page 7 and the Ads beside
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[khyndart in CA]

I believe this concludes with Roger climbing out of the pool in the mid Sixties !


https://youtu.be/jQvjCUHA7ek

:cool:

Ken H

[Roger Dowding]

Ken H, Wow and I wish, one for the AH 3000 Mk11, two for the lady and three for the flash hotel, - et al ..

Cheers
Roger

PS when the clip finishes the next one up is the song " in the Air " from a Kiwi group called L A B - and I think it is a great song ..

R

[Ray Bell]

Don't you know?

Kissing a smoker is like licking an ashtray...

[nigel watts]

Don't you know?

Kissing a smoker is like licking an ashtray...

Mmmm, but some ashtrays are better than others

[Ray Bell]

This is nearer to my take on the matter:

https://i.postimg.cc/3NVb8zVR/0720healthposter1980s.jpg

This poster was used by the Health Department in Canberra around 1980. I once had a copy, very well done.

[ERC]

Brilliant ad! Having grown up where John Player/Imperial Tobacco were one of the top 3 employers in the area, that first drag of a Park Drive at the age of 9 (Park Drive were the 'opposition, but that was what my best buddy had acquired) with a consequent coughing fit, was the last time I ever touched a cigarette!

Didn't stop me wearing a Marlboro BRM jacket...

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[Milan Fistonic]

Some magnificent photos in this article.

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[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
After you exited the pool did you use one of these ?

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KH

[Roger Dowding]

Roger,
After you exited the pool did you use one of these ?

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KH

No - but I did find a recipe the other day - handwritten on AH 100 notepaper, but no ashtray !

Cheers

Ken H

[Roger Dowding]

Following up with Ray Bells comment on the 4000 cc engine.

More information on the " Austin Healey 3000 M I capacity 4000 "- entered in the Auckland Car Clubs December 1964 Race meeting at Pukekohe. by P A T McLoughlin.

The entry list again from Graham Woods archives;

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P A T McLoughlin was one of the McLouglin Brothers who owned the Austin Healey in 1964.
have gleaned some of the story from BMC BOY [Ross C ]and the cars current owner and restorer Myles Hick [ son of the late Gavin Hicks - well known in Classic Car and Restoration circles in Auckland and indeed New Zealand.

Myles observes ;
" Interesting it’s listed as 4000 as most of the programs had it entered as 4200.
The original motor would had been 4000, so they must have done the enlargement after this date "

Ross writes about the car ;
" I think the McLaughlin car is the Ruddspeed Healey that belongs to Myles Hicks (do you remember Gavin Hicks father of Myles and Justin. He passed away recently)
It was fitted with a 4000 big Austin motor and the original Ruddspeed was fitted into a A95 Sedan which I think hit a bridge and killed one of the McLaughlin brothers.
When Gavin bought the Healey the 4000 was still in the car and they could drive it.
The A95 was parked in damaged condition under a tree with the Ruddspeed engine out beside it.

Myles is currently finishing the car which had only about 40000 miles on it and in very nice condition bodywise for its age. Old English white over black as original with a black works hardtop.
It has a lot of mods fitted from Ruddspeed including an original 100S oil cooler.
It’s a 1959 3000 BT7 from memory. No doubt it will go overseas to get the sort of money cars built to the Hicks’
standard can be found.

They found a buyer with a Jensen 541 who wanted a modified 4000cc Austin 6. Probably the only person who would want one of those boat anchors!
"
Spelling of the name McLaughlin or McLoughlin - will clarify as we know spelling in entry lists is often incorrect - the organiser / secretary having to decipher " Boys "handwriting.

Have other entry lists from meetings around this time at Pukekohe, being from Thames it may be the only track they raced on but could well have been at Matamata **, Mt Maunganui and other middle North Island Race Meeting.

Myles no doubt has more information on the car - Probably met him back in the 1970's when involved with the Austin Healey Club - I have met and seen Gavin at many meetings of AHCCNZ or other Classic Clubs TACCOC, Jaguar Drivers when competing.

More to follow.

** The car did race at Matamata as seen in the following photos.
A couple more pictures have come to light of the Russell Leathers - Ruddspeed 3000 / Pat McLaughlin AH 4000 - 4200.
These photos of the car at Matamata Street Races in 1964 - 1965.

Photos are from Ross Cammick - from a collection of Negatives of the Scott - Given archives which Ross [ BMC BOY ] put on Old New Zealand Motor Racing - part of a collection of photos of many cars at Matamata
Races were held there in 1963 **, 1964 and 1965.
Note unsure about Races in 1963 - now have covers of the programmes from 1964 and 1965 and some of the entry lists

A couple of entry lists have already been posted and have results from 1964 and 1965 events

The Start - with Daimler SP 250 Dart's TR3's another AH a 100, the Kato Special and others. Trevor Sheffield ? in #26 Daimler. Informed it is not Trevor he was #25 seen below

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During the race in a Daimler sandwich - Steve Oxton in the first car #24 David Oxton's father - David raced the car at Matamata in 1965. Trevor Sheffield in the Daimler just visible #25.
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Results from the 1964 Races - thanks to Graham Woods

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Results from the 1965 Races - Graham Woods archives again. P A T McLaughlin features in one result and the Bill Dunster now Ross Cammick AH 3000 was there too !!

67241.

For more on the Ruddspeed 3000 / AH 4000 See posts #838 #841 and on through #847. Posts #861 - #864, #869 - #870 and #878 to #881. including phoyosd of the recovery of the car and the restoration by Myles Hicks on behalf of the late Gavin Hicks - his father.

[Roger Dowding]

From the Matamata Street races " Matamata Festival Races " held in 1963, 1964 and 1965.

From entry lists the following Big Healeys were there 100's and 3000's
R [ Roger *** ] Smith AH 100 race #27
B C [ Charlie ] Conway AH 100
W G [ Bill ] Dunster AH 3000
P A T McLaughlin AH 3000 [ Ruddspeed ] was run with the Sheerline 3993 cc engine.

R Smith in the 100 - 1964 event I believe.
Have established it is Roger Smith and his brother is writing a story for the family archives.
Roger Smith [ RIP many years ago ] also raced a Daimler SP250 " Dart " and was one of several at the 1965 Gold Leaf Three Hour Challenge Race, that preceded to Will Six Hour Race for " Standard Production " Cars.
The Gold Leaf Race is best known for the first appearance of the Fleetwood Motors Mustang driven by Ivan Segedin - as covered in the " Pukekohe " thread.
from the Scott - Given archives through Ross Cammick
67250

an AH 100 in the pack - is this the R Smith car ? Kerry Grant in the Spitfire - an Alan Boyle photo, Alan, along with his Evweld Racing Team Mate Ron Brown [ a couple of Minis - Coopers or Cooperised ones ]were in the Car Dealers showroom for the event.

67251

[Roger Dowding]

Brilliant ad! Having grown up where John Player/Imperial Tobacco were one of the top 3 employers in the area, that first drag of a Park Drive at the age of 9 (Park Drive were the 'opposition, but that was what my best buddy had acquired) with a consequent coughing fit, was the last time I ever touched a cigarette!

Didn't stop me wearing a Marlboro BRM jacket...

67138

Looks like the " All British Field Day " at Western Springs and the Ross Hollings Bugeye Sprite. The car that I owned back in 1978 -1980 as a left hand drive " Resto Job ". The 100 Six next to it is familiar but have forgotten who owned it.
You posted another photo of the Sprite and that 100 Six some time ago -
Thanks ERC

[Roger Dowding]

67364

[Roger Dowding]

A photo on " Old New Zealand Motor Racing " Facebook page- there Cover photo for the moment commemorating Bruce. " 30 August 1937 – 2 June 1970 "
Here with the Austin Healey 100 [ M ]. and a lot of Trophies - photo undated but would be late 1950's.

67401
Photo by Bob Stenberg.
Bruce looks very young.

Sadly Barry Clearwater the owner of the car in recent times passed passed away earlier in the year.
" Oldfart " knows more about the car and posted a photo some time back of it competing at Lumsden in the Sprints in 2017 with the Clearwater family.

[Roger Dowding]

Recently came across these photos posted on the Austin Healey 100S Facebook page by Karsten Stelk - no details of the photographer the cars, or even the location.
American friends, both of the page and including a guy I know from the " Healey Trip " in 1982 Terry Cowan believe it is at Santa Barbara Airport,and would be late 1950's

Have sent the images to Ken H for his " Early Days of Hot Rodding and Racing in Santa Barbara and beyond. "
They also belong here.

There is a 100S #73 a couple of 100's an A.C. Ace and a TR in the race.

67425

A close up of the dark 100S Race #73 - Most 100S were White over Lobelia Blue, although Briggs Cunningham had an early car that was White with Blue Stripes and one of those early cars was Black.

67426

The 100's and others -including a Morgan - you can see the aircraft parked and in the background the Mountains behind Santa Barbara

67427

In those Mountains is a place called Cold Springs which has an Old Tavern, appropriately called " Cold Springs Tavern " - the " Kiwi's in the Kiwi Healey- a VW Kombi visited the place twice in July 1982.
A website photo from the 2000's - must find my own and compare
67428

Ken H, Have you been there ??

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
Yes we have been there many times over the years. There have been wild fires in the area and miraculously the old tavern has thankfully survived !
I have hesitated on the 3 photos as I have not found a 1960 Santa Barbara Airport race program with those car numbers entered.

I will keep searching but there have been distractions with Covid issues, 197 F heat, wildfires in the distance plus this evening a mild earthquake shook our area !
I checked on all my insurances and now I'm off to bed.

Cheers,
Ken H

[Roger Dowding]

Roger,
Yes we have been there many times over the years. There have been wild fires in the area and miraculously the old tavern has thankfully survived !
I have hesitated on the 3 photos as I have not found a 1960 Santa Barbara Airport race program with those car numbers entered.

I will keep searching but there have been distractions with Covid issues, 197 F heat, wildfires in the distance plus this evening a mild earthquake shook our area !
I checked on all my insurances and now I'm off to bed.

Cheers,
Ken H

Good to know - must now find my photos of the Tavern, we saw a rock group there called "Studebaker " there the first time, second time was a soloist - the lead singer from .... " Studebaker ". He was good. They were good . long time ago I was only 34 ..
Stay safe Ken H, keep sending us comments so we can check on you

Cheers
Roger

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
I did misquote the heat here in Los Olivos yesterday...it was not 197 F it was 117 F which was still dangerously hot.

67436



(Ken H)

[Milan Fistonic]

The oldest car in the 1990 Shell Silver Fern Rally.

67478

[Roger Dowding]

American Road Race of Champions - Riverside November 1964.

A photo with a story - image from Sports Car Graphic.

67507

Notes from Rick Neville an Austin Healey archivist in the USA
" NY Times 11/16/64 RIVERSIDE, Calif., Nov. 15 (AP)—Jim Ladd Jr. of Lebanon, Pa., driving what he had said would be his last race, was killed today in the last event of the American Road Race of Champions program.
The 29‐year‐old Ladd's Austin‐Healey 3,000 spun out on a turn, was hit by another car and rolled over and over into the infield. Ladd was crushed against the steering wheel.
His death came at the end of two days of sportscar racing in which Western drivers scored 11 of 17 victories. Many of the Western drivers were familiar with the 2.6‐mile, nine‐turn Riverside Raceway course.
Bart Martin of Hayward, Calif., in a Cooper‐Chevy, scored a one‐second victory in the C and D modified event, and Ed Leslie of Carmel, Calif., in a Ford Cobra, won the A and B production model race.
Ladd was just behind the leaders in the D production race —for street‐type sports cars—when he lost control approaching the first turn of the fifth lap. His wife, Sue, was in the pit at the time. Ladd was the father of two boys, 4 and 1.
“He had dinner last night with an official of the Sports Car Club of America,” said a track official, “and said that he intended to quit after this last race.” "

Sad story, but a great photo.

Have also come across some photos from Sebring 1964 to share from Austin Healey Historic Pictures - Karsten Stelk archives

[Roger Dowding]

A group of photos from the 12 Hour Race at Sebring in 1964.
One photo includes a Corvette Grand Sport - one of the 3 Coupes built - all three raced that year ;

These are from Karsten Stelk archives.

The #33 photos
67508

67509

67510

Oops - that does not look good

67511

[Roger Dowding]

More from Karsten Stelk archives.

67512

67513

67514
I put car #34 but hard to tell.

[Roger Dowding]

" Borrowed " from Ken H
Racing photo from Jerry Melton's archives Car #73 " AUSTIN HEALEY 73 GVR FEB 1967 "
Ken H had question BN1 or BN2, I do not know from the photo,

67545

This guy would know pretty quickly
Images from Clas Arleskar's vast collection.

Fred Draper outside AH Spares Photo from 1973

67546

First Invoices for parts that Clas bought from Fred in 1975

67547

9 years later the premises had grown -1982 standing outside the building - photo taken by Pete Dicks, on my camera, an Austin Healey guy from the English Midlands that I met at Snowmass Colorado in 1982 and met again in England in October 1982

67548

[Roger Dowding]

Some photos from Paul Woolmer whose business " Woolmer ' Classic ' Engineering " is involved with maintaining the 3 cars for the owners.
***
The story that was in the post
" Out & about yesterday in the beautiful Bedfordshire countryside in 3 fabulous ex-works Healeys. The 1953 Le Mans 100 Special Test Car, the 1965 Works 3000 Rally Car & the 1964/7 Works 3000 Rally Car. A great opportunity to drive all 3 back to back, to compare & contrast. "
When Paul was asked which is the best by Chris Dimmock, a Healey Giuy from Australia he commented '" they were all great in different ways. NOJ is very light & nimble, EJB is a bit of a brute & ARX is somewhere between the two, quick & surprisingly light. So on balance ARX. "

The 100 with the two 3000's

67911

67912

The 100 with one of the Works Rally cars

67913

Note on some photos I have ARX928 - it should be ARX92B B for Bob

[Roger Dowding]

NOJ and EJB
a couple more photos.

