A member of the Austin Healey car Club, Morris [ appropriate name ] Wright has purchased a 100 that was at one stage owned by Frank Karl with Reg # BQ538.
It has had previous and subsequent Registration Plates as listed here ;
Morris has written the following about the car, which i have a couple of pictures of ;
" The car is BN1 152950
My understanding of its history at this stage is that it was sold new in NZ (shipped via Australia) to Howey Oswald Williams from Putaruru.
I’ve done some sleuthing and found someone in Putaruru that remembers him who told me he was a bit of a reclusive batchelor and partner in a timber haulage company.
Howey Williams owned the car until John Percival purchased it and he and Frank Karl dragged it out of the barn.
Frank looked after the car for John as he had moved to Australia by this stage. (I think most people assume it was Frank’s car)
What is interesting is among the papers that came with the car is the attached newspaper clipping from the Auckland Star 1956.
What is interesting is the car came with all the mentioned items, 100M carbs and camshaft and factory hard top.
There can’t have been many cars here that would fit that description!
I can only assume it didn’t end up selling.
It certainly hasn’t had a hard life as the alloy shrouds are in unusually good condition with original paint on the inside where they were protected from being painted when the car was changed from blue to green.
The next owner was Dawn Telford and Phillip Neil, then the owner I purchased it from.
The Heritage Certificate was issued to a Mr John Milligan although I don’t know how he fits in, maybe he was only involved in obtaining the certificate.
The registration numbers it has been issued over the years are:
1954: 360-405
1957: 120-895
1961: 225-303
1969: BQ538
1985: ML4121
The photos of it with the plate KH3000 are a red herring!
These plates belong to Frank Karl’s car and both Mark and Frank have told me that they were fitted to the 100 as it wasn’t registered and by changing the plates were able to make it look legal for the AH rally! There are also photos of Frank’s car wearing the BQ538!
I’m hoping that either the BQ538 or ML4121 plates are hanging on a Healey enthusiast’s garage wall as I’d love to reunite them with the car! "
On the way to Napier the Annual Rally in 1984 - a puncture on the way sporting the Plates from Frank's 3000
At Napier the Gymkhana venue 1984
The Red Herring - Frank's 3000 with the other plates on !!
Any information and photos for the Car would be appreciated, please post here or PM me if you prefer.
The Car competed in the 1985 Porsche Club Perrier Le mans Races as evidenced by the scrutineering sticker still on the windscreen.
Morris has used the Roaring Season for information on another car an MG,but not recently.
Cheers
Roger D ..
