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

[Kevin Hirst]

is that an A90,or 95, or 105 Kev? Is it you?

Definately A90 Rhys, no as Milan said. Maybe we should concentrate more before putting pen to paper, [apologie's Milan]

[Ray Bell]

Only the A90 had the stubby boot, as this one does...

[Oldfart]

Definately A90 Rhys, no as Milan said. Maybe we should concentrate more before putting pen to paper, [apologie's Milan]

Well, I could not read the number on the photo of the A90 so crediting back to John Bernard was impossible. As well as that I can't tell the differences between the various models of the A9* versions. In all honesty I thought all A90 were the roundy versions like an Atlantic.

[Roger Dowding]

These are the three cars in that class. It's not the Ford so it has to be one of the others.

Attachment 59123

Class " G " was class Glenn " Jigger " Jones - before he got his Chevvy,Terry Boyle who raced the Humber Jaguar at one time and Colin Lumsden in the De Soto - the one that had twin rear wheels at one stage ?? or an earlier car ???

[Roger Dowding]

Putting the photos and a second group from the same event from Milan's archives ;
the October 1963 ACC Hillclimb Chamberlain Road ; from the ACC Bulletin - shows who the photographer was.





The results ;

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Oldfart
Well, I could not read the number on the photo of the A90 so crediting back to John Bernard was impossible. As well as that I can't tell the differences between the various models of the A9* versions. In all honesty I thought all A90 were the roundy versions like an Atlantic.

When the Atlantic was pensioned off they had the C-series 6-cylinder engine on stream. It went into the new A90, which sported a badge on the bootlid which said 'six'. also the Morris Isis - a lengthened Oxford - and the Wolseley 6/90. And on phasing out the Riley 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine they put it into the Pathfinder body, with a new name, 'Riley two point six'. This engine is not related to any truck engines or the earlier (truck engine-based) 3.5-litre and 4-litre six-cylinder sedans with 'Princess' and 'A125' badges, often known as 'Sherelines'.

A couple of years on the A90 gained a longer boot, which gave it the new name of 'A95', with the A105 following but I don't know the differences. In Australia there was a Morris version known as the Morris Marshall.

New models all-round came with the engine's growth to 2912ccs, new Farina bodies and we had the Van den Plas Princess 3-litre, the Austin A99 and Wolseley 6/99. No more big Riley, no more big Morris. All of these had twin 1½" SU carbies, whereas before a mix of carby arrangements was used. Some changes to the porting in the heads gave them more power and somewhere the names became A110 and 6/110.

Without these cars I guess it wouldn't have been plausible to produce the 100/6 and 3000 versions of the Healeys. And the Austin Healey 4000 prototypes came from the mechanicals of the slightly later (1964?) Princess 4-litre R, which sported an all-alloy Rolls-Royce engine.

[Roger Dowding]

When the Atlantic was pensioned off they had the C-series 6-cylinder engine on stream. It went into the new A90, which sported a badge on the bootlid which said 'six'. also the Morris Isis - a lengthened Oxford - and the Wolseley 6/90. And on phasing out the Riley 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine they put it into the Pathfinder body, with a new name, 'Riley two point six'. This engine is not related to any truck engines or the earlier (truck engine-based) 3.5-litre and 4-litre six-cylinder sedans with 'Princess' and 'A125' badges, often known as 'Sherelines'.

A couple of years on the A90 gained a longer boot, which gave it the new name of 'A95', with the A105 following but I don't know the differences. In Australia there was a Morris version known as the Morris Marshall.

New models all-round came with the engine's growth to 2912ccs, new Farina bodies and we had the Van den Plas Princess 3-litre, the Austin A99 and Wolseley 6/99. No more big Riley, no more big Morris. All of these had twin 1½" SU carbies, whereas before a mix of carby arrangements was used. Some changes to the porting in the heads gave them more power and somewhere the names became A110 and 6/110.

Without these cars I guess it wouldn't have been plausible to produce the 100/6 and 3000 versions of the Healeys. And the Austin Healey 4000 prototypes came from the mechanicals of the slightly later (1964?) Princess 4-litre R, which sported an all-alloy Rolls-Royce engine.

Stole this picture from the other Ray [ ERC ]. an A90 at speed.