67930

67931

EJB806C

67932

ARX92B

67933

EJB and ARX

67934

Will find out more of the story -
NOJ392 was one of the Special Test Cars Chassis SPL225B competed in the Mille Miglia and was later the test car fitted with Girling Disc Brakes
ARX92B was the 1964 Rally car used by the Morley Brothers [ Donald and Earl ] and later by Timo Makinen with D Barrow as Navigator / Co-driver. It was rebuilt to compete in the 1967 RAC Rally that was cancelled because of the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in the UK.
EJB806C was originally built in 1965 and Rallied by Timo Makinen with Paul Easter in the 1965 RAC Rally

[Roger Dowding]

The 3000 did well at Goodwood, 12th Overall and 1st Healey home.

The car XJB 876,

On the Start Line along side another Healey

67950

67951

Pit Stop - Driver Change ?

67952

Drivers and the Car - in the Pit area

67953

[Roger Dowding]

A card issued by BMC which when soaked in water revealed the names of the cars shown in silhouette.
Apparently after 60 or so years they don't work.
Image from the Healey Museum - courtesy Klas Arleskar

67966


Ain't that the Truth !!.

67967

67968

[Roger Dowding]

Big,
Two AH 100's in a race at Fishermans Bend, Australia in 1955.. would have been near the Holden Factory.
Photo from the " Book of Australian Motor Racing " by W Tuckey. - Bill Tuckey who used the nom de plume of
" Romsey Quints " in his reports in Australian Car Magazines.
An interesting field of Saloons, British and European, and several Sports Cars [at least 4 ]

68056

Small
Hiding in this group is Allan Horners Sprite which has a custom nose and runs a Toyota Twincam motor
Allan runs the car in the Classic Trial series at Hampton Downs and Pukekohe.
here amongst some MG's - Stuart Battersby photo

68057

[Roger Dowding]

Allan Horner's Sprite as seen in the above post - my own photo.

68070

parked next to that MGB GT of Stuart Battersby a VCC guy who took the photo in the previous post at Caffeine and Classics ..

68071

[Roger Dowding]

At Tauranga on the weekend, The Vintage Car Club - Tauranga branch Car Show and Swap Meet.
" ROGBJ8 " was there - the only Healey I saw [ arrived as some cars were already heading home ].

The car has been photographed by Nigel Watts at other events.

68169

Details on the car.

68170

" Year: 1965 **
Make: AUSTIN-HEALEY
Model: 3000
Colour: RED
Submodel: MK III
Body Style: Sports Car
VIN: 7A8WF050796412022
Plate: ROGBJ8
Engine No: UNKNOWN
Chassis: HBJ8L/36009 "

" Plates History

Plate Effective Date
ROGBJ8 16-Oct-2009
UO3170 25-Sep-1996 "
Car was imported from the USA - see the story board ** - It is a 1966 model ..

getting ready to leave
68171

Out the gate it goes..
68172

Managed to park by a " Classic " Ford and a modern Alfa Romeo..
- in my Modern a 10 year old car, the 30 year old [ almost ] MX5 lives in Auckland
68173

[Ray Bell]

Nice to see a Chrysler Airflow getting some love...

[Roger Dowding]

Nice to see a Chrysler Airflow getting some love...

Just for you Ray Bell, I didn't take a photo of it - but it is in the background here too ... side view in the distance.

68189

I do like Triumph TR's as well as Healey's so took these two photos .. Number Plates tell the story

68190

68191

Was there in the " modern " 1/3rd of the way to be classified as Vintage !! as 10 years old now - an MY10 ..

68192

[Milan Fistonic]

This one was in the Paeroa Classic Car Parade in 2018.

68193

[Ray Bell]

That appears to have the prototypes of the headlight surrounds of the Austin A40 and A99...

[khyndart in CA]

July 1962. Hollywood Walk of Fame at Vine St and Hollywood Blvd.
When Judy's relatives visited California from Wisconsin they always visited Hollywood, Disneyland before going on to Las Vegas.
Here are Uncle Joe and Aunt Doris checking out the celebrity star for actress Dinah Shore.
(Note Aunt Doris's large purse to hold all those Las Vegas coins !)
They are across the road from the famous Capitol Studios building where many well known songs/ artists were recorded.

Behind them is a Austin Healey (BN 4 ? )with steel disc wheels and hub caps which is a rare sight today.
(Note the lack of traffic and a convertible Morris Minor approaching the lights in the background. )


68205



(Ken H )

[Roger Dowding]

" Austin Healey (BN 4 ? )with steel disc wheels and hub caps which is a rare sight today "
Ken H, yes would say BN4, as definitely 100 -Six, has the crease in the bonnet [ hood in the USA ] and those steel wheels would be very rare in the USA.

Interesting timing of your post, as BMC BOY [ Ross Cammick ] called in to today and delivered a 1;18 scale Model that his nephew didn't want anymore, Not a Healey 100 though, but a model of my other great sports car, a Triumph TR4 in French/Powder Blue. A good find for the collection.
Ross still has his BN7, the two seater version of the first 3000, but arrived in the daily driver a Honda HRV. No photos to show.

[Roger Dowding]

Gerry Coker the designer of the Austin Healey 100 passed away recently in his 90's and a number of tributes have been posted in his honour with images including these two line drawings of the 100 signed by Gerrry Coker -one was when he was guest at the 2000 AH Clubs Australian Rally.

68219

The 2000 Rally version

68220

The 200 Rally Poster - Wangaratta Australia..

68221

I had an envelope A3 size with the same image on like the second above - acquired at Snowmass Colorado in 1982 which has vanished over the intervening period of 38 years and 7 house moves..

[Roger Dowding]

A photo of OON439 in the Foyer of the Royal Automobile Club Offices and Clubrooms in the UK.

68226

OON439 and the 100S Specification Coupe [rear of car ] that was Donald Healey's personal car for many years

68227

A letter that Clas Arleskar has and a photo of when he tried to buy OON439 in 1982 for GBP15,000.
There was comment that you could by a reasonable house [ average price ] in 1982 for GBP22,500.

68228

Another photo of OON439 with Donald Healey Mille Miglia 1955 [ posted before ].

68229

[Roger Dowding]

Kelvin Brown wrote about the photo ;
" Looks like the Lake Bryndwr circuit with " Pop " Fisher of Kaikoura in his Ford 10 Special on the tail of maybe Arthur Kennard ? Austin Healey, likely the tight bit at the back before turning out on to the main straight, a good photo. ".

Photo appeared in the article by Allan Dick on the Healey Corvette in NZ Classic Driver issue #63 [ Nov-Dec 2015 ]
with the notation
" Arthur Kennard raced in standard four cylinder form [ for the 1955/56 and 1956/57 ] and is seen here at the little known Bryndwr " lake " circuit being chased by a midget ",
The Modifications took place in mid late 1957 in time for the 1957/58 racing season.

68265
68277

Cars Registration for the period 1956 - 61 had plate # 315*733, having been imported into New Zealand by Geoff Mardon in 1955. Current Plate is DS3698 and Registration details are as follows - from " Carjam "

" Year: 1954
Make: AUSTIN
Model: HEALEY
Colour: Black
Submodel: CORVETTE
Body Style: Convertible
VIN: 7A80T070703152563
Plate: DS3698
Engine No: 3789935
Chassis: BN1-152563
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car/Van
Seats: 2
CC rating: 4,640cc
Fuel Type: Petrol
Assembly Type: Imported Built-Up
Country of Origin: United Kingdom "

" Plates History

Plate Effective Date
DS3698 20-Apr-2004
BZA813 07-Apr-2004 "

The plate is stated as " personalised " and is I presume the plate it had when it had a huge accident in January 1967.
Car was " lost " [ stored away ] until around 1984 and rebuilt around 2012/13

The story is worth reading.

68266
68278

Re-attaching photos ..

[Roger Dowding]

Outside the garages at 88 Sarsfield Street, Herne Bay - the old exhaust system - Lyle Chambers Sunbeam Rapier in the photo. with my Triumph 2.5 PI behind that. Sammy the Garage Dog just in view

68279

another view [ seen before I think ] .. Lyle Chambers in the garage - working ..

68280

At a Gymkhana in early 1983 - Cameron Mackay's early 3000 alongside.

68281

Later the car became LX100

[Milan Fistonic]

Russell Ness at Hampton Downs yesterday (Dec 13, 2020).

68369

[Roger Dowding]

Thanks Milan, Good to know Russell is using the car as it should be.
Usually runs in the " Classic Trial " series with Allan Horner in his Toyota powered Sprite.

The car was created as a " Works " Rally Replica by Andrew Shrimpton from Wellington many years ago now.

Another Rally Car - this one a genuine 1964 works one which Paul Woolmer fettles for the owner in the UK.

68375

68376

68377

" BRX852B " was driven by Paddy Hopkirk with Henry Liddon in the Spa-Sofia-Liege Rally in August 1964 Rally Number #29 where it retired with gearbox issues and by Timo Makinen with Dave Barrow in the November 1964 RAC Rally where they came 2nd overall and 1st in Class.
Car seemed to disappear from the " Works " Rally Team as it does feature in any Works records in the Bill Price book
" The BMC/BL Competitions Department ". - Some works cars went to Private Owners after a few events as " Works " cars
The subsequent Registration Numbers BRX853B and BRX854B were MGB's and competed for a couple of seasons with BMC..

[Roger Dowding]

" Timo Makinen with Dave Barrow in the November 1964 RAC Rally where they came 2nd overall and 1st in Class. "

Photo from the 1964 RAC Rally. see previous post.

68380

[nigel watts]

[QUOTE=Roger Dowding;73935]Just for you Ray Bell, I didn't take a photo of it - but it is in the background here too ... side view in the distance.


Here it is. 1935 De Soto Airflow

68416

[Ray Bell]

Classy rig!

No doubt it was a straight eight and had an overdrive box...

[Roger Dowding]

from Karsten Stelk
68446

from Ken Hyndman
68447

Merry Christmas ..

[Roger Dowding]

The 100Coupe, Donald Healey's own car - was modified to 100S specs mechanically, and the Endurance Car that was used to break long distance records the mid 1950's.

Photo from the " Healey Museum " in Holland.

68448

[Roger Dowding]

Photos of the " Healey 100 " that became the Austin Healey 100 overnight at the Earls Court Motor Show in late 1952.

Photo of the original prototype before the show - Car has Steel Wheels with hubcaps- The Show car was on wires
- from the archives of Austin Healey Historic Pictures - a Facebook group.

68535

At the Show with Donald Healey and Leonard Lord and apparently a politician ?
Amended / deleted my comment not a 100
- this is a prototype BN4 as noted by Joe Jarick " 100-Six. Sir Anthony Eden was Prime Minister 1955-1957. He was knighted in 1954. "
The BN4 was introduced in 1956. Production from August 1956 to March 1959

and Jim Lesher asked " Who has information about this Longbridge BN4 in the photo? "
The answer from Joe Jarick " Specially built at Austin in a section dedicated to building prototypes and show cars. Likely, sold off at the motor show. "

68536

A Press photo - again a left hand drive car

68537

Press photo - car has German ? Registration

68538

The car won an award at the 1953 Miami Worlds Fair - very prestigious apparently
Donald Mitchell Healey and his Car.

68539

Looking for more early photos of the first cars.

[khyndart in CA]

" At the Show with Donald Healey and Leonard Lord and apparently a politician ?"

Roger,
That politician was Sir Anthony Eden who was the British prime minister, 1955 to 1957.
Also British foreign secretary before that.[



(Ken H)68541

[Roger Dowding]

" At the Show with Donald Healey and Leonard Lord and apparently a politician ?"

Roger,
That politician was Sir Anthony Eden who was the British prime minister, 1955 to 1957.
Also British foreign secretary before that.[



(Ken H)68541

And he got to sit in the seat, Ken H.
I wasn't going to give his name as on the AH page somebody said it was him and he was Prime Minister, but that came later as you note, must have been the FS or maybe a Trade Minister at this time, October ? 1952.

As seen from the amended post - the photo with Leonard Lord [ Austin ] Donald Healey and Anthony [ Sir Anthony from 1954 ] Eden, is of the 100 Six [ model BN4 - the first of the 4 - seater cars ] so the 1956 Motor Show and he was Prime Minister, by then.
Cheers.

PS .. Big target for 2022, the 70th Anniversary of the Healey 100 / Austin Healey. The Conclave will be in Pennsylvania apparently.
More to come on that, and have more photos of the Prototypes - there were two .. must check out the details

[Roger Dowding]

More photos of the prototypes - including the Show car and some other early photos of the Healey 100 / Austin Healey 100.

The car at the Earls Court Motor Show in its " enclosure " - photo found online by Patrick Quinn another Australian AH enthusiast

68542

The engine on the Healey 100 - see the badge from Warren Kennedy archives. Warren understands that one of the two prototypes is still around and known - the other unsure if it still exists - a pity if it has been lost in time.

68543

The " Production Line " unsure at the moment if this is at the Donald Healey Motor Company works at the Cape or the Austin works, but factory looks big, so probably Austin's.

68544

A couple of images of AH 100's in competition
Ian Walker - photo undated

68545

John Chatham - a well known Austin Healey racer in later years too with a heavily modified 3000.
This in a 100 - photo undated - event at Mallory Park, UK.

68546

Images are small, [ some very small ] but are as I have found them on AH Historic Pictures Facebook page - they have been posted on separate posts.

