X224 - one of the eXperimental cars that Donald Healey Motor Company built.
As is known Healey used a few different engines in his " own " cars - Riley 2.4 litre hi cam 4, the Nash 6, the Austin 4 and 6 cylinder motors in the " Big " Healey's and the 948 - 1098 and 1275 " BMC " A Series motors in Sprites.
One of the more unusual Healeys was X224 - powered by a 2.5 litre Ferrari Motor,
A little of the - story - notes from Rainer Jordan.
There is information on the car in the Geoffrey Healey Book " Healey - The Specials ".
" Nassau Trophy 8.12.1957
4th Annual International Bahamas Speed Weeks
(Race 15 - Nassau Trophy race), Oakes Course, Nassau
Grid: Le Mans start , Started: 42 , Distance: 250 miles
Results:
10th
#18 Peter Collins (GB) Austin-Healey Ferrari Special X224 1th [ 1st ] Class: D
23rd #16 Phil Stiles (USA) Austin-Healey 100M 4th Class: D
26th #11 David Darrin (USA) Austin-Healey 100 5th Class: D
30th #46 Hugh Sutherland (CDN) Austin-Healey 100S AHS 3805
6th Class: D
From the 12-hour Florida International Grand Prix of Endurance on March 23, 1957 to the December 8, 1957 Nassau Speed Weeks, either car #24 or #25 was selected for an experiment.
Peter Collins was a good friend of Donald Healey and he suggested a use of a Short distance 2,5 litre Ferrari four-cylinder Grand Prix Engine. A Ferrari gear box and the Rear (de Dion) Suspension and trans-axle from the Ferrari 625F1 were installed.
In late-1955 the Ferrari 625F1 was purchased Donald Healey. X224, that was the code given to Donald and Geoffs’ project to fit the 2.5 Ltr. four cylinder engine and trans-axle from the Ferrari 625 into a modified Austin Healey 100 chassis.
The Ferrari engine developed 210BHP using petroleum spirit, down from the 240 BHP that it developed when using Methanol " "
The car at Nassau in 1957
The car was later raced with an Austin 6 motor as well as the Ferrari 4 cylinder.
It ran at Nassau again in 1959 - more details to come but this is known about the Nassau 1959 Event- Bahamas Speed Week. A very popular Event that Chevrolet sent 3 Grand Sport Corvette Special Bodied C2 Corvettes to in 1963
" Nassau Trophy 29.11.1959
My posts about the Bonneville record runs and Streamline race participation end here.
A long-term solution with the Ferrari engine as an alternative was not possible due to some problems because the combination Ferrari engine and Austin Healey Cassis did not work well together.
For example, the ground clearance with a full tank and the (de Dion) rear suspension was zero, so that the exhaust dragged on the ground.
The Ferrari 2.5l engine was also more suitable for short distances and consumed a lot of oil.
So for 1959 it was decided to use the newly designed and prepared Austin Healey 100-six engine for racing.
Transaxle and rear end were removed from the car and X224 was rebuilt using a six cylinder Austin engine and transmission.
It was heavier than the Ferrari engine, but the car did about 175 mph and was better suited for the upcoming stages than with the Ferrari engine.
Nassau Trophy 29.11.1959
6th Annual International Bahamas Speed Weeks
Preliminary race Nassau Tourist Trophy +2000 ccm
Track: Oakes Field Course, Nassau (Bahamas), 7.242 km
Result:
2nd #73 Roy Salvadori (GB) Austin-Healey 100-6 X224, 1st in Class D GT
In the 5-lap race for larger GT cars, Stirling Moss in a private Aston Martin DB4GT beat Roy Salvadori’s special-bodied Austin-Healey 100-Six. "
Notes on the photo below:
" The X224 Streamliner at the Nassau Speedweek in 1959. The car was driven by Roy Salvadori who is pictured standing behind the car Roger Menadue work at the front wheel. "
X224 - one of the eXperimental cars that Donald Healey Motor Company built.
