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

[Kevin Hirst]

Thanks for " your inputs " Ray Bell,as Ken H says.

I need to do some more looking as there was a 6 cylinder engine of around 2.4 litres at one stage was used in Australia [ used in the Freeways and maybe other vehicles ], but I don't know its origins at the moment.
The Big Wolseleys 6/80's and Rileys RM's of the early 50;s became a different style of car by mid 50's with the Riley Pathfinder and the Wolseley 6/90 - pre the " Farina " styled era, by which time it was the " C " series motor, 2639 cc and 2912 cc.

Have some work to do.

Cheers

Roger D

Roger, the Wolseley 6/80 motor was a single OHC design by Hispano/Suiza they had very large diameter valve stems with an adjustable platform on top of valve, no bucket's or rocker's, where very hard on valves, just about everything metric like post war morris engines

[Roger Dowding]

Roger, the Wolseley 6/80 motor was a single OHC design by Hispano/Suiza they had very large diameter valve stems with an adjustable platform on top of valve, no bucket's or rocker's, where very hard on valves, just about everything metric like post war morris engines

Thanks Kevin,
and today I saw a photo of the Riley Two Point Six - which had the original version of the " C " series the 2639 cc with the restricted manifold that made the 100 Six so wheezy.

That Wolseley engine is interesting, didn't they make them quite small as well, around 1500 cc for some of their smaller cars ?

[Ray Bell]

Roger, the 2.4-litre engine was a B-series with two extra cylinders...

Everything was the same, pistons, rods from the 1622 engine, porting and cylinder block construction. The oil pump was bigger and it became the salvation of the MG A twin-cam which needed a better oil pump.

[Kevin Hirst]

Thanks Kevin,
and today I saw a photo of the Riley Two Point Six - which had the original version of the " C " series the 2639 cc with the restricted manifold that made the 100 Six so wheezy.

That Wolseley engine is interesting, didn't they make them quite small as well, around 1500 cc for some of their smaller cars ?

Did not know of any smaller engine of the same type as the 6/80, but could be, loved the car but let down by the engine, would like to find one today in restorable condition, very smooth motor when in good nick

[Ray Bell]

Wolseley engines post-war would have been mostly carry-ons from before the war.

They had a model called the 18-85 which was very popular, it was also SOHC at 2312cc.

The 6/80 had the 2215cc engine described above and the 4/50 had a 3-cylinder version of that.

Phasing these out were the 4/44 (1250cc XPAW version of the MG XPAG engine) and the 6/90 with the C-series.

Strangely enough, though the Riley 'Two Point Six' looked so much like the Wolseley and had the same mechanicals, a lot of body panels were different and they had 16" wheels in lieu of the Wolseley's 15". Check pictures and you'll see the difference in the shape around the wheel arches.

[Ray Bell]

And if you find it relevant, I always thought a 4/50 with a grey Holden engine would make a neat car...

[Roger Dowding]

Photo appeared on the Facebook page Austin Healey 100S with the note only " 1958 " no where / or who ?

Thanks to Milan Fistonic and Kelvin Brown it is this - quote from Milan ..
" Levin meeting on November 29, 1958. #19 is Angus Hyslop's D Type Jaguar and #13 is Graham Pierce in the ex-Ross Jensen Austin-Healey 100S. #28 is Roy Billington's Elfo Special. Pierce won three scratch races that day. "

The "Elfo " Special is a Buckler. Believed by "Oldfart " to be on a " copy Buckler chassis " so is it a replica or a special.

The 100S is of course the Seabrook Fowlds, - Ross Jensen - Graham Pierce Car that was rebuilt several years ago to how Ross Jensen raced it [ apart form the required ' Roll Bar ' ] and featured in a story by Allan Dick in NZ Classic Driver in the Jan - Feb 2017 edition of the magazine - issue #70- some of which has been posted on this thread.
Ross ran the car with Race No #18, Graham Pierce often had Race no #8,but #13 this day.

an Allan Dick photo of the car in 2017..

[Roger Dowding]

Advert from Graham Woods extensive archives ;

A 100/6 at a Gymkhana in the mid/late 1960's at Western Springs Neville Findlay photo - in his own car, that BMC BOY remembers from the 1960's around St Heliers, Auckland.

Neville at a Hillclimb, Bald Hill Road, which I know well as nearly lost it there in 1979 in the TR4A.

Rego Plate BJ326 is not current - wonder where the car is now !!

[Ray Bell]

Those ratios show that it needs an overdrive...

18.89mph in top would be a drag in Australia.