[Roger Dowding]

100 S

AHS3504 sold new to Jackie Cooper - seen here with Jackie in Race trim - event not known
This was one of the very early 100S part of a group of cars sent to the USA in 1955, including a car for Briggs Cunningham.
Chassis numbers were in groups of 10 with AHS3501 - 3510 the first 10
then AHS3601 - 3610 and on for the 50 Customer Cars
- finishing with the group AHS3901 - 3910.
The works cars, 5 of them had very different Chassis numbers

68550

AHS3808 with DMH standing beside the car - Many 100S were in these paint colours Ivory/White over Lobelia Blue

68551

RLF500 and EVV106 [ Registration numbers ]

68552
Unsure of the chassis AHS numbers for these two

[Roger Dowding]

Pete Dicks was the Sprite Registrar for the AH Club Midlands branch in the UK, he was doing that when I started the NZ Sprite register within the AH NZ Club in 1975 and we got in touch.
Finally met him at Snowmass, and later visited him in England - Brownhills in the Midlands later in the year.
Pete posted these photos on Facebook and are here with his permission and acknowledgement.

Dick Santana's Sprite - in pale yellow. A very early car, one of the 1958 ones
Number 50 built. Chassis No AN5L 550 [ they started at AN5 501 for the production cars " L "for left hand drive models of which there were many - the majority like most Austin Healey's ].

68636

A 3000 in the metallic silver blue, think it may the the car in the line in the first photo.

68637

Pete has more photos which I hope to share on here

[ERC]

A friend in Australia sent me this YouTube link of a full Austin Healey Sprite restoration. It's over an hour long, so as yet, I haven't watched it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO8NXwmb84E&feature=youtu.be

The Mallory pic of SAL 75 (#1104) is a Nottingham registration.

A quick squiz at my Mallory Park programmes page, I can only find one Austin Healey 100 running as #38 (T. E. Lynch, 22nd April 1957). I can't read the car number of the Morgan and on that grid, there is no Morgan listed either! But just like today, there were often late entries, not in the programme.

http://www.monza.org.nz/UK_entries/mallory_01.htm

Judging by the size of the crowd, it may well have been a Bank Holiday meeting. As my collection of programmes is far from complete, as it is mainly Nottingham Sports Car Club events, I can't confirm the Mallory date.

There were plenty of Austin Healeys running at Mallory in the late 1950's, including a team of 3 x 100S's at more than one meeting.

http://www.monza.org.nz/UK_entries/mallory/158_0804_03%20Mallory.jpg

[Roger Dowding]

Thanks ERC, for the links, will take some time and have a good look.

As an aside have just got one of your NZ Classic Car mags moved on to another guy, Jonathan Paape, who has bought a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette and it features in the March 2007 issue - so sending it off, only about another 240 odd to go [ Oh I have kept a few too !! - Healey and Triumph stories mainly]

Cheers
Roger

PPS

Harley Norager, I knew Brett Norager in my NSCC days, think his brother, and I am sure Harley was a member at some stage also.
Sadly another one gone, Ross Haldane recently too !! **

[Milan Fistonic]

Thanks ERC, for the links, will take some time and have a good look.

As an aside have just got one of your NZ Classic Car mags moved on to another guy, Jonathan Paape, who has bought a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette and it features in the March 2007 issue - so sending it off, only about another 240 odd to go [ Oh I have kept a few too !! - Healey and Triumph stories mainly]

Cheers
Roger

PPS

Harley Norager, I knew Brett Norager in my NSCC days, think his brother, and I am sure Harley was a member at some stage also.
Sadly another one gone, Bob Haldane recently too !!

It was Ross Haldane who died, not Bob.

[Roger Dowding]

It was Ross Haldane who died, not Bob.

Milan, yes and I wrote it correctly on the NSCC page after seeing the note from Bob Kidd. now corrected, thanks.

[Roger Dowding]

Saw this car today at a Car Show at Pahoia, near where I live in Omokoroa.
Car Show was organised by the local Mechanic Brian Kirk and the local Tyre Guy Steve Abbott.
Steve is the son of Russ Abbott who worked on my Triumphs and Austin Healey's in late 1970's early 1980's.

A good low key show with probably a couple of hundred cars [ left after an hour so didn't see the late arrivals.

" AWSTIN " The plate
Plate Type: Special Issue
Origin: Import from USA
Used as: Private Passenger vehicle
Cause of Latest Registration: Used
NZ First Registration: 31-Jul-2013 "

Details of the Car.

" Year: 1962
Make: AUSTIN-HEALEY
Model: 3000
Colour: WHITE
Second Colour: Black
Submodel: MKII
Body Style: Convertible
VIN: 7AT0WF05X13274966
Plate: AWSTIN
Engine No: 29E/RU/H2800
Chassis: HBT7L/16390
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car/Van
Seats: 2
CC rating: 3,000cc
Fuel Type: Petrol
Assembly Type: Imported Built-Up
Country of Origin: United Kingdom "

Part of the scene at Pahoia.

68849

AWSTIN when it arrived

68850

Under the bonnet - the Tri-Carb engine

68851

68852

Other views of the car

68853

68854

[Kevin Hirst]

Saw this car today at a Car Show at Pahoia, near where I live in Omokoroa.
Car Show was organised by the local Mechanic Brian Kirk and the local Tyre Guy Steve Abbott.
Steve is the son of Russ Abbott who worked on my Triumphs and Austin Healey's in late 1970's early 1980's.

A good low key show with probably a couple of hundred cars [ left after an hour so didn't see the late arrivals.

" AWSTIN " The plate
Plate Type: Special Issue
Origin: Import from USA
Used as: Private Passenger vehicle
Cause of Latest Registration: Used
NZ First Registration: 31-Jul-2013 "

Details of the Car.

" Year: 1962
Make: AUSTIN-HEALEY
Model: 3000
Colour: WHITE
Second Colour: Black
Submodel: MKII
Body Style: Convertible
VIN: 7AT0WF05X13274966
Plate: AWSTIN
Engine No: 29E/RU/H2800
Chassis: HBT7L/16390
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car/Van
Seats: 2
CC rating: 3,000cc
Fuel Type: Petrol
Assembly Type: Imported Built-Up
Country of Origin: United Kingdom "

Part of the scene at Pahoia.

68849

AWSTIN when it arrived

68850

Under the bonnet - the Tri-Carb engine

68851

68852

Other views of the car

68853

68854

was this a 3carb model when built as there was one at the waipu car show last weekend,Jayne had her first drive in A95 as I was riding my 750 honda. over one thousand cars & bikes turned up on the day, great variety

[Roger Dowding]

was this a 3carb model when built as there was one at the waipu car show last weekend,Jayne had her first drive in A95 as I was riding my 750 honda. over one thousand cars & bikes turned up on the day, great variety

Kevin yes a Tri-Carb when built they were made for around a year in the 1961 -62 period - car originally LHD as shown by chassis number " BT7L ....
Car owner is a member of the Austin Healey club, spoke to him briefly. He had the cars details on the board shown above lying in the grille.

Close up of the board -

68860

Good to read that the Waipu show was big,probably between a 100 and 200 cars at Pahoia.

The poster for the show 68859

[Kevin Hirst]

Kevin yes a Tri-Carb when built they were made for around a year in the 1961 -62 period - car originally LHD as shown by chassis number " BT7L ....
Car owner is a member of the Austin Healey club, spoke to him briefly. He had the cars details on the board shown above lying in the grille.

Close up of the board -

68860

Good to read that the Waipu show was big,probably between a 100 and 200 cars at Pahoia.

The poster for the show 68859
Must ask my daughter if she went along, she lives in omokoroa as well, are you coming up to auck again soon Roger at end of month for smales farm or anything like that, be great to catch up, Have cleaned up the pistons for 3ltr motor, had to set them up in lathe & cut them out with a one mil cut off disc set up on lathe, too iregular to try & use parting tool &also hard as hell, worked well so now all ready to assemble ,only need head gasket & rocker cover gasket, cheers Kev

[Roger Dowding]

Must ask my daughter if she went along, she lives in omokoroa as well, are you coming up to auck again soon Roger at end of month for smales farm or anything like that, be great to catch up, Have cleaned up the pistons for 3ltr motor, had to set them up in lathe & cut them out with a one mil cut off disc set up on lathe, too iregular to try & use parting tool &also hard as hell, worked well so now all ready to assemble ,only need head gasket & rocker cover gasket, cheers Kev

Kev, Hi,
Slow reply.
Auckland - was there a week or so ago for a few days, but not the right time for Smales Farm.
Will be good to catch up again at a future one, or a similar Car Show.
Waipu Show - looks like it was great.
I did however run the MX5 and think I have blown a heater hose as hen it got hot there was steam all through the engine bay and it came into the car. Hoping it is not more serious but did not have the time to really look at it.
Next time up will check it out - think the whole water / cooling system - radiator heater etc - needs to be drained and flushed and refilled. Never seem to have enough time when in the Big Smoke !!. Always lots of family things to do - the car gets a bit ignored.

Good to read that Jayne drove the A95.

From memory there were no Austins at the Pahioa Show, [just noticed an A35 in the photo - must have been the only one ] and only small Morris's including this one - a 1930 ish Morris Minor - likemy late Uncle had back in 1946/47 - his was a Tourer though.

68886

[Roger Dowding]

For all the Healeyites - check out this article by " New Zealand Autocar " magazine.

" https://www.autocar.co.nz/classic-reviews-app/austin-healey-collection-classic-car-collection-visit-2021?fbclid=IwAR1uPzFlqF8VpcBJfotuwZQlm7UrwB6HU2Irc2VQGWd0_cTO1rBH6xvYPqE "

Have seen the cars before and the 100 Six belongs to a TRS member.
The other 3 cars [ 100 - 4 and the two 3000's ] belong to the AHCCNZ President Mark Donaldson.

A trio of photos from the article: There are 42 plus the header.

The header - main - photo;

68975

100 Six ( facing ) and the 70's racer ;
68973

The group of cars and view of " Autoasis " as we called it back in the 1980's.
68974

Mark posted the story on Facebook.

[Roger Dowding]

Ardmore 1961 - the Russell Leathers Ruddspeed 3000 amongst several Austin Healeys. P Lawson and I Fraser-Jones
Cars were big Healeys unsure if 100's 100 Six or maybe early AH 3000's like the Ruddspeed

Newspaper article of the results at the NZ Grand Prix meeting January 1961.

68990

Wigram 1961 the "Motor Cup Race " - cars at the start including AH race #25. I G Johnston in the AH 100
Also there was " Joss " E. Tims in the 100S and " Ed " E D Candy in the Healey Corvette - ex Arthur Kennard.

68991

The Entry List for the " Motor Cup ".

68992

All times from Graham Woods' vast archives.

[Milan Fistonic]

69031

[Roger Dowding]

Milan, Thank you for that advert - and with Colour too !!
Cheers
Roger

PS been away for a week, hence slow response - had no Wifi.

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
I don't think this Healey NOJ 392 will be towing a boat anymore !

69100


https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20929/lot/350/

'NOJ 392' - THE EX-WORKS MILLE MIGLIA AND LE MANS 24-HOURS , 1953 AUSTIN-HEALEY 100 SPECIAL TEST CAR
Registration no. NOJ 392 Chassis no. SPL 225B Engine no. 1B136876

Sold for £ 785,500 (US$ 1,082,866) inc. premium 2013.

69101






(Ken H)

[Roger Dowding]

Ken H,
" Roger,
I don't think this Healey NOJ 392 will be towing a boat anymore ! "

Very expensive tow vehicle for a " Tinny ".
I agree !!:cool:

[Roger Dowding]

Ken H,
" Roger,
I don't think this Healey NOJ 392 will be towing a boat anymore ! "

Very expensive tow vehicle for a " Tinny ".
I agree !!:cool:

What about this for a Tow Car .. the tinny would fall off the trailer.
Probably the most famous " modified " Australian AH 3000 - Ross Bond- the wheel flares just got bigger and bigger..

69133

Small photo of a " Big " Healey.

[Roger Dowding]

The car that featured at Torrey Pines in January 1956 - see Ken H thread on ;
" Early Days of Hot Rodding and Racing in Santa Barbara and beyond. " The car entered by W Pringle and driven by Roy Jackson-Moore and a certain S Moss

The car was in the first 10 100S built and " Despatched " in February 1955 mostly [ six ] to New York,
One went to Canada AHS3503 and AHS3510 went to a UK owner.
The car went to Gough Industries in Los Angeles but the customer is not mentioned
[ the other of the first ten cars all had purchasers named including Briggs Cunningham with AHS3501 which was unusual in that it was white with stripe ( blue ) and not Ivory over Black like the others ].

The Torrey Pines photo.

69145

A small image that is part of the link Ken H posted

69146

Another small image of the programme cover.

69147

Ken's copy of the programme ;

69148

The entry list - thanks to the link from Ken H.
69149

[Roger Dowding]

This AH 100 featured in NZ Classic Driver back in the July - August 2017 issue.
John Vevers photos from Caffeine and Classics 28 March 2021 [ yesterday].

69150

69151

Good to know it gets out and about. last saw it in 2017 in its own garage.

[Roger Dowding]

BMCBOY took HL3000 to the 2021 Brit-Euro show - I wasn't there but John Vevers a BMC Guy was - John is into Austin 3 Litres, the 1800 style car with bigger bonnet [ to accommodate the straight Six - in line not the " C " series but a later development by BMC ] and boot.
A series of photos John Vevers took - he also took a lot of BMC/BL standard 8 / 10 and Wolseleys 6/99 and 6/110 etc.
Triple carbs were not normally on a 1959 AH 3000 [ MK 1 ] they were in 1961 -62 only, then back to Duals 62-63 on.
69365

69366

69367

A picture of the car when Bill Dunster had a racing accident sits on the front seat
69368

John was obviously fascinated with the engine
69369

69370

[Roger Dowding]

More on Tri-carb Big Healey's this is a 100 Six;
Thanks to Patrick Quinn - The story relates to a post on " Healey Museum " Facebook page;
" A special 100/6 engine setup, Patrick Quinn send these remarks to the Healey Museum accompanied by these pictures:
"A BN4 that was raced extensively during the late 1950s and early ‘60s.
It has the early cylinder head that was modified to take three SUs, but as semi-downdrafts.
The head was designed by a chap who raced Austin sedans and while the carbs fit under a sedan bonnet they don’t with an Austin-Healey so the car has a slight bulge in the bonnet which you can just see in the first photo."

