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

[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..

[Milan Fistonic]

An advert from Autosport dated May 23, 1958.

[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.

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.

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.

[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;

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.

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 !!

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

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 -

The Plaque;

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

1957 Cotati Six Hour Race entrants.

(Ken H..)

[Milan Fistonic]

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

[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.