[Roger Dowding]

The photo of the Graham Pierce car beside the Hyslop D Type - and the Elfo Special / Buckler - with the De Joux body has brought to light more photos of all three cars.

That event was Levin 28th November 1958
Here are 5 more photo's of the 100S - when owned and driven by Graham Pierce in 1958 - 1959 - he owned the car from 1957 to 1959.

In chronological order

January 18th 1958 at Levin - the Summer " Tasman " series of races when the Overseas Boys arrived ' en masse ' for the Formula Libre and NZ Grand Prix races

November 1958 again at Levin - two photos.
The Le Mans start;

The pack is racing;

Roly Levis RAL, Jim Palmer Lotus XI, Bill Harris Buckler - De Joux body - white, and Roy Billington in the Elfo Special - Buckler,also with the De Joux body.

Levin in January 1959 again a Le Mans start with the 100S at an angle as the field takes off.

Angus Hyslop D Type Jaguar, Roly Levis RAL, and Roy Billington in the Elfo Special - Buckler with the De Joux body.
At one of the meetings Bruce Webster drove the Hyslop D Type in some races Angus in others - not sure who is driving the helmets may help..
[ will edit if I find out more ]

Change of Place and Pace - in the paddock at Ohakea in February 1959 with some other well known cars.

The Pat Hoare Ferrari 625 and Reg McCutcheon Normac Special


All photos from Jim Barclay - of Gemini FJ racing fame some from the Blair Collection.
The colour in some of the photos is excellent, other not so - have tried toenhance but has made almost no difference

Allan Dick wrote a story on Graham Pierce and the 100S 15 or so years ago,must try to find the magazine- NZ Classic Driver was just starting out with Allan at the desk so maybe in a very early issue- must try to jog his memory and get a back issue.
Thanks to Jim Barclay for the photos, and I hope more come to light.

[Ray Bell]

Great pics there, Roger, m thanks also to Jim Barclay.

In particular it's interesting to see Roy Billington racing as, of course, I only knew him as Jack's mechanic when they made the annual trek here a decade or so later.

By the way, the use of the term, 'Tasman Series', is not correct until 1964. It was actually in 1960 that races were first held in Australia to coincide with the International visitors being just across the ditch at that time of year. Then in 1962 it became a more organised kind of setup and the promoters were all talking to each other. But only in 1964 did the term 'Tasman' become applied to it as the FIA sanctioned the 'Tasman Cup' as a proper series with pointscore and trophy to match.

[Roger Dowding]

Great pics there, Roger, m thanks also to Jim Barclay.

In particular it's interesting to see Roy Billington racing as, of course, I only knew him as Jack's mechanic when they made the annual trek here a decade or so later.

By the way, the use of the term, 'Tasman Series', is not correct until 1964. It was actually in 1960 that races were first held in Australia to coincide with the International visitors being just across the ditch at that time of year. Then in 1962 it became a more organised kind of setup and the promoters were all talking to each other. But only in 1964 did the term 'Tasman' become applied to it as the FIA sanctioned the 'Tasman Cup' as a proper series with pointscore and trophy to match.

Cheers, Ray the " Tasman " series details, thanks.
When the first " Ardmore " New Zealand Grand Prix was held in 1954 a few of your compatriots came over, Stan Jones Jack Brabham Tony Gaze L Molina [ in his Holden powered Single Seater and the like ].
.
Stan winning the first Ardmore in the Maybach, a couple of English drivers came out to Ken Wharton, and Peter Whitehead.

Three Austin Healey's finished only, all 100,s including Ross Jensen as the 100" S " he raced didn't arrive in New Zealand until November 1955.

First "Official NZ GP was actually at Ohakea in 1950. won by John McMillan in the Jackson [ Logan, later the Northland Special ]

A sketch of the " Australian Special " Holden powered of L Molina.
Sketch by Winton Bristow, a great Mate of my Uncle Eddie Dowding [ RIP Win and Eddie ].

Another Jim Barclay archives photo - of the Billington Elfo Special, was referred to as a Buckler, probably because it had the De Joux body that a lot of Bucklers used. I have been told that it had a " Buckler " style chassis .. must go and check that out. The White Buckler in the photos belonged to " Bill Harris ! "

Roy was a Northland Boy, - seen here competing at Puhipuhi, a Northland Car Club Hillclimb - have posted a photo or two of Healey's at these events.
Photo from Brian Skudder - a stalwart of Northland Car Club - which had a great relationship with Northern Sports car Club in my 1970's - still would have I imagine.