The Car which is in Australia looks like a good Racer.
69383

Views of the engine ;
69384

69385

69386

The photo that started the conversation as posted on the Healey Museum page - it started a lot of conversation with some details by our own Kevin Hirst who did a similar thing to an A95 Six with the 2.6 motor -taken out to 3 litres.

The 100 Six as posted by Healey Museum.

69387

-compare the set up to both the ones above and BMC BOY's 1959 3000 with triples which are larger carbs HD8's I believe.

[Roger Dowding]

BMC BOY's AH 3000 BN7 the 1959 model. Photo's 40 years apart.

As a twin carb version at Rotorua Rally in 1980 - my own photo

69393

As a triple carb version in 2020, photo by Nigel Hunter Russell, taken on a Car Club day by the Formula Junior boys - BMC BOY has a Cooper single seater with a one litre BMC A series motor - a project.

69394

[Roger Dowding]

Period Advertisement of the Austin Range of BMC cars . Must be 1958/59 as has the first Sprite was 1958 and the Big Healey is 100 Six, the 3000 came along mid 1959.
Thanks to John Vevers for this gem.

69458

[Milan Fistonic]

This advert was in The Motor dated May 16, 1956

69459

[Roger Dowding]

Recent photos have emerged of AHS3707 Which was owned by Fred Cohen and was being restored when I saw it in 1982 at the 30th Anniversary of the Austin Healey, at Snowmass ( at Aspen ) ski resort in Colorado. Most work had been done, but later Steve Pike from Australia did remedial work to correct some faults.
At the time of Snowmass, the car arrived on a truck and was going from California to the East Coast [ I understand. ]

" Ivo Visser together with David Gooding in AHS3707 at Amelia Island 2011 before making a test-drive.
The 100S was sold at the Gooding auction to an investersgroup! As fas as I know it was later sold to the UK and was entered in 2015 at RM Sotheby's Auctions listed € 900.000,-- - € 1.100.000, but failed to sell. "
The photo from 2011.

69521

Photos from Clas Arleskar taken in 2005

69516

69517

69518

A montage of photos I took in 1982.
The 100S
69520

Here with the Wilson's [ RIP John and Shirley Wilson ] 3000 with matching trailer, Bill Boltons Sebring 3000 from the 1960 race and the 100S.
The guy with the sign is I believe John Harris - a works driver in 1960's/70's
69519

AHS3707 was Invoiced to Gough Industries, Los Angeles USA, along with AHS3706, 3708, 3709, 3710 and AHS3801 Despatched on 21st and 22nd April 1955. The actual purchaser is not detailed in the
" Record of 100 S Sales " as written by Geoffrey Healey in his book
" Austin Healey - the story of the Big Healeys " -published in 1977
The book is dedicated to his parents " Donald and Ivy Healey "

Have the pictures returned ?? have edited post and can see them as loaded but when I save and view gone - will repost soon.

Much later 19 May or as in the timeline above 05-19-2021 - no pictures :Go to post #1134 as attached there with the same text.

Pictures ???

[Roger Dowding]

Post 1130 appeared twice after I tried to edit a comment and became 1130 with no text and 1131 with the text - Have deleted one post and hopefully all the text will stay with the photos.

[Ray Bell]

What's happened to the pictures, Roger?

I guess they're a work in progress...

[Roger Dowding]

Ray Bell - indeed where did they go. have re-edited the post [ added a comment about lost photos ] and now I can see them.
Will close out of TRS and open it again to check.

Lost again have created a new post and will later delete post #1130

[Roger Dowding]

" AHS3707 - The ex-Fred Cohen car- 1982 being restored - some more recent photos
Recent photos have emerged of AHS3707 Which was owned by Fred Cohen and was being restored when I saw it in 1982 at the 30th Anniversary of the Austin Healey, at Snowmass ( at Aspen ) ski resort in Colorado. Most work had been done, but later Steve Pike from Australia did remedial work to correct some faults.
At the time of Snowmass, the car arrived on a truck and was going from California to the East Coast [ I understand. ]

" Ivo Visser together with David Gooding in AHS3707 at Amelia Island 2011 before making a test-drive.
The 100S was sold at the Gooding auction to an investersgroup! As fas as I know it was later sold to the UK and was entered in 2015 at RM Sotheby's Auctions listed € 900.000,-- - € 1.100.000, but failed to sell. "
The photo from 2011.

69523

Photos from Clas Arleskar taken in 2005

69524

69525

69526

A montage of photos I took in 1982.
The 100S
69528

Here with the Wilson's [ RIP John and Shirley Wilson ] 3000 with matching trailer, Bill Boltons Sebring 3000 from the 1960 race and the 100S.
The guy with the sign is I believe John Harris - a works driver in 1960's/70's

69527

AHS3707 was Invoiced to Gough Industries, Los Angeles USA, along with AHS3706, 3708, 3709, 3710 and AHS3801 Despatched on 21st and 22nd April 1955. The actual purchaser is not detailed in the
" Record of 100 S Sales " as written by Geoffrey Healey in his book
" Austin Healey - the story of the Big Healeys " -published in 1977
The book is dedicated to his parents " Donald and Ivy Healey "

Hope the photos stay with the re-post !!

[Roger Dowding]

More of my photos - posted before - Bringing them all together about AHS3707.

69529

69530

- Off the truck
69531

69532
-Being worked on
69533.

The only 100S at Snowmass I am sure - must go back through the booklet that came out after the event and was sent to participants in August 1982

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Roger Dowding
What about this for a Tow Car .. the tinny would fall off the trailer.
Probably the most famous modified Australian AH 3000 - Ross Bond- the wheel flares just got bigger and bigger..

https://img697.imageshack.us/img697/3102/july71rcn.jpg

There were times when the modifications weren't so welcome...

In the scrutineering bay at Amaroo Park was Keith Neville. Keith was a short-ish bloke who had a lot of experience behind him and some of that was evident by his casual demeanour and the grey of his wavy hair. Always approachable and he knew his stuff.

After the crew finished examining the Ross Bond (Ken Webb?) Austin-Healey one day, Ross jumped in and started it up, selected reverse and was starting to back out when Keith came over and stopped him. The engine was turned off and the scrutineers under Keith's charge asked to jack it up. An inspection of the underside in the gearbox area was carried out.

That was the day it was decreed that the Alfa Romeo 5-speed gearbox had to be removed. Keith had noticed that Ross had moved the gearlever in the wrong direction to get reverse gear.

Part 3 (d) of the Marque Sports Car regulations at that time read:


The original design of transmission train assemblies, including the number of forward and reverse ratios, assembled and operating as originally supplied by the manufacturers, shall be retained. The use of alternative ratios in the gearbox and final drive is permitted, as is the use of a "limited slip" differential.

In the terminology of the time... "SPRUNG!"

[Roger Dowding]

Good story Ray Bell, thanks.
I like the Ross Bond car with all its Mods - a bit like ABL6 in USA and UK the Modsport 3000 ..

69544

Seen here in Corvallis, Oregon at Bill Bolton's place - with Bill Bolton and Mark Donaldson, the green car is UJB141 the famous 1960 Sebring 12 hour racer that had a huge rollover. - photo by BMC BOY- Ross Cammick from around 1984-86

[Ray Bell]

Sad that it went through a very rough period...

At one time some 'intelligent' owners took it to the drags and did a burnout over burning petrol and set fire to it.

[Roger Dowding]

AHS3601, AHS3802 and AHS3908 - the three Austin Healey 100S that were in New Zealand in the late 1950's into the 1960's.
Each has its own story.
AHS3908 is the car purchased by Seabrook Fowlds, in 1955, and made famous by Ross Jensen, who raced in New Zealand and took it to Australia for the Australian Grand Prix meeting, competing in the TT race there.
The car went to Graham Pierce,it passed through a number of owners and is still in New Zealand, the only Original 100S here. It was fully rebuilt/restored retaining the patina [ modifications ] of its racing with Ross Jensen.

Details and photos of the car and an article by Allan Dick in NZ Classic Driver - Issue #70 - Jan-Feb 2017. have appeared in posts on this thread.
The other two cars are mentioned briefly in Allan's story

The other two AHS' have rather different storys;

I have recently came across some information on both cars, from a Healey guy I know, we first met at an AH Club rally in New Plymouth in 1976.
Jim Reece raced a Sprite and has had a " Big " Healey since the 1970's called the " Mongrel "as it is somewhat modified.
Jim collected data on the NZ 100S and other big Healeys as an unofficial " Healey Register ".

AHS3601 was the other 100S sold new to New Zealand in 1955 through P H Vickery Motors in Invercargill [ The local Austin Dealer ] in 1955 and was raced by Barney Giller, Cobber Hurley and Grady Thomson and others before being written of in a level crossing smash in 1967. Parts from the car were used in a recreation by Steve Pike in Australia in 1991. It is now owned by Alister Rayner and is now back in New Zealand as " AHS3601R "

A piece of history - the Register page for AHS3601 as compiled by Jim Reece after the accident as seen in the notes.

69706

The car when delivered to P H Vickery in 1955 [ posted before - ignore the date on the picture was as noted when I acquired it ]

69708

A picture from late 1950's of the car - on the 1956 -61 New Zealand Plates. Owner at the time Max Richards the 4th owner.

69707

AHS3802 is the Fred Losee, Jos(h) E [ Ernest ] Tims car which Fred brought to New Zealand and raced before selling it to Josh [ Ernest ] Tims ; the car was sold at some stage to Australia and is now in the USA.

The Jim Reece " Register " page and other notes on the car.

69709

69710

A For Sale article - I think from the Austin Healey Car Club magazine " Healey Torque " being sold by N MacFarlane as detailed in the Register pages

69711

The above details are as I know them - any corrections or other information is most welcome.

[Roger Dowding]

A bit more on the ex USA, NZ Australia and now USA car.

The MacFarlane for sale advert with the car the right way;

69712

The car in NZ when with Fred Losee at Wangaloa, near Balclutha - on the East Coast, lower South Island that is the Pacific Ocean in the background.

69713

The car, now Red in 1992 - believe when in Australia

69714

The car recently back to the two tone - original colours - " Ivory " White over " Lobelia " Blue

69715

Have also got from Jim Reece the " duplicate " registration papers for this car from 1975 which have the details going back to Fred Losee and its arrival in NZ in 1958.
Another piece of the cars History will post later

[Milan Fistonic]

69721

[Roger Dowding]

- Thanks Milan, nice !!

[Roger Dowding]

All quiet on the AH front, and I am on very limited access [ mobile data astick] so no photos to add for a few days, make that two weeks all up.

Cheers
Roger

[Roger Dowding]

Back in the Bay [ of Plenty ], no new photos of Healeys, but did borrow this from a Facebook page
The Morley Brothers in 1965 in the Works Rally 3000

69867

A rather large " Austin BMC " sign .. should be on the side of a building.

69868

[Ray Bell]

Perhaps it was put there when Leyland were affecting their merge?

[Roger Dowding]

Perhaps it was put there when Leyland were affecting their merge?

Ray looks better like this - Still needs a wall though to attach to !!

69880

[Ray Bell]

But you've now got the wheelie bin hanging in space...

And the house next door on its side.

[Roger Dowding]

Pete Dicks, whom I met at Snowmass [ at Aspen ] Colorado at the " 30th Anniversary of the Austin Healey "meeting in late July 1982 was digging through his archives / collection / stuff .. and found this.
I just thought I was just putting information together about AH Sprites.
This from " Thoroughbred and Classic Car " Magazine - probably the first of the " Classic Car " magazines to start.

The June 1980 Issue.

The cover

69902

part of the article ;

69903

The Car was owned by Tony Van De Water at the time, he still had it in 1989 and it was raced by him at the Ardmore Reunion meeting in January 1989 and he attended the AHCCNZ Rally at Easter the same year.

Tony moved to Renwick and I believe still runs BASIS the spare parts company there.
He has spent time at the Airforce base in the area when working as a RNZAF photographer.
I also understand he still has the car.

** Update Dec 18th 2023. AN5-758 is still owned by Tony Van de Water who recently sold BASIS, the Spare Parts business and has just completed a restoration / tidy up of the Sprite.
The car did appear during the " 50th Anniversary Grand Tour " by the AH Club of New Zealand in March April 2023.

Many earlier cars have now been uncovered including AN5 501 the first production Sprite, but this car could still be the earliest in New Zealand.

69904

[Roger Dowding]

Using a Number Plate on another car - a short story from the early 1950's - thanks to Paul O'Neill for this gem.
DMH - always the Gentleman ..
About MWD 360 ..

A framed " picture " well a letter and a cutting from a newspaper - there were very observant people back then too!!.

69905

The letter - dated 6th November 1952 - not long after the London Motor Show where a " Healey 100 " became the " Austin Healey 100 "
69906

The article - a cutting from a newspaper, details not stated.

69907

The car they are referring to.
Photo from the Motor Show ; " HEALEY - HUNDRED " on the front of the car.
Photo prior to Leonard Lord from " Austin " making the agreement with the " Donald Healey Motor Company ".

69908

A prototype on Steel Wheels from 1952. Plate could be MWD 341 - hard to determine. Has a " Healey 100 " badge on the shroud.

69909

Must check on how many " Prototypes " there were, probably a couple.

Must try to find the Mille Miglia car - a Healey, not an Austin Healey.

[Milan Fistonic]

From the Auckland Car Club Bulletin of September 1979.

70026

[Roger Dowding]

From the Auckland Car Club Bulletin of September 1979.

