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

[Ray Bell]

I had a bit of a look online and I'm not so interested any more...

The front suspension is Healey's trailing arm (as on Silverstone etc), which doesn't sit well with me. The rear is okay, a coil spring version of the torque tube arrangement from a Nash with a Panhard bar. Healey made a special head for the engine in alloy, but the power wasn't magnificent.

[Roger Dowding]

I had a bit of a look online and I'm not so interested any more...

The front suspension is Healey's trailing arm (as on Silverstone etc), which doesn't sit well with me. The rear is okay, a coil spring version of the torque tube arrangement from a Nash with a Panhard bar. Healey made a special head for the engine in alloy, but the power wasn't magnificent.

Ray, thanks for the comments - believe that the " Healey " front suspension was rather complicated and expensive, no wonder they used a more basic but good handling set up on the Healey 100, that became the Austin Healey 100 - was modified over time to use on the 100 Six and 3000 apart from better Brakes [ Disc ] on later cars nothing much changed.

The suspension - edit from Wikipaedia.
" The chassis was a widened and reinforced Healey Silverstone box-section ladder-type steel frame. Independent front suspension, also Healey Silverstone, was by coil springs, trailing link, and a sway bar. The rear suspension featured Nash's rear end and coil springs replaced the Silverstone’s leaf springs, while the beam axle was located by Panhard rod. "

Classic and Sportcar article states " With rumours that his supply of Riley engines was about to dry up, Healey had been on his way to Detroit to shop for the new overhead-valve Cadillac V8; when it wasn’t forthcoming (Cadillac couldn’t spare any), Mason’s offer of the rugged 3.8-litre Nash ‘Dual Jetfire’ straight-six began to look like a good deal.

Special high-compression, 125bhp versions of this seven-bearing, overhead-valve unit – complete with three-speed overdrive gearboxes – were shipped to England, six at a time, in giant packing cases. All the Donald Healey Motor Co had to do was fit twin SU carburettors, which helped to get a lower bonnet line.

It was then installed into a suitably modified Healey Silverstone box-section chassis, with trademark coil spring and cast-alloy trailing-link front suspension and a new coil-sprung rear end. Nash supplied the propshaft, torque tube, rear axle, wheels and ‘Weather eye’ heater, plus various items of instrumentation and trim. "

A 1950 Model for sale - doesn't seem right as production was 1951 - 54. so maybe they mean a 1950's model.

[Ray Bell]

You need some of this bloke's work on this thread!

[Oldfart]

The trailing arm was a very rare alloy, pretty much unobtanium now. As told to me by the Healey family it was "pistominium"

[Ray Bell]

Probably the same as the pistons as portrayed in the beginning of The World's Fastest Indian...

[John McKechnie]

Ray, thanks for the comments - believe that the " Healey " front suspension was rather complicated and expensive, no wonder they used a more basic but good handling set up on the Healey 100, that became the Austin Healey 100 - was modified over time to use on the 100 Six and 3000 apart from better Brakes [ Disc ] on later cars nothing much changed.

The suspension - edit from Wikipaedia.
" The chassis was a widened and reinforced Healey Silverstone box-section ladder-type steel frame. Independent front suspension, also Healey Silverstone, was by coil springs, trailing link, and a sway bar. The rear suspension featured Nash's rear end and coil springs replaced the Silverstone’s leaf springs, while the beam axle was located by Panhard rod. "

Classic and Sportcar article states " With rumours that his supply of Riley engines was about to dry up, Healey had been on his way to Detroit to shop for the new overhead-valve Cadillac V8; when it wasn’t forthcoming (Cadillac couldn’t spare any), Mason’s offer of the rugged 3.8-litre Nash ‘Dual Jetfire’ straight-six began to look like a good deal.

Special high-compression, 125bhp versions of this seven-bearing, overhead-valve unit – complete with three-speed overdrive gearboxes – were shipped to England, six at a time, in giant packing cases. All the Donald Healey Motor Co had to do was fit twin SU carburettors, which helped to get a lower bonnet line.