A 105 Westminster ;



Ray Bell, thanks for the information - and there was an unusual Morris in Australia the " Morris Marshall " an A95/105 clone ..

[Roger Dowding]

Came across another picture from the July 1982 Trip to Snowmass for the " 30th Anniversary of the Austin Healey ".
We wnet with about 10 AH's from Ventura California, up to Santa Monica and on Route 66 through San Bernadino, Barstow, Kingman and on to Flagstaff where we overnighted.
The photo by Ross Cammick [ BMC BOY ]. we took turns travelling in the Kiwi Healey - The Lincoln Coupe owned by Jim Mann,of German Auto Haus and Classics West.
" Absolutely British " Walt Glendenning,who Ken H knew is in the photo as is his 100/6 and Hans Nohr [ who ran
" Absolutely British 11 " after Walts was killed in a motorcycle accident ] owns the BRG 3000.
" Absolutely British 111 " is now run by Walt's apprentice Eric Grunden, from that time. The Eric that Ken H knows well.

Two of the Healeys a couple of Kiwis and our American friends all in AH New Zealand yellow T shirts. Sergio - Jim Mann's offsider holding the sign
Brenda with camera, Walt, Sergio with sign and Bryan.



View from the other way - I am taking a photo of the photo's being taken [ posted before].



Walts Business Card - one of two that he used in the early 1980's - this is the second one with Walt's BN6 100 Six as the feature.



A letter Ken H wrote on Erics letterhead paper.


and Ken H is making a pilgrimage downunder for Taupo January 2019, as mentioned on TRS.
Would like to be there too !!

[Roger Dowding]

Out of curiosity, what model was the De Soto?

And yes, the A90/6 is a bit of a mystery, definitely over 2500cc at 2639, A sedan-bodied 100/6!

The Lumsden De Soto - which as John Mckechnie states had twin rear wheels at one stage was around a 1960 model.
Here is a photo - which has appeared on my Pukekohe Thread ..

[Ray Bell]

Thanks, Roger...

I did find it in the other thread, along with some other pics. As a De Soto, it was an emaciated model in this form, a Diplomat from Canadian production. Plymouth body, a front which blended some De Soto features with some Dodge features. I am still curious to know what engine it ran.

But it certainly was one wild car.

[Roger Dowding]

Thanks, Roger...

I did find it in the other thread, along with some other pics. As a De Soto, it was an emaciated model in this form, a Diplomat from Canadian production. Plymouth body, a front which blended some De Soto features with some Dodge features. I am still curious to know what engine it ran.

But it certainly was one wild car.

Ray Bell, belive it was the De [ de ] Soto V8 - called a Firedome from memory - somewhere I may have a race entry list with its capacity [ Milan Fistanic will have it on one,]
It seems to have run mainly at Pukekohe, early 1960's as I had never seen it - started going in 1965 the long distance races in October November was my first meeting, while still as school -last year, then from January 1966 I went nearly every meeting after that for over 10 years [acting as Marshal in 1967 - 69/70 for Northern Sports Car Club at their national Meetings ]
Will check it out and " report back " - could be a few days.. archives, archives etc...

[Roger Dowding]

Steve Pike, well known Australian - restorer, owner and driver of Austin - Healey's - worked on the famous Fred Cohen car that was at Snowmass in 1982 - First " S " I had seen.
Photos from his archives - one shows a young Joe Jarick - another Australian Healeyite who owned a 100S - not sure if he still does.

The Bonneville Record breaker Streamliner


Joe Jarick beside car


Racer


Oops a bit of damage.


If I find out more will edit the post.

[Roger Dowding]

Ray Bell, belive it was the De [ de ] Soto V8 - called a Firedome from memory - somewhere I may have a race entry list with its capacity [ Milan Fistanic will have it on one,]
It seems to have run mainly at Pukekohe, early 1960's as I had never seen it - started going in 1965 the long distance races in October November was my first meeting, while still as school -last year, then from January 1966 I went nearly every meeting after that for over 10 years [acting as Marshal in 1967 - 69/70 for Northern Sports Car Club at their national Meetings ]
Will check it out and " report back " - could be a few days.. archives, archives etc...

Have checked and I have photos of the car in 1964 one with the dual rear wheels,and one racing by Bob Homewood, another NSCC Guy that I knew back then .. can't see a programme at the moment.