70026

Milan, thanks for that, gives me a bit more of the Dunster - Cammick car, didn't realise Bob and Gary Reed had owned / driven the car.
Remember Gary from my time in the Austin Healey Club 1975 - 1996.
As we know Ross still has the car and in recent years has had a bit of fettling and now sports triple SU's compared to Twins it had in 1979.
Helped Ross with getting some of his parts through Customs back in the early 1980's when he was still overseas and shipped back a gearbox and I think the Triple carbs.
Car is less original with the centrshift gearbox, triple carbs and the angled radiator and rack and pinion steering but that is as Donald Healey would say " improving the car ".

[Roger Dowding]

An extract from New Zealand Memories magazine - the November 2020 issue.

Had my Triumph TR4A for the Tuesday Carless Day, so it could compete in Motorsport on the weekend, and an Austin A35 with a Sunday sticke , to drive on Tuesdays with Sprite twin carbs as the Mark One Sprite was in pieces.
The [ ex ] wife had the other Sprite a Mark 3 for her daily driver except for on another week day - can't remember what day, Oh for an Exempt sticker.

70032

The stickers ;
70033

[Roger Dowding]

A bit of a mix here with photos from early AHCCNZ Rallys in 1973 and 1975 - [ 1975 at Rotorua ]

1973 Mark Donaldson and the late Bernie Huynen examine Ross Cammick [ BMC BOY ] BN7 a 1959 model which has featured on here recently with Milan Fistonic post from the Auckland Car Club Bulletion in 1979.
This was a the First " National " Rally by the Club.
[ Photo from the AH Clubs own website - probably by Ross Cammick ]

70034

1975 and Peter Nelligan in his BJ8 on the Gymkhana course at the Rotorua " National " Rally. Photographer I think was Ross Cammick.
[ from the AH Clubs own website ]

70035

Moving to the USA - Geoff Healey standing beside Jerry Liudahl [ from Oregon ] 100 at Snowmass in 1982 at the 30th Anniversary of the Austin Healey gathering where around 1000 AH enthusiasts attended including 11 from New Zealand. [Jerry Liudahl photo ]

70036

Another Oregon car Rex Urbans Sprite Racer, which was also at Snowmass and Medford in 1982 and has featured on this thread before
[ this is a recent photo from Rex Urban's own archives. ]

70037

T - Shirt worn by the AH Club of Oregon attendees at the 1984 " National " Rally at Napier -around a dozen American Austin Healey people came to NZ for the Rally,mainly from Oregon - the " On the Road Again 1984 " line is as some had come to New Zealand in 1980, and they came back again in 1988 too !
The T shirt is still in the hands, and on the clothes-line, of Bryan and Brenda Harris. - Thanks to Bryan for the photo.

70038

A Healey cartoon by Brian Caldersmith in Australia who draws other cartoons in the style of " Brockbank " the well known English Motoring cartoonist from the 1950's and 1960's.

70039

[Roger Dowding]

Have posted quite a bit on AHS3908 the Austin New Zealand imported car - sold to dealers Seabrook Fowlds, for John Seabrook, then Ross Jensen, and later Graham Pierce. A 100S car that is still in New Zealand.
Story a few years ago by Allan Dick form NZ Classic Driver that has appeared in this thread [ parts of the article ]

AHS3601 was also imported by Austin New Zealand and sold through P H Vickery " Vickery Motors " of Invercargill.
Engine Number 222707C Body number 79 despatched 14.10.55.

Already had some information on the car but recently came across more details.
Jim Reece an Austin Healey guy, his cars have featured on the thread, put together a Register Record of the car back in the early 1970's when involved with the Austin Healey Car Club of New Zealand.
The car was badly crashed and burnt and written off and has been the subject of a recreation by Steve Pike in Australia.
It is now in the hands of Alister Rayner with the Chassis Number " AHS3601 R ". R for recreation / replica.

Here is the AHCCNZ letterhead record of the car which had the number plate 408.032 in 1957 [ 1956 -61 plates and permanent plate DN6440 - There will have been another plate for 1961 -64 period.

70047

Photo of the car outside P H Vickery Ltd in Invercargill in 1956 - first registered in January 1956 after shipping from England DMH's factory in October 1955

70048

A Warrant of Fitness sticker from PH Vickery dated February 1957.

70049

car with 408.032 plates [ 1956 - 61 ] with 4th owner Max Richards

70050

Another photo on the 408.032 plates, with Jack Grieve in 1957

70051

Again a photo from the 1957 -61 period with another owner / driver Peter Lawson at the 1961 Ardmore NZ International Grand Prix meeting,leading a group [ in a trio ] of cars.

70052

More to come on the car - the accident - and the recreation.
Note ; source of images are on the images

[Roger Dowding]

In early July 1982 a group of Austin Healey Club of New Zealand, Guys and Girls - headed for the USA to attend the event, which was held at Snowmass ( at Aspen ) a Ski Resort - just outside the Town of Aspen in Colorado.
There were 5 days of competition, [ Concours,D'Elegance, Road Rally - a Time Speed and Distance Trial, Funkhana various Social Activities and on the last day a Prizegiving..

The Prizegiving, I vaguely remember, but have recently been sent some images by Ron Edwards who collected three trophies with his Austin Healey 3000 BJ8.

The Car ; which Ron still owns has had it since 1973

70536

The Michigan Plate that was on the car at the time

70537

The three trophies

70538

Plaque for the TSD Rally that is on the Trophy

70539

Plaque for the Concours' - note on photo " Concourse " as that is on the trophy.

70540

Whilst not being able to compete for a trophy as not having a car there, did get to collect patches and badges from the event and other events that 5 of the Kiwi's attended after Snowmass.
The Historic Motor Races at Monterey [ Laguna Seca ] the Austin Healey Club of Oregon Rally ay Medford Oregon and the " All British Field Meet " at Portland Oregon

70541

I understand that a big event is being organised for next year 2022 in the USA.
- the 70th Anniversary of the Austin Healey
- the car first seen as the " Healey Hundred " at the Earls Court Motor Show in London in November 1952.

[Milan Fistonic]

Again a photo from the 1957 -61 period with another owner / driver Peter Lawson at the 1961 Ardmore NZ International Grand Prix meeting,leading a group [ in a trio ] of cars.

70052

This photo is from the 1961 Ultimate-Ekco Race Car Feature at Ardmore and shows Peter Lawson leading Ron Butler's Porsche and Graeme Eder's Elva-Ford (later known as the Paton-Ford)

[Roger Dowding]

" This photo is from the 1961 Ultimate-Ekco Race Car Feature at Ardmore and shows Peter Lawson leading Ron Butler's Porsche and Graeme Eder's Elva-Ford (later known as the Paton-Ford) "

Milan, thank you again for your information .. now have to find the story/ies of that 100S .. of Peter Lawson - more than I have now..
I know at that time there were 3 100S in New Zealand but need to get more details

Thanks again.
Roger

[ERC]

One of several AH pics taken last month. This was in the Stirling Moss tribute parade at Goodwood. One of four Austin Healeys in the parade.
70553

[Roger Dowding]

One of several AH pics taken last month. This was in the Stirling Moss tribute parade at Goodwood. One of four Austin Healeys in the parade.
70553

Thanks ERC, quite a mean looking BJ8 3000, with that sill exhaust with the big ventilated cover, and those flared guards.
.

[Roger Dowding]

Cracked it, Over 500,000 views [ long way to go to be like ERC though ].

I love Healeys as is known, both Big [ full size owned one ] Small [ full size Sprites owned 4 ] and models.

This from Healey Museum, Dinky model 100's with a boat and trailer..
as they commented " cheaper to own than the real thing ;

70583

Don't have the Dinky 100, but do have a " Budgie " model - it is broken though - scale around 1;70.

The " Budgie " model - my damaged one ;

70615

70616

Have 1;18 100 Six and a tri-carb 3000 and various 1;43 models - 100 / 100S / 3000 and a couple of Sprites and 1;87 3000.

Here are some of them. the 1;18 scale plus a couple of 1;43 scale Sprites.

70584

Cheers
Roger

[Roger Dowding]

Jackie Cooper owned an raced the 100S " AHS3504 " - the fourth customer Chassis number car released in February 1955.
Briggs Cunningham got AHS3501. ## This car was White with a Blue ' central ' Stripe a colour scheme he used from 1951 on with his Team cars

Jackie's car was British Racing Green - where many [ most ] AH 100S were white/ivory over blue [ lobelia blue ] and there were a few black and red cars in the 55 produced [ 50 " customer " cars and the 5 works cars ].##

The car was shipped to the USA in early 1955 among 5 others - all destined for the Sebring 12 Hour Race, in Florida.

In later 1955, Jackie Cooper [ who had Roy Jackson-Moore as his co-driver at Sebring ] entered the BEMC [ British Empire Motor Club - Toronto ] races at Edenvale in Canada.

Cooper featured in the article in " Sports Car Illustrated " magazine in October 1955.

The Car ;

70617

BEMC Programme Cover for the Canada event;

70618

The track was an Airfield - quite common in the USA, the UK and as we know in New Zealand too in the 1950's
- [ Ardmore, Ohakea, Wigram ].

70619

The SCI article with a photo of Jackie in the 100S - there was another 100S and several 100/4s in the event

70620
70621

At the previous races at Edenvale on 26th June 1954 there were Sports Cars and two classes for " Production Cars " which included a rather unusual car, not a Healey but a " Hillman V8-60 " - would have been an " allcomer " in New Zealand

70622

In the June 1954 results is Fred Allen in an Austin Healey - Fred Allen bought one of the early 100S cars and was also at Sebring in 1955 - this 1954 event would have been in a 100 the original production 4 cylinder.

[Ray Bell]

So there we have the People's Choice...

[Roger Dowding]

So there we have the People's Choice...

Yes Ray - seems almost like " Allcomers " in NZ, " Run what you Brung " in the USA
" Modified Production " in other places.

The Hillman V8-60, and I see the Morris Minor in the drivers notes with ALTA overhead valve conversion - that would be a rarity - even more so in the USA.

Grand Prix - with Fred Allen in the MG Special as well as a 100 - pre his 100S as mentioned - came second in the MG in the Sports Car Race and the " Grand Prix " event.

Jim Ferguson in a Nash Metropolitan, another of the guys who ran at Sebring 1955 in a 100S.

More to follow on the 100S and the Sebring 1955 event, March, before Macklin went to Le Mans in SPL226B - the ill fated event.

[Ray Bell]

Youngsters!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tKgbiog5q4

[Roger Dowding]

Youngsters!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tKgbiog5q4

Ray Bell, did you watch the whole 9 and half minutes - never realised Jackie Cooper was a bit of a comedy actor .. at least he arrived in the right car.

[Ray Bell]

I used to watch the whole half-hour every Friday night...

Except for the time my parents went out for the night and left us in the care of my grumpy aunt. She made us go to bed at 7:30, just as the show was about to start.

[Ray Bell]

Jackie Cooper was actually a bit of a star as a child actor in the famous "Our Gang" or "Little Rascals" short movies of the twenties and early thirties...

These were comedies, with the humour simply coming from the behavior of children being fairly natural. Poor neighbourhood children making their fun in the streets and parks.

For a long time a big thing was made of the fact that one after another of them met untimely ends. Jackie Cooper was, in fact, a bit of a 'last man standing' in that company.

[Roger Dowding]

Thanks to Ken H for the link to the website on Sebring 1955 - on the John Lacko photos thread.
I had seen some information from Geoffrey Healey's books " Austin Healey - The story of the Big Healeys "and also his third book " Healey - The Specials ".

There were Seven 100S entered, 6 " customer " cars AHS3501 to AHS3506 and " SPL258BN " the works car which was a 1954 " Special Test Car " known by its Registration OON441 as noted by Ken H

Chassis Numbers and details of AHS3501 on from the book " Austin Healey - The story of the Big Healeys ".

70682

Entry list for Class D - the class the Austin Healey cars were in AH 100S, AH 100M and some just AH 100;

70683

The Chassis numbers and race numbers ;

AHS3501 Race No 40 drivers Bill Cook, Steve Lansing, George Rand finished 16th - the Briggs Cunningham car

AHS3502 Race No 41A drivers Robert Fergus Sandy McPherson and Harley Watts - car did not start.

AHS3503 Race No 43 drivers Jim Ferguson and Rowland Keith from Canada - finished 32nd

AHS3504 Race No 42 drivers Jack(ie) Cooper and Roy Jackson-Moore finished 41st

AHS3505 Race No 46 drivers Fred Allen and Gus Ehrman - car did not start.

AHS3506 Race No 45 drivers Wm Brewster and Bill Rutan

SPL258BN Race No 44 the Donald Healey Motor Company Special test car - drivers Stirling Moss and Lance Macklin - finished 6th - First Austin Healey home.

Names in ' bold ' were the named purchasers of the cars in February 1955 - from the Geoffrey Healey book

The cars being loaded for Sebring in February 1955 The race was in March 1955.
The cars despatch dates are listed in the first image above - from the Geoff Healey book.

70684

70685

On the look out now for more race photos;

This is Stirling passing a Porsche 550 ; The results First Six cars plus all the Austin Healey finishers

70687

There was also a Nash Healey entered - credit on the photo;
70686

Among the 100M Healeys a car from the Bahamas of Sir Sydney Oakes and Greta Oakes - with Juan Fernandez as the third driver.

More to follow on the story;

[ERC]

Talking of Nash Healeys, did you catch last night's 'American Pickers' on Choice TV?

They came across an old boy and his son, who formerly ran an AMC dealership - a building which they still own, but what a shambolic run down place it was/is, but they had 4 of them, plus a spares car. They bought two off them. One was almost totally overgrown and as at last night's episode end, they were still struggling to free it.

[Roger Dowding]

Talking of Nash Healeys, did you catch last night's 'American Pickers' on Choice TV?

They came across an old boy and his son, who formerly ran an AMC dealership - a building which they still own, but what a shambolic run down place it was/is, but they had 4 of them, plus a spares car. They bought two off them. One was almost totally overgrown and as at last night's episode end, they were still struggling to free it.