[Roger Dowding]

Have just discovered that when uploading to TRS - if you take too long - in the above post over an hour that the attachments disappear, I though they " Autosaved " - just added the 1954 Ardmore results from the 1963 Des Mahoney " Rothmans Book of New Zealand Motor Racing "- edited by Des Mahoney, but we know a young David McKinney did much of the work.

The Book

[Oldfart]

Brian Skudder's archives were very helpful in identifying the Bucklers and others of the northern parts. He also gave me leads to wives of deceased members and such which helped to clarify along with Kelvin Brown a few of which cars had some "mixed histories". I believe he contributed a lot to their history and celebrations of the 50th (?) of the Northland Car Club a few years back.

[Roger Dowding]

Brian Skudder's archives were very helpful in identifying the Bucklers and others of the northern parts. He also gave me leads to wives of deceased members and such which helped to clarify along with Kelvin Brown a few of which cars had some "mixed histories". I believe he contributed a lot to their history and celebrations of the 50th (?) of the Northland Car Club a few years back.

Rhys, yes that would be right about Brian, there was a web page or link for the Northland Car Club 50th Anniversary, that is where I got a couple of Austin Healey photos.

Thanks for your comments about the Roy Billington Car - If it is considered a Buckler, would like to put them on your Buckler Thread and also send them to David Montgomery for " Buckler Cars and Karts " which we both belong to.. I must be an Associate Member of the Facebook group as don't own a car - not even a model one, sadly.. need to get Bart Jonkers to make me one, or Tony Lucas, who is closer ..

I hadn't connected the photos at Levin with the couple I had of Puhipuhi Hillclimbs - same car at different parts of the Island.. Must check for more..

Here a Healey at Puhipuhi - posted before. from Brian Skudder archives, George Lawton 100 SIX. This photo was on the NCC 50th Anniversary post - some time ago.. 1957

Another NCC Healey photo - this time a 100S.. posted before - from Brian Skudder's archives. - 1956
Rego # 60.608 - the Ross Jensen - Seabrook Fowlds and later Graham Pierce car

[Milan Fistonic]

It was the Northland Car Club's 60th Reunion in 2015

[Oldfart]

Roger, if a builder doesn't consider a car something and gives it a different name???
In NZ so many cars with a de Joux body were registered as Bucklers. Buckler is the chassis. Also in NZ Buckler NZ were in a position of being unable to fill the demand, so a number of copies were "approved" some just blithely went ahead.
Here in the UK some of the groups who hold dear to their fibreglass body cars will attempt to change the identity from what it has always been to something else, for example SUG55 (the Allan Staniforth Buckler I had here) has gone to a new keeper and that group consider publicly that it's a Rochdale.
Rachel Hunter is still Rachel, even with some other clothes

[Roger Dowding]

[Roger Dowding]

3 recent Photos from Paul Woolmer who looks after the Car in the UK for the owner.

- Paul looks after a few Works Cars for Austin Healey owners too - including ARX92B - the Rally Car built for the 1967 RAC Rally that was cancelled -because of the " Foot and Mouth " outbreak. Car ARX91B was also a Works Rally Car -more to come on these cars, over time.

AHS3810 was sold new in East Cairo, Egypt to Raymond Flower
Engine #1B 222740 Body # 70 despatched 10th June 1955.

4th Photo from a Rally in Sweden in 2015 by Clas Arleskar

Must see if any more information on the car is in my archives

[Roger Dowding]

On the bookshelves and I dithered so need to search harder, may even have to ask Alan Walton or Allan Dick for a copy.
However, visiting friends today who are staying at some other friends house I saw the car that features in the magazine.

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Took a couple of photos which will download later, It sits next a 1970 Alfa Romeo GTV a type 105, for Spgeti.
Was a bit torn as to which I wanted. Healey like I had or the Alfa which I lusted after.

Photos from the magazine - article by Alan Walton Editor

Met John Crook and his wife Lee, who own the featured Austin Healey and told him I had taken photos of the car.
The occasion was a service for a mutual friend who had passed away, just before New Year, my mate Rex Harris, who had shown me the car that day in 2017.
John is building a large garage to house the AH, the GTV, a recently acquired 1967 Mini-Cooper S, and others. The Healey has been inactive for some time.



I did find Issue #73 of Classic Driver, one of four issues in the last few years to feature Austin Healeys
Issue #60, The Peter Riley works car
Issue #63 the Healey Corvette,
Issue #70 The Lost 100S,
and this one issue #73.

There is an early issue with an article on Graham Pierce, who owned " The Lost 100S " after Ross Jensen.
Probably there are other A - H article that I have missed,while across the ditch 2009 - 2017.
More searching to be done..