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;
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.