Ray, No I missed it,
Would have been a good view - I don't get a lot of TV time for my interests, so Pickers and motoring take a back seat..

Thanks for the information ..

Did however find this of a very scruffy Nash Healey- another racer they were not pretty by the time the US Racing guys got hold of them..- this one with a Packard Motor that started a lot of questions about the motor ;
Inline 6, Vee 8, or ... ??,
Ray Bell may know !.

70689

My late great Uncle Frank Bell [ 1892 - 1929 ] was a Nash Man at one stage he had a big 1920's Sedan and his wife, my Great Aunt Mary Bell [ 1890's - 1964 ] had a Nash Coupe ..
This is Mary, known as Aunty Dolly sitting in a Nash in the 1930's. The family do not know if she owned it..from a family archive of Uncle Eddie Dowding [ 1919 - 2018 ].. recently found by my cousin John Dowding

70690

PS ; there is a story behind the number plate as in the 1930's they used ' X ' in place of ' 10 ' when they needed a bigger range of numbers ..

[ERC]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Incv563jzhA

[Roger Dowding]

Brilliant ERC, and thanks for the link.

The Nash Healey - American Pickers, with a Cadillac V8 - great

[Ray Bell]

Originally the Nash-Healey was a 3.8-litre pushrod ohv inline six...

Healey. apparently, had intended using a V8 and the engine bay was big enough to accommodate one. But instead he sourced the engines from Kelvinator and made an alloy pushrod ohv cylinder head (to reduce weight, and presumably improve gas flow), the cars had SU carburettors and competition engines run by Healey were expanded to 4.1-litres.

The gearbox was a 3-speed with the very common Borg-Warner overdrive, as fitted to Zephyrs, Austin and Wolseley 2.6 to 3-litre sedans of the fifties and sixties, many Chrysler models, Toyota Crowns and others.

[Ray Bell]

It's not hard to see why Healey was looking towards a V8 at that time...

Cunningham was appearing at Le Mans with the ohv Cadillac V8 and Chrysler were about to announce their first Hemi V8s, Oldsmobile's ohv V8 had been around for a year or two as well.

[Ray Bell]

Getting to the specifics of the Andy Rosenberger Nash Healey, in 1956 it was fitted with a Packard V8.

These were a new engine from 1955 and came in capacities of 320, 352 and 374 cubic inches. In 1956 they built a double 4bbl version which gave 310bhp, it's (I imagine) quite likely that this is the one Rosenberger used.

The Packard V8, though it was used in its 320 form in Nash and Hudson cars, is not related to the Studebaker V8, which was a much smaller engine. The engine was designed with 5" bore centres and would easily have accommodated size increases up to 500ci. It must, however, have been heavy.

Packard Hawks, which shared the Studebaker Hawk bodywork, also had the Studebaker engine. By that time it was all American Motors. The whole picture becomes very muddied, especially when you learn that the International Harvester V8s came from this source as well.

Specific to the Rosenberger car is this:

https://forums.autosport.com/topic/175589-new-old-photos-page-and-car-id-needed/#entry5967957

[Roger Dowding]

Thanks Ray Bell, for the info above about the Rosenberger car and Nash Healey's in general..Thought you would know a lot,

70714

Cheers

Roger

[Roger Dowding]

Details from the Austin Healey 100S Registry from Ken H

" SPL 226B 1B136878 7, 25 green green 100/100M/100S Donald Healey Motor Co. England Healey Motors NOJ393 Scott, Jack U.K.


SPL 258BN SPL258BN 23, wht/blue, spgrn rebuilt spruce green Donald Healey Motor Co. England Healey Motors OON441 OON441 Moore, Frank Brisbane Qld. Aust.".

SPL226B is the 1955 Le Mans car [ the race in June ] and SPL258BN, the Moss, Macklin car at Sebring in March 1955.

Here is the car SPL258BN of Moss and Macklin, Race #44 from the " Racing Sports Cars .com " website on the event - as extracted by Ken H.

70702

A view in the Pit garages on one of the 100s [not an S ] in company of others.

70703

70706

View of the start - views of actually.

70704

70705

Poster for the event ;

70707

[Roger Dowding]

The Programme Cover ;

70708

The Event Schedule ;

70709

The Track Map ;

70710

The full Entry List - in three parts ;

70711

70713

70712

Thanks to Ken H for the link to these images.

[Ray Bell]

I won't lay claim to knowing an awful lot about them, Roger...

But I know where to look. I really do fancy the Nash-Healey, which was used in the original film 'Sabrina". That film, when old and being re-run on television, awakened me to the Nash-Healey, in fact:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMnXKeWHphk

[Roger Dowding]

Photos from the Racing Sports Cars gallery - taken by a variety of photographers but Louis Galanos seem to be the only one using colour film.

The Nash Healey - had the Nash L6 [ inline 6 ] and was supercharged.

70741

Austin Healey 100M, Race #38 [ and #39 in background ].

70742

Austin Healey 100S - some of them.

Race #43, 44, and 45

AHS3503
70743

SPL258BN the Donald Healey Motor Company works car - driven by Stirling Moss and Lance Macklin
70744

AHS3506
70745

#45 was photographed in recent years at a Car Show in the USA - but there was some confusion with the chassis number on those photos.
** More to come on Race #45 AHS3506 .. The car show was in Des Moines in 2017, and the photographer is a Car Guy, with his main interest Triumph Sports cars - owns an early 70's Mark 4 Spitfire and a late 60's TR4A [ sound familiar to this guy ].

Austin Healey 100M of Sir Sidney Oakes from the Bahamas
70746

Photographer Credit on the images;

[Roger Dowding]

Came across these recently ;
An article -Letter to the Editor from Donald Healey -re The British Government and the De Lorean " adventure ".

70817

Rick Neville from the USA a Healey enthusiast and archivist wrote a story about the potential Healey involvement with the defunct De Lorean [ Delorean ] gullwing Car. It was published in the Austin Healey Club Magazine in 2020.
Recently Rick posted the story on the Facebook group " Austin Healey Owners & Enthusiasts ".

This the link to the Pdf file ## no it is not working so deleted !!

Hope this works !! ## - It didn't

Guys going to try and scam [ make that scan - writer error ] the article as the link or links are not working - probabaly operator error.

Watch this Space ..

[Roger Dowding]

The Mark 3 Sprite has appeared on this thread in a couple of photos by Dennis Green,taken at various Northern Sports Car Club events in the 1970's.

Owned the car from June 1974 to January 1976, when it was replaced by a Triumph GT6.

Recently I have been sent four photos of the car at NSCC events, Autocross in 1974 and 1975.
One other photo is a new print of an image that I have had since 1975 when I bought a print from Dennis Green.
These photos and many other photos from NSCC events in the 1970's are being processed by Ross Cammick, who has known Dennis since the 1970's, as have I.

[ a couple of the photos were put on the NSCC thread recently and are copied here.

Autocross at Woodhill - Tom Grace farm in late 1974.
Car running top up;

70923

70924

Autocross again at Woodhill - Car running top down and the Matt Black paint on the grille starting to wear off.
Believe this event was in early mid 1975.

70925

70926

Autocross in 1975 later in the year, Grille paint restored but showing Fiberglass patch in the sills and the tail stripes have been removed.
[ This is the new copy of the photo. ]

70927

Hoping for more photos as Ross works through the two huge boxes of negatives.
Thanks Ross aka BMC BOY.

[Roger Dowding]

The first time Donald Healey Motor Company had two very different branded cars at Le Mans, Nash Healey and the new Austin Healey 100.
In 1952 the Donald Healey Motor Company ran a Nash Healey [ car #10 ] and an experimental Healey called the X8 [ car #11 ].

The real; Nash Healey pit - cars no 10 and 11.

70949

The real; one of the Austin Healeys car no 34 - team was car 33 and car 34.

70950

The real ; Nash Healey with the bonnet up

70951

Photo 1 from the " Healey Museum " archives - the Museum is in Holland
Photos 2 and 3 from Karsten Stelk archives

The small ; Diorama by Jerry Luidahl, of Oregon USA, who runs a group called "Old Irish Racing " with photos of real and model cars ; Met Jerry at Snowmass, Colorado at the July 1982 " 30th Anniversary of the Austin Healey " and saw him again in Oregon in August in Salem and Medford Oregon -drove his 100 at the time.

The 1953 Le Mans Pit scene Diorama; great detailing - did not realise that the cars were together as thought numbering and pit space was numerical from the largest engine to the smallest.
It certainly was in 1950 from images I have in books and articles.

70952

[Ray Bell]

The Nash-Healey made all too small a dot in sporting car history, Roger...

A real shame but probably inevitable with the fragility of the Nash company and the ocean between Healey and the Americans - allied, of course, with the willingness of Austin to be a party to the Healey 100.

But I guess that's what makes certain cars collectible, isn't it?

[Roger Dowding]

Ray Bell,

" The Nash-Healey made all too small a dot in sporting car history ".

A small one, yes ; 1950 - 1953 at Le Mans and in the Mille Miglia, obviously some racing in the USA, with that Packard V8 powered one as well as the " Factory " cars.

Once the 100 came along that was the main car for Donald and Co, as the Riley engines were being phased out by the BMC takeover ....
and the engine was 2/3rds of the 3 and 1/4 litre Austin Truck 6 cylinder engine.

[Milan Fistonic]

A green cover on Autosport to honour the victory in the GT category of the 1964 Tulip Rally by the Austin-Healey of Don and Erle Morley.

71089

[Roger Dowding]

Card by Clas Arleskar .. an Austin Healey guy in Europe ..

71130

71131

[Ray Bell]

Roger Dowding
Once the 100 came along that was the main car for Donald and Co, as the Riley engines were being phased out by the BMC takeover .... and the engine was 2/3rds of the 3 and 1/4 litre Austin Truck 6 cylinder engine.

Actually the 4-litre version of that engine...

Used in trucks in the late-forties (early versions were made from 1938/39) and also in 4-litre form in the A125/Sheerline and Princess.

[Roger Dowding]

Actually the 4-litre version of that engine...

Used in trucks in the late-forties (early versions were made from 1938/39) and also in 4-litre form in the A125/Sheerline and Princess.

You are so right Ray Bell,

The first incarnation was at 2190 cc for the Austin A70 and the FX3 London Taxi, [ was 2/3rds of the 3 and 1/4 litre ] then the 2660 cc in the Austin A90 Atlantic, Austin A90 / 4 .. and the Healey 100 which became the Austin Healey 100 at the 1952 London Motor Show..

[Ray Bell]

And the 2.2 was used in the Gipsy, while the 2.6 was used in the civilian version of the Champ...

The 2.2 originally having been drawn from the big six to provide a locally-sourced replacement engine for Jeeps during the war.

But which one was used as a diesel?

[Kevin Hirst]

And the 2.2 was used in the Gipsy, while the 2.6 was used in the civilian version of the Champ...

The 2.2 originally having been drawn from the big six to provide a locally-sourced replacement engine for Jeeps during the war.

But which one was used as a diesel?

Which vehicle was the big motor used in as a diesel, apart from nuffield tractors, the small 1500 diesel was used as a marine motor as well, navigator I think, not sure, long time ago.

[Ray Bell]

I have a notion, unconfirmed, that the nitrided crank in the 100S was a standard part from a diesel...

Probably used in taxis.

[Roger Dowding]

I have a notion, unconfirmed, that the nitrided crank in the 100S was a standard part from a diesel...

Probably used in taxis.

A couple of boys in your part of the world would know that, Joe Armour and Joe Jarick, also Steve Pike - who restored a few 100S over the years .. must find out, Ray ..

Cheers
Roger

[Roger Dowding]

BMC archive photo from 1960 ..
So many Sprites - and a couple of early 3000's tucked away at the back..

71452

[Milan Fistonic]

An advert from Autosport dated May 23, 1958.

71500

[Roger Dowding]

Thanks Milan for the Sprite item from Autosport in 1958. As Ken H would say - " appreciate your inputs "

Came across this today - an Advert in Autosport 23rd October 1953 issue for the AH 100 and its record breaking results.

71529

from Clas Arleskar archives.

[Roger Dowding]

Mr Stringer, in a Porsche 356 at Levin 1956, and in the Jack Brabham Cooper Dunedin 1957

John Seabrook in the 100 [ M Spec ] and Ross Jensen in the ex Seabrook Fowlds 100S - the car is still in New Zealand.
* more details on this 1st Levin meeting to come.

71606

Dunedin 1957 - in company with the RA Lycoming, Ron Roycroft Ferrari and others - Bruce McLaren in the Austin Healey - another car that is still in New Zealand.

71607

[Roger Dowding]

To celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Healey 100 - revealed at the London Motor Show in October 1952, two days later it became the Austin Healey 100.

" 70th Anniversary Austin-Healey BN1 Prints " are being done by Sports Car Art.

here is the promotional version;

71615

Back to those times an advertisement about the AH 100 Fuel Economy and Performance
35 miles per gallon and 110 miles per hour
- Was that an American Gallon ?? - which I understand is about 4 litres, not 4.5 litres as it is with the Imperial Gallon.

71616

It is a US advert, and those Austin A40 Somersets too !! don't think the 1200 cc car would have been a big seller in the USA

[928]

roger, the A40 sumersaults might have sold as stunt cars.

[Ray Bell]

Isn't one of them an A70?

A US gallon is 3.78541 litres. Sorry, liters. Imperial is actually 4.546 litres.

[Roger Dowding]

Isn't one of them an A70?

A US gallon is 3.78541 litres. Sorry, liters. Imperial is actually 4.546 litres.

Ray Bell ;
" liters " American language computer - Yes, thanks for the detail.
so that means 35 Mpg was was actually this = in Imperial 29 Mpg - more like it !!

A40 - summersaults " 928 " yeah - nah = yeahh right.