[Ray Bell]

Didn't Joe Jarick later own a Sebring 100/6?

[Roger Dowding]

Thanks, Roger...

I did find it in the other thread, along with some other pics. As a De Soto, it was an emaciated model in this form, a Diplomat from Canadian production. Plymouth body, a front which blended some De Soto features with some Dodge features. I am still curious to know what engine it ran.

But it certainly was one wild car.

Ray Bell, have found a bit more on the de [ De ] Soto and have posted it on my Dunedin Thread [ well it will be shortly - just been editing ] as a bit of a " Special ". had several photos and two different Race entries for the car in 1964

[Ray Bell]

My mistake about Joe Jarick... it was Joe Armour who owned the Sebring 100/6

[Roger Dowding]

Hmm !!!



Happy 2019 Guys ..

[Roger Dowding]

Bumpers and valance removed, no driving lights and now sporting 72 spoke Wire Wheels, on the rear, off a Triumph TR6, that I had used on my TR4A at times. 48 spokes were original, bloody narrow though !!
It has a new soft top, had only the frame and a hardtop when purchased, soft top was purchased in the UK during my 1982 trip to the USA and UK .. I liked it without the bumpers, the front one was a non-original one, as were the brakes and the 14 inch Hotwire Mags. I believe that Lance Elliott has taken it back to original when he did the restoration that was required. Unsure who has the car now.
I bought it from a guy in Laingholm who also had an MGC, but it had spent some time and had the " modifications " done, funny brakes and those Hotwires when owned, by a guy from Cook Beach, Coromandel. had correspondence about it but gave that and the workshop parts book [ original ], manual [ a reproduction ] to Lance Elliott.

Attachment 34837

Attachment 34838

Attachment 34839

Attachment 34840

My poor information keeping - or is " Carjam " wrong ??

Saw an AH 100 [ four ] today at Omokoroa Reg No BA4120 in a metallic blue with a racing number in a white circle " 54 " . Went to Carjam about the car and it is a 1954 model first Reg in NZ in 1960 and with chassis number # 159308.

Year: 1954
Make: AUSTIN
Model: HEALEY
Colour: Blue
Body Style: Saloon
Plate: BA4120
Engine No: 1B213607M
Chassis: 159308

Has an M on the engine Number - so must be an M version .. didn't see if it had a louvered bonnet and a leather strap.

Checked on my car - it has chassis number 159498 so 190 chassis later and it says a 1955 model - I always remembered it as a 1953 model .. so without seeing the car and the Manufacturers plate

Year: 1955
Make: AUSTIN
Model: HEALEY
Colour: Red
Body Style: Saloon
Plate: LX100
Engine No: 1B214676
Chassis: BN1159498.

My cars engine is / was 2500 cc - actually 2660cc, but the other car is stated as 1500cc ??, again 2660 cc

As LX100 features elsewhere on this thread - if I have put 1953 - It could / should be 1955 - again according to Carjam.. Wish I had taken a copy of the Registration papers, and the Chassis Plate ..

[Roger Dowding]

As mentioned on ERC's thread " Just a mix of pics " The MG Car Club have invited the Waitemata Branch of the Vintage Car Club - the Chelsea Hill Climb competitors to their HillClimb at Maioro Road, Otaua - the event founded by the Austin Healey Car Club of New Zealand in 1983.

Details from the MGCC calender are brief, as follows

" Sunday, March 10

Otaua Classic Hillclimb "

Hope to see cars like this running





at the moment the MGCC page shows this ;

" When
Sunday, Mar 10, 2019
Description

Otaua Classic Hillclimb

Mark the date in your diary

Check back for details to come. "

If / when I hear / read more will post here.

Cheers

Roger D

[Roger Dowding]

A Big one - prototype Coupe 3000 - seen at Silverstone in 1968 .. Ivo Visser archives.



and a Special Sprite - Mark Boldry noted " As far as I know the car is in Japan..... I understand a little time ago that it was crashed and rebuilt and now is rebuilt more like a standard Mk1 Sprite. "



Photo from Tom Colby archives, I met Tom at the " 30th Anniversary of the Austin Healey " at Snowmass in July 1982.
Tom is still involved in preparing, racing and rebuilding of Austin Healey Sprites