As is known Healey used a few different engines in his " own " cars - Riley 2.4 litre hi cam 4, the Nash 6, the Austin 4 and 6 cylinder motors in the " Big " Healey's and the 948 - 1098 and 1275 " BMC " A Series motors in Sprites.
One of the more unusual Healeys was X224 - powered by a 2.5 litre Ferrari Motor,
A little of the - story - notes from Rainer Jordan.
There is information on the car in the Geoffrey Healey Book " Healey - The Specials ".
" Nassau Trophy 8.12.1957
4th Annual International Bahamas Speed Weeks
(Race 15 - Nassau Trophy race), Oakes Course, Nassau
Grid: Le Mans start , Started: 42 , Distance: 250 miles
Results:
10th [b]#18 Peter Collins (GB) Austin-Healey Ferrari Special X224 1th [ 1st ] Class: D[/b]
23rd #16 Phil Stiles (USA) Austin-Healey 100M 4th Class: D
26th #11 David Darrin (USA) Austin-Healey 100 5th Class: D
30th #46 Hugh Sutherland (CDN) Austin-Healey 100S AHS 3805
6th Class: D
From the 12-hour Florida International Grand Prix of Endurance on March 23, 1957 to the December 8, 1957 Nassau Speed Weeks, either car #24 or #25 was selected for an experiment.
Peter Collins was a good friend of Donald Healey and he suggested a use of a Short distance 2,5 litre Ferrari four-cylinder Grand Prix Engine. A Ferrari gear box and the Rear (de Dion) Suspension and trans-axle from the Ferrari 625F1 were installed.
In late-1955 the Ferrari 625F1 was purchased Donald Healey. X224, that was the code given to Donald and Geoffs’ project to fit the 2.5 Ltr. four cylinder engine and trans-axle from the Ferrari 625 into a modified Austin Healey 100 chassis.
The Ferrari engine developed 210BHP using petroleum spirit, down from the 240 BHP that it developed when using Methanol " "
The car at Nassau in 1957
[attachment=1]AH 100S #425 AH Ferrari Special X224 1th Class D Nassau Trophy 12 Aug 1957 Peter Collins 181kb a.jpg[/attachment]
The car was later raced with an Austin 6 motor as well as the Ferrari 4 cylinder.
It ran at Nassau again in 1959 - more details to come but this is known about the Nassau 1959 Event- Bahamas Speed Week. A very popular Event that Chevrolet sent 3 Grand Sport Corvette Special Bodied C2 Corvettes to in 1963
" Nassau Trophy 29.11.1959
My posts about the Bonneville record runs and Streamline race participation end here.
A long-term solution with the Ferrari engine as an alternative was not possible due to some problems because the combination Ferrari engine and Austin Healey Cassis did not work well together.
For example, the ground clearance with a full tank and the (de Dion) rear suspension was zero, so that the exhaust dragged on the ground.
The Ferrari 2.5l engine was also more suitable for short distances and consumed a lot of oil.
So for 1959 it was decided to use the newly designed and prepared Austin Healey 100-six engine for racing.
Transaxle and rear end were removed from the car and X224 was rebuilt using a six cylinder Austin engine and transmission.
It was heavier than the Ferrari engine, but the car did about 175 mph and was better suited for the upcoming stages than with the Ferrari engine.
Nassau Trophy 29.11.1959
6th Annual International Bahamas Speed Weeks
Preliminary race Nassau Tourist Trophy +2000 ccm
Track: Oakes Field Course, Nassau (Bahamas), 7.242 km
Result:
[b]2nd #73 Roy Salvadori (GB) Austin-Healey 100-6 X224, 1st in Class D GT
[/b]
In the 5-lap race for larger GT cars, Stirling Moss in a private Aston Martin DB4GT beat Roy Salvadori’s special-bodied Austin-Healey 100-Six. "
Notes on the photo below:
" The X224 Streamliner at the Nassau Speedweek in 1959. The car was driven by Roy Salvadori who is pictured standing behind the car Roger Menadue work at the front wheel. "
[attachment=0]AH 100S #427 AH Ferrari Special X224 Austin powered Nassau Trophy 29.11.1959 Roy Salvadori 180kb.jpg[/attachment]