Must look at the details an A70 was that Hereford or Hampshire - must go check - and yes they do look a bit Chubby for Summersaults.

4.546 litres - just realised that is good as a pint is 568 ml - 8 pints to a Gallon, Imperial Gallon 568 x 8 = 4544 allowing a little bit for fractions and evaporation ..

Meanwhile somewhere in Australia, back in 1957 this was happening !!

71625

more details later, perhaps -
note - some on the photo - and Mr Philips was well known in Motorsport circles .. in Australia.

[Ray Bell]

That looks like Caversham...

But I guess it could be Strathpine.

[Roger Dowding]

Something to do on a wet day - give that 100 a bit of a service - how I would spend a day in the weekend, back in the 1980's

71680

Must have been for European and American markets - drawing is left hand drive and the Service intervals are in Miles and Kilometres.

And for something different - A 100S that was raced at Cotati, California, - The 6 hour Enduro Race in 1957 and the Plaque showing the " Class " win.. Mod Prod -

71681

The Plaque;

71682
Pictures from the archives of the son of the co-driver Mick Marston - Scott Marston archives as noted.

Wonder if Ken H knows where the track in " Cotati " was / is ??


This from Wiki..... about the " incorporated community " - think that means a " Town ".

" Cotati is an incorporated city in Sonoma County, California, United States, located approximately 45 mi north of San Francisco in the 101 corridor between Rohnert Park and Petaluma. Cotati's population as of the 2010 Census was 7,265, making it the smallest incorporated community in Sonoma County. "

Santa Rosa is the big city North of Cotati and Petaluma is to the South on US 101.

[Roger Dowding]

That looks like Caversham...

But I guess it could be Strathpine.

Details with photo said Caversham and I was not there.

Ray Bell ;
" Strathpine " is that the one in Queensland ? or is there another ??- never knew there was a Racetrack at Strathpine QLD, I worked there briefly around 2012 /13 [ only a couple of days - at the Shopping Mall ] - was a long way from Beachside Bribie Island though !!

If another race venue then we need to know more- only just found out about Cotati, in California.

Cheers

Roger ..

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
As noted at this site; " Nothing remains of Cotati today. The entire track area was plowed under and replaced by a mobile home park, shopping center and industrial park. "
http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/Cotati1.html

71685

1957 Cotati Six Hour Race entrants.
71684

71683

(Ken H..)

[Milan Fistonic]

Road Test of an Austin Healey 100s from the September 1955 edition of Road & Track

71686

71687

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Roger Dowding
....."Strathpine" is that the one in Queensland?

It was a wartime airstrip which was used for racing from about (late) 1946 until Lakeside opened in 1960. It was a simple up-and-down-the-airstrip, but with a bit of a dash around a couple of trees off one end.

Spitfire Avenue in the North-Eastern part of Strathpine is on the runway, housing took over the area from 1961.

With regard to the Caversham shot, do you have a date? It's not the AGP meeting of 1957. It must have been a big meeting for Jack Myers to be there with his twin-cam Waggott-headed Holden-powered Cooper copy.

[Roger Dowding]

Ray Bell,

" With regard to the Caversham shot, do you have a date? It's not the AGP meeting of 1957. It must have been a big meeting for Jack Myers to be there with his twin-cam Waggott-headed Holden-powered Cooper copy. "

All I know from finding the photo was " Caversham AGP 1957 " and the mention of the Myers Waggot car .. would like to know more and also more about the 100S believed to be AHS3906 - must check that too !! ..

[Milan Fistonic]

All I know from finding the photo was " Caversham AGP 1957 " and the mention of the Myers Waggot car .. would like to know more and also more about the 100S believed to be AHS3906 - must check that too !! ..

From the entry list for the 1957 AGP car 10 is Ron Phillips Austin Healey 100S AHS 3906

[Roger Dowding]

From the entry list for the 1957 AGP car 10 is Ron Phillips Austin Healey 100S AHS 3906

Thanks Milan, for the information.
Would like to see the full entry list.

Another picture of of AHS3906, also in 1957 at a Victoria Road Race the " TT "
Race #9. with Ron Phillips driving.


71742


AHS3906 was sold new through Austin, Melbourne around the time that Larke Hoskins got AHS3905 through Austin Sydney, and AHS3907 also went to Austin, Melbourne, as did AHS3909, with the last of the 100S going to Sweden AHS3910.
AHS3908 came to New Zealand through Austin, New Zealand to Seabrook Fowlds - the well known car of Ross Jensen, that is still in New Zealand.

These cars were all despatched in July and August 1955 .. AHS3905 to AHS3910

AHS3906 is still in Australia, I understand. Australian Austin Healey guys Joe Jarick and Joe Armour will know more.
It was in 2006 as attended the AGP along with AHS3905, they travelled on the same transporter apparently.

71743

The photo that started the questions ?? [ shown again ]

71744

Ray Bell, hope this helps,
cheers
Roger ..

[Roger Dowding]

A Poster seen on Austin Healey Sports and Touring Fb page.
A useful " Spotters Guide ".

71750

Two of the Models feature in this " Motor Show " Photo from around 1956-57, source the Austin A50 Club page in the UK, which was posted on an Austin Healey page too !!.

Where is not known - trying to work out if the cars are LHD or RHD ??.

71751

Interesting the Nash Stand was near the Austin Stand - well they did have a shared interest in this Car at the time.

71752

[Roger Dowding]

Came across this recently from " Moss Motors " there is a series of these cardboard cut out models of British Sports Cars.

The Austin Healey one was a fundraiser as seen in the " Grace " information and is in part colour

71775

The Healey has quarter windows which of course only came with the much later mid 1960's BJ8 and the screen is curved 100's were flat and folded down

Others of interest were an MG MGB a Roadster and a Triumph TR6,
having owned a "B " GT and a TR4A also of interest.

The MG.

71776


The TR.

71777


Wonder if they still have them in stock Ken H may know, otherwise print onto thick paper and make it

[Roger Dowding]

Doctor Fred Losee came to New Zealand and brought with him an Austin Healey 100S, making it the third 100S in New Zealand. Two came in new - the Vickerys Motors and the Seabrook Fowlds cars, the Seabrook was later with Ross Jensen car that is still in New Zealand.

The Fred Losee car was left in New Zealand and was raced by Joss Timms in later years, it is now back in the USA.
Photos of the Losee Timms car have been posted here.

Fred Losee had a busy 1960 season racing at Dunedin and it appears at Wigram.
This montage of photos from Peter Preston, taken on his Box Brownie.

There are some other interesting cars in the Montage.
Details from the photographer Peter Preston;
Grand Prix - Racing Cars.
- Pat Hoare - Ferrari #19
- David Piper - Lotus #18

Sports Cars
- Bill Thomasen - Monza Ferrari #29
- Frank Cantwell - Tojeiro Jaguar #39
- Angus Hyslop - Jaguar D Type #5
- Fred Losee Austin Healey 100S. #2

The Montage ;

71829

The 100S, cropped from the montage.

71830

Entry List from the 1960 Wigram meeting - Graham Woods archives;
some numbers match for the Grand Prix cars -Sports cars not there.

71831

Note ; Two names in the entry list were the New Zealand Driver to Europe recipients of that privilege in 1960.
D C Hulme and G Lawton

[Roger Dowding]

[QUOTE=Roger Dowding;56354]This car is the one that is still in NZ having been rebuilt, Allan Dick is doing an article in the #70 Edition of Classic Driver
due out early 2017 [ late Dec 2016 - the Jan-Feb issue ]
Allan posted these two pictures recently of a different 100S , the car at Balcultha around 1963, being driven by Fred Losee .. this car is now back in the USA, Fred Losee was an American based in the South Island in the early 1960's, the 100S in the article is the Seabrook Fowlds / Ross Jensen / Graham Pierce car AHS 3908

39766

39767

will have more details when the magazine comes out, hopefully I am still here in NZ, otherwise, will get a family member to buy and post, cannot get the magazine in Brisbane where I am ..

March 6th 2022,
The Fred Losee, Ernest Tims [ Joss/Josh Timms ] 100S - more photos have come to light - a couple I have posted and also have a " Copy " of the New Zealand Registration covering from when Fred bought the car to New Zealand, and the subsequent NZ owners.
[ It has helped dating some of the events and correcting some dates - including Balclutha 1963 - has to be 1960 or earlier ]
It will be repeating some information but will put the story in a timeline.

More to come. Soon.
A couple of photos in Post #1213 recently.

One day the photos are there the next day not -
Grr.. gone again but can see them if I click on the picture reference - wierd

[Roger Dowding]

Using both words for Fuel as one photo is from the USA from Bernie Grabow, a Healey Guy for many years.
A Texaco " Gas " Station
71963

Bernie took this photo of the same cars during a Conclave in 2010.

71964

Different Station where they sell Petrol not Gasoline - well did - a name long gone - Europa - Easter 1989, on the way home from the AH Clubs Annual Rally in Masterton.
Location Mid North Island- Flairport - does anybody remember it ?

71965

[Allan]

Mangaweka?

[Ray Bell]

The Texaco station is interesting...

Both vehicles visible in the background are older than any Austin-Healeys.

[Roger Dowding]

Mangaweka?

Allan, you could be right !! I have forgotten - we made a couple of stops, another at this NZR Terminus .. for buses not trains also Central North Island ..
The trip home, was called " Taking it Easy at 95 mph ", the Green over Ivory had front suspension issues and the Sprite cooling issues, the bonnet up at several of the stops..
We had travelled at 100 mph on the way down at times, not like today - had the roads to ourselves in many places.

71980

[Ray Bell]

Here's one which might give somebody some parts...

https://i.postimg.cc/K8mNpB0v/0322fr-UThealeyandmaxwedge.jpg

Of course, the discussion is all about the '63 Dodge, it's seen at about 16m 50s on this clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZB1XXPUW38

[Roger Dowding]

One of the first books written about the " Austin-Healey " called the " The Austin-Healey " was written by Donald Healey and his friend and fellow Race and Rally Driver Tommy Wisdom.
Published in 1960 with Copywright to the " Donald Healey Motor Company Ltd " in 1959.

Have had a copy of the book since the 1980's which I acquired [ was lent to me and hadn't returned when the owner went back overseas -my bad, but he, Paul knows who has it I presume ] but it came without the sleeve.
Finally decided to look it up - as a quiet day in the bay.
Have re-read a bit of it and it has a lot of information I had forgotten and also explained a few questions I had about the 100S and other early 100's the 100M and the 100 Six.

The Cover - from a for sale page

71989

From around the same time some American Austin-Healey Sprite posters - also for sale.

Although it is often not written this way " Austin-Healey " - with the hyphen is the correct way to spell the name.

71990

71991

" Classiscarportraits "- images of the Sprites Mark One and Mark Three.

1958 - 61 1st Sprite. as owned 1978 - 80 and another in 1981

71992

1964 - 66 3rd series - same as two that I owned 1974 -76 and 1978 - 80/83

71993

[Roger Dowding]

[QUOTE=Ray Bell;75950]Here's one which might give somebody some parts...

https://i.postimg.cc/K8mNpB0v/0322fr-UThealeyandmaxwedge.jpg

Of course, the discussion is all about the '63 Dodge, it's seen at about 16m 50s on this clip:

Had a look and way beyond my capabilities budget and haven't got the room either.

Cheers Ray Bell,

Roger

[Roger Dowding]

" Doug Laurence Cooper Bobtail,Peter Preston Ford 10 Spcl,Bob Blackburn Lotus 7,David Young C Type Ron Rutherford Zephyr Spcl "
edit ; front row as above - others below
Also
" Ivy Stephenson Buckler ,Ed Candy Healey Corvette AND Joss Timms 100S not sure of others Waimate 50 Sports and Specials. Again Langwood Studios Photo " Peter Preston archives and notes on photo.

edit " Doug Lawrence Cooper Joss Tims [ Ernest Tims ] 100S

Two well known Kiwi Healey's the ex - Arthur Kennard Healey Corvette and the ex - Fred Losee 100S.

71994

the Cooper " Bobtail " is a T39 which is currently in Sweden with Graham Kyle, Morgan racer of note in NZ in the 1970's /80's.
Graham Kyle has details of the T39 including previous owners in New Zealand -

Hopefully more to come from Peter Preston's archives

[Roger Dowding]

Old Cartoon, in the Brockbank style .. because it is His ..

72036

Model chart for the Spridget cars .. Austin Healey Sprite and MG Midget - 1958 to 1980's
A H Sprite 1958 to 1970,
MG Midget 1961 to early 1980's.
[ a bit small; and won't expand without losing clarity ].

72037

[Roger Dowding]

The Healey Corvette has featured on this thread a few times going back to Page 20 Post #387 - through Posts 409, 417, 420, 429, 476, 547, 709, 805.

Have come across a couple of early photos of the car - pre the Chevrolet Corvette Motor in 1957.
The main story is in post #547.

The car was brought to New Zealand in 1955 by Geoff Mardon - stated to be a 1953 model by Allan Dick in his story, but the Carjam report indicates a 1954 model - First NZ Registered in NZ as a new car in December 1954.
The car was purchased as a part trade with Arthur Kennard for a Riley 2.5 RM Saloon.
- in New Zealand car would have had 1951 - 56 plates when first Registered. Plate number " 391.283 "
then 1956 - 1961 plate number " 315*733 " which was on it as a 100 four cylinder 2660cc and a 283 cubic inch Vee Eight [ 4640cc ].

Here in a couple of South Island events, in 1956 ; Plate 391.283 in both photos.

Lake Bryndwar - being chased by Pop Fisher in his Ford 10 " Midget " style special.
Kelvin Brown archives

72287

Mairehau, near Christchurch, with another Ford 10 Special of Barry Brown - Kelvin Brown's brother.
Graham Taylor archives
72288

Entry lists from the period.

