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

[Roger Dowding]

They where a pretty reliable truck engine in there day, only the odd burnt valve [typical of that head design] but not many other problems, would never think you would be able to get a lot of performance out of one though, the McLouclan brothers were in the TVCC, around the same time as I was.

Kevin, Hi,
I remember we [ teams of cars from Northern Sports car Club ] used to compete in Trials run by Thames Valley Car Club, as part of the Mercury Trophy series in the mid 1970's.
The mention of Thames - do you know Lloyd Gleeson ?, a Thames Boy who now lives in New Plymouth, he still has his Morgan Plus 4 that he bought new in the UK around 1970. he is a good mate of my Neighbour in Omokoroa, also a Thames Boy, named John Mitchinson - John and I went to Pukekohe for one day of the " Supercars " recently.

Ray Bell
The A125 / A135 Motor - yes, believe that it was a version of the A70 A90 AH 100 motor - which was a Truck motor of around 3 1/4 to 3 and 1/2 litres [ the A70/90 was the same block just cut down to a 4 cylinder - good stuff and thanks.

Myles Hicks is going to find some photos of the AH 3000 / 4000 and send them to me.
- watch this space.

[Ray Bell]

Look forward to that...

The first usage of the 4-cyl version of that 6, the reason it was built, was as a replacement for Jeep engines made locally so they didn't take up shipping space.

Then:

Austin 16 (is that right?)
A70
London cabs
A90 Atlantic
Nuffield tractors
Morris Commercial trucks
Austin Healey
100S Racing Healeys
Healey LSR cars

As for the six, it was out to 4-litres by 1947 or so for the A125 (or 135?) and also in trucks. Another two racing Specials I know of using them in Australia was the Sheerline Special (built by the Wylies) and the Stewand of Norm Andrews. In the latter it was a replacement for... a Jeep engine!

Here it is in Austin-powered form:

[stubuchanan]

They where a pretty reliable truck engine in there day, only the odd burnt valve [typical of that head design] but not many other problems, would never think you would be able to get a lot of performance out of one though, the McLouclan brothers were in the TVCC, around the same time as I was.

Spelling of surname was always McLoughlin in programmes I have from 1960's. They also ventured into single-seaters a year or two later, not with much success, cars a bit long in the tooth by then - 2.5 Cooper and Lotus 18 - Peter (not Pat) and Roger I think.

Stu

[Allan]

NZ Motor racing site (Sargent) shows him in the 1967 GP as "Pat Loughlin Cooper T53 Climax 2495cc".

[Kevin Hirst]

NZ Motor racing site (Sargent) shows him in the 1967 GP as "Pat Loughlin Cooper T53 Climax 2495cc".

Yes, only knew him as Pat, & Roger his brother, I thought A70 & A90 where different castings 2.2 ltr & 2.6, first used as2.2 in austin 16 about 1948 Roger, no did not know the guy's you mentioned from Thames, cheer's

[Ray Bell]

Different castings for the larger bores...

I wonder if they had 'siamesed' cylinders like the later engines when they were ultimately enlarged?

Externally similar, of course, dimensionally identical except for bore sizes.

And as I posted above, first used as a replacement engine for Jeeps during the war.

Oh, and I forgot that they were used in Austin Gipsy and the civilian version of the Austin Champ.

[Roger Dowding]

Spelling of surname was always McLoughlin in programmes I have from 1960's. They also ventured into single-seaters a year or two later, not with much success, cars a bit long in the tooth by then - 2.5 Cooper and Lotus 18 - Peter (not Pat) and Roger I think.

Stu

Stu, thanks for the info about the name - I will check with Myles Hicks on the Christian names [ the Pat came I think from the initials P. A. T. perhaps ]
Thanks Kevin too about the motors - have received nearly a dozen photos from Myles Hicks and a lot more on the History of the car.
Interestingly just got a Message from Ken H -he knew of a John Mitchinson when in Kiwitahi - at school who was around the same DoB as his brother 1944 !! - Small World ?? perhaps

This montage shows the car several photos and the burnt out wreck of the A95.



More photo to follow am trying put them in order - from the Rego plates white on deep red 1956-61 and then black on yellow the last series.

Number plates ;
1956 - 61 - Car was a very early 3000 built in 1959. so had a set of these first.



Then these 1961 -64.




Plates 1937 to 1965/66 year

[Ray Bell]

And the A99 discs on the A95...

[Roger Dowding]

And the A99 discs on the A95...

Probably needed them with the Ruddspeed modifications - would have made a great tow car for a Sprite/Midget Racer .. Good spotting Ray - hadn't really looked at the picture properly ..
Bit of a Mess -early Ford Laser beside it what date would the photo be ?

Have now !


I know BMC used the Westminster A105 and A110 wagons as support vehicle for the BMC Rally Team Mini's MGA's B's and Big Healey's in the 1960's

[Ray Bell]

I have never seen an A110 (or A99) wagon, only sedans...

Did you also have the Morris Marshals in NZ? It came as a wagon as well as the A95 and A105.

[Roger Dowding]

I have never seen an A110 (or A99) wagon, only sedans...

Did you also have the Morris Marshals in NZ? It came as a wagon as well as the A95 and A105.

Ray . No - Morris Marshalls in NZ - I liked that A95/99 ***
[ should be A105 not 99 see Ray Bells note post #852 ]
style the pre-Farina big Austins, we in NZ in the Healey Club nearly bought an