It was then installed into a suitably modified Healey Silverstone box-section chassis, with trademark coil spring and cast-alloy trailing-link front suspension and a new coil-sprung rear end. Nash supplied the propshaft, torque tube, rear axle, wheels and ‘Weather eye’ heater, plus various items of instrumentation and trim. "

A 1950 Model for sale - doesn't seem right as production was 1951 - 54. so maybe they mean a 1950's model.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]62402[/ATTACH]

At last, a Healey that is pleasing to my eyes....

[Oldfart]

Probably the same as the pistons as portrayed in the beginning of The World's Fastest Indian...

Merlin pistons are a tad hard to find for raw material these days.

[Ray Bell]

Ford and Chevrolet aren't...

[Roger Dowding]

You need some of this bloke's work on this thread!

Love it Ray, have been reading a bit about the Rally and the trip across Australia. A huge drive for " old-er " cars

[Ray Bell]

I was referring purely to Rod's work with the cartoons...

There are other Healey cartoons he's done.

[Roger Dowding]

I was referring purely to Rod's work with the cartoons...

" There are other Healey cartoons he's done."

Please post them on here Ray..

[Ray Bell]

Unfortunately many of them have disappeared due to web-hosts changes etc. And others have great 'Photobucket' shadows over them.

But I have asked Rod if he can post them here. He is a Healey owner.

[Roger Dowding]

Ray Bell - Rod can post anything Healey related on here - look forward to it.

In the meantime this from Karsten Stelk some AH 100's on cards and coasters.

First from NZ a Sanitarium ' Weetbix " series -must be mid 1950's.
Don't remember ever seeing this one.

and some cards and coasters all with AH 100's some artistic licence with the drawings !!

[Ray Bell]

We'll see how it goes with Rod...

He says his filing system is in disarray.

[Ray Bell]

I was quite surprised to see Healeys today...

Driving towards Alice Springs, along a straight stretch of desert road, about eight Healeys in convoy. Fumbled the camera trying to get it up quickly and only got the last two with this very poor shot:

[Roger Dowding]

We'll see how it goes with Rod...

He says his filing system is in disarray.

I know the feeling Ray - I am trying to sort and then resort my photos as I have already used a number Grr.

Thanks for the photo on the road - saw a pair of Healey's near here the other and no camera - you did well !!

[Roger Dowding]

" Forrest Dana, racing in the 1960 Nassau Trophy Race of the 7th Annual International Bahamas Speed Week, on Austin Healey / Chevrolet Corvette 4660cc, finishing 1st in Class C and 23rd overall [10 laps behind the winner]. "

Photo and details from Pieter Bakker;

The 283 ci 4660 cc is the same motor used by Arthur Kennard in his car
The Arthur Kennard car as it looks [ photo January 2018 at Hampton Downs - in the pit area not competing ]. my own photo.

The International Bahamas Speed Week was a huge event on the North American calender, with works teams attending even Europeans in the 1950's 60's
In 1963 Chevrolet with Corvette Grand Sports went with a team of three cars #50,#65 and #80. The first event for the cars.

[Ray Bell]

I knew that the Healeys I saw the other day were doing something special...

So I googled and found on Facebook:

This morning eight big Healeys, led by Charlie and Linda Mitchell, set off from Gooseberry Hill on the start of their marathon 25 day trip around half of Australia. The other seven cars belong to members of the Victorian Austin Healey Club.

They had all left their cars in Perth after the recent National Rally held here in April. Their return journey will take them up the west coast to Darwin then down through the centre of the continent to Alice Springs then on to Port Augusta.

There the Victorian contingent will turn left and head home to Melbourne and the Mitchells will turn right and head home to Perth across the Nullarbor. For those not familiar with Australian geography, that means a journey of some 9500 KMs for Charlie and Linda. Wishing them all a safe and fun filled journey.

Check here:

https://www.facebook.com/Austin-Healey-Club-Of-WA-602126876517709/

I thought there was about eight of them, and they were all nicely polished too. Not only that, but Rod knows Charlie Mitchell.

[Ray Bell]

A different (mis)adventure, this one came up too:

https://classicoutbacktrial.com.au/craig-obrien-2016-41/

Not what I'd do if I had a Healey!

[Roger Dowding]

Ray thanks for the two links, I knew about the rally to Perth but not the second trip, I guess other Healeys went home after the Rally.
Will have a good read.
Cheers
Roger