Mairehau the 75 mile race ; same race as the photo ?. Thanks to Milan Fistonic for this

72290

Ryal Bush - The Sports Car Race; " McM " in the photo name is the third Healey in the list - Graham Woods archives

72289

The car in 2018 - fully restored - my own photo ;

72291

[Roger Dowding]

The Healey Corvette, was invited to Goodwood for the Historic event that ERC has attended and Milan was there too in 2019.
New Zealand Classic Car posted this brief article in there Issue #345, September 2019.

The article ;

72308

Close up of the Old photo - which has the plate 315*733 which was the cars 1956 - 61 plate - during that time the car was upgraded to the Corvette Motor and the Aston Martin Disc Brakes.
Trying to place the meeting - the car was first raced by Arthur Kennard as the Healey Corvette at Ardmore in January 1958. It raced at Wigram in 1960 and 1961 with E. D. [ Ed ] Candy.
The gentleman standing beside the car looks like E. D. Candy who acquired the car in 1959 -
Any details on the photo would be appreciated. - Photographer not stated in the article

72309

A photo of the car at the event at Goodwood - by Milan Fistonic. May have been posted previously

72310

[Roger Dowding]

The Article from Historic Racing Car news - the link;
Tried to extract the photo of the car around 1959 - 1960 - Race #10 with it appears to be E Candy leaning against the car.

" https://www.historicracingnews.com/Article/Kiwi-Healey-to-Make-Revival-Debut/2753 "

Hope it works; my tech skills are not good !!.

[Roger Dowding]

Bruce McLaren passed away 52 years ago and there have been many tributes to him in the last couple of days.
Bruce's first car was an Austin 7 - He even took it to high school - Seddon Tech - when it was in Central Auckland.

His second car, in which he won many trophies was an Austin Healey 100, that was imported by Seabrook Fowlds in Auckland and first raced by John Seabrook, and then Ross Jensen, before the McLarens bought it.

Seen here with the Austin Seven and a bigger car; Ford V8 Pilot

72508

The 100 with Bruce and many trophies ;

72507

My friend in Oregon Jerry Luidahl with his 1;43 scale model a tribute to Bruce McLaren [ a modified Oxford model - have the original Oxford in BRG myself although my 100 was Red, its original colour was green ].

72509

[Roger Dowding]

All quiet on the Austin Healey front.
Have been in Auckland sorting out a certain MX5... No warrant and Rego on hold since June last year, but as of yesterday new warrant and today new Rego.
More work to be done.. leak in the cooling system which [ of course ] is in a place that is hard to get - one of those small hoses behind the engine ..job for July .. but it is going, road legal, wallet a bit lighter, but I am happy.

To Seaqnmac and ERC .. Guys.
Those Boxes of Magazines that I acquired, as in took off your hands to 1 help Gordon McBride shifft house, and 2 Help ERC clear a space in his garage, have all gone to another home, an Austin and MG guy from Helensville, he was a regular at Caffeine and Classics.
I kept some with AH MG and Triumph TR and GT6 articles and have let the rest go.

kept these two - for obvious reasons ..

72569

72570

Part of the trip to Auckland..Magazines gone, MX5 Road Legal.
A good week..

[Roger Dowding]

Rummaging through my memorabilia collection - my obsession as Her Indoors calls it.

I came across the Certificate of Performance for my only entry into the AHCCNZ Hill Climb at Otaua, from 1985 to 1990 I was involved with Marshalling, and later Organiser / Secretary of the meeting, Reg Whittaker was the main Guy as was a local.

72672

The results [ again ]. thanks to Stuart Short - my copy had long gone and even the AH Club magazine of the time I had got rid of. Never did get the spelling corrected on the list - which I think I got a typist at ANZ Bank to do for the club.

72673

Was the slowest of the Austin Healey's with both the late Barry Moon and Laurie Sorahan in 100's beating me as did Cameron Mackay in his 3000 and Frank Karl was well up the list at #10 ..

Great to know the event continues still with the MG Car Club and the latest event was well attended by Vintage Car Club guys including Allan Horner in his modified Sprite.

Now back to NSCC stuff, for the forthcoming " 50th Anniversary " of the Clubrooms.

[Roger Dowding]

AH Club of New Zealand, Badge Patch, and an Award plaque. The Kiwi was a change to the earlier badge /logo which had an Austin Crest in Black and Yellow with wings.

72679

AH Club UK Sprite Register badge - designed by Pete Dicks, who was the Midland Centre Sprite Registrar in the 1970's early 1980's.
Pete and I corresponded for a number of years before finally meeting in Colorado in July 1982 at the 30th Anniversary Celebration, and later in 1982 at his home in the Midlands.

72678

[Roger Dowding]

Austin Healey Sprite - 1958 - 1961, now known as the Mark One, when the Mark Two was created in 1962.
Affectionately known as a " Bug-Eye " or " Frog-Eye " depending initially on which side of the Atlantic you lived in.

A collection of promotional images ;

72698

72699

72700

In the UK - Price GBP 668
72701

The same car PBL75 in this advert too !!
72702

and in Sweden - Pris SKr 8000.

72703

[ERC]

Same car...

August 4th 1958 - Car 79, Dick Protheroe, later a well known E Type Jaguar racer.


72719

72720

Same car at Goodwood 2021
72721

[Roger Dowding]

ERC,

Thanks for those ;

What a field, 4 AH 100S, 1 " Hundred " and Three Listers with a variety of motors.
See the note Mallory on the Entry List, one of the Listers with a Lotus on the outside of the corner.
The set of images added to the archives.
Have seen a few photos of RWD323 in recent years, need to find out which " AHS Chassis Number it is

Cheers

Roger

[Roger Dowding]

Sometimes both Sprite and the " Big " Healey ' 3000 ' were advertised together

In the UK,
72722

and in the USA - the primary market for Healeys and Austin Healeys since the early 1950's
72723

Sprite cornering - a similar set of shots appeared in a Sprite Advert driven by Roy Salvadori in a recent post.
This time the car is Left Hand Drive.

72724

[ERC]

What a field, 4 AH 100S, 1 " Hundred " and Three Listers with a variety of motors.
See the note Mallory on the Entry List, one of the Listers with a Lotus on the outside of the corner.
Note also car #48. The Border Reivers D Type Jaguar. Note the driver's name spelt incorrectly...

The car in the centre is the Cooper Jaguar.

[Roger Dowding]

Note also car #48. The Border Reivers D Type Jaguar. Note the driver's name spelt incorrectly...

The car in the centre is the Cooper Jaguar.

ERC, Thanks didn't look closely at the photo Race #20 Cooper Jaguar - P Mould ..
- Lister Jaguars alway look big and with a hump in the bonnet ..

and yes James Clark, would not be " happy wi' that " !!

Have his book written by Jim in the 1960's a very small tome - almost falling to pieces but worth keeping.

[Roger Dowding]

A series of photos by Dennis Green of a certain 1965 Mark 3 Sprite at Mangere Town Centre car park in 1974.
A Northern Sports Car Club event - was in a dilemma, do they go here ? or on the NSCC thread.
Decision made ! see below ..

One photo I have as a large print from the time - Photo 4 [ - these are all digital ],
Thanks to " BMC BOY " .. Ross for processing 1000's of Dennis Green photos from negatives all from the 1970's.

72752

72753

72754

72755

72756

Just noticed the painted number on the passenger side window is" B 1 N " in the first photo and " B 2 2 " in other photos. maybe they allocated the number for each test-

Had not seen theses photos until a couple of days ago

[Roger Dowding]

A link to AH Spares page about the recent 50th Anniversary -

" https://www.ahspares.co.uk/news/celebrating-50-years-of-a-h-spares.aspx "

sent to me by my Cousin John - who took the photos at the 1983 Le Mans Relay race in 1983 - shown at the start of this thread

Visited the Shop in October 1982,while staying with Pete Dicks in Walsall in the West Midlands.

72793

The Original shop with Fred Draper in the doorway.

72794

[Roger Dowding]

The Berlin Wall 1963 - a story. [ Berlin Wall 1961 - 1989.]

" As an Austrian citizen, young engineer Hans Meixner was able to cross between the two Berlins at the infamous Checkpoint Charlie. He was working as a lathe operator in West Berlin, but could travel back and forth across the border on a tourist visa. At a student dance in East Berlin, he had met and, eventually, fallen in love with Margarete Thurau.

Happily, he had spotted a flaw in the East German checkpoint. The lifting barrier between the two Germanies wasn’t entirely solid—it had a gap beneath it. Crossing to East Berlin on his scooter, he pretended to stall right next to the barrier and surreptitiously measured that gap while appearing to fiddle with the engine. The gap was 37.5 inches high.

Meixner found a Sprite at a rental car agency and crossed into East Berlin. On May 17, 1963, just after midnight, he helped his fiancée and future mother-in-law cram themselves into, respectively, the parcel shelf and trunk of the Sprite, removed its windshield, and headed for the border. As added insurance, he tucked some bricks into the rear of the trunk to stop any bullets that the border guards might send their way.
The guard who checked his passport was immediately suspicious. Why was Meixner driving with no roof on such a chilly day? He was waved over to the customs point for a full search.

Instead, Meixner drove slowly onwards, then gunned the engine, twisting the Sprite through the slalom barricades, and then went full throttle, straight on towards the barrier. The guards, caught by surprise, simply gaped after him as he rocketed past. He ducked down, and the little car limbo’d right under the barricade to freedom.
On the Western side, Meixner locked up the brakes and left a 96-foot skid mark. The West Berlin police were surprised but impressed, and news of the escape spread quickly

"

I remember reading about the story at the time - well probably a few weeks later in the papers -
in New Zealand.

Under the Barrier

72871

On the other side - posed later

72872

How the three people fitted in -posed later.

72873

Getty Images - story form a " Hagerty " website.

[Roger Dowding]

Ross Cammick has been processing photos, first for Dennis Green an NSCC Guy from the 1970's 1980's and now has got hold of Photos from Levin in 1960 of a Guy called Lewis Townsend..

There are lots of interesting vehicles - the Allan Freeman Talbot Lago, Denny Hulme in a Cooper, and a Simon Taylor in a brand new Jaguar Mark 2 3.8 Saloon. Vic Simkin was also there in his Buckler with a De Joux body and a Humber 80 motor that came from a car that Lionel Bulcraig had raced

This photo is thought to be from the November 26th 1960 meeting [ Cars have the 1956 - 1961 number plates cream on dark red with a * centre symbol.

Errol McLeod in the Sprite, Rex Flowers in the Lotus Mark 6 and A Hurley - from Waitara in the Austin Healey 100.
On the front row

72891

The Rex Flowers Lotus 6 - and what is the car #24 at the back ??

72892

The Vic Simkin Buckler ..

72893
The Simca at the back was racing in the Saloon car events.

[Milan Fistonic]

The Rex Flowers Lotus 6 - and what is the car #24 at the back ??

72892



Car 24 is Brian Watson's Missattor, a Mistral-bodied Ford 8 (later Ford 10) special.

[Ray Bell]

I see a spare Healey 100 engine in the background, too, as well as half a dozen rods and other assorted engine bits.

[Roger Dowding]

Model " Dinky " Austin Healey in 1;1 scale.

Have several " Dinky " Big Healey's but not like this.

73001

An AH 100 with a Triumph TR4A and a Jaguar E-Type - part of a Dinky trio I have had since the 1980's
- Owned a 100 and a TR4A, but never an E - type
73005


Mille Miglia 1955 - The first year of the 100S - checking the chassis number AHS3...
OON440 was a works car.. known as a Special Test Car from the 1954 series SPL257BN - it competed in the Mille Miglia in 1954 [ as a normal 100 ] and 1955 as a 100S,and later raced at Sebring in 1956 - according to the Geoff Healey book " Healey - The Specials "


73002

In New Zealand we have the " Healey Corvette " the car created by Arthur Kennard, the car was bought new by Geoff Mardon of motorcycle and Stanton Corvette fame.
Meanwhile in Australia was the " Healey Oldsmobile ", had heard of the car - this a " Sports Car World " magazine article from the time.

73003

another photo of the car. Rick Neville archives

73004

[Roger Dowding]

On the grid ; Nassau Speed Week 1958.
The 100 Six cars would have been fairly new - Introduced in late 1957.

73072

[Ray Bell]

Niel Allen's first-ever race win came in a 100/6...

It was at a Warwick Farm AARC Club Meeting in November, 1963. I wonder if there are photos of that?

He also set fastest lap in the Marque Sports Car Final at the end of the day.

[Roger Dowding]

A couple of images - complete with notes - the Start of the " Florida International Grand Prix " known as the
" Sebring 12 Hour " Race.

Three Austin Healey cars in the start line up Cars #23, #25 and #24. Why they are out of numerical order I do not know.
According to the Geoff Healey book " Austin Healey - the story of the big Healey ". 3 cars were prepared based on the 1956 100 Six - Six hour record breaking car that broke National Class D and International Class D records for events from 200 miles to 1000 miles and also 3 hour and 6 hour records on a 10 mile circular course.
They had elongated bodywork [ long nose ].

73304

73305

The two unusual looking cars in the centre of the second photo in white are Arnolt Bristol cars - Bristol cars with bodywork designed by an American ' Arnolt '.

[Ray Bell]

Possibly the start order was dictated by practice times?

The Healeys also appear to have elongated tails.

[Roger Dowding]

Possibly the start order was dictated by practice times?

The Healeys also appear to have elongated tails.

" elongated tails. " Thanks for that Ray Bell - I thought so too about the tails - which is like those on the record breaker / endurance cars in the mid/later 1950's 1954-56 on.

Start order - could be - must do some more delving into the Sebring archives ..

[Roger Dowding]

Think this is 1967 .. a Sprite in front - of the group.

73329

1968 a view of the track .. or part of it !!

73330

[Oldfart]

The drawings (in pencil) of the Sprite in post 1249 were given to me by the Healey family (long story) and stolen from me by a Healey specialist in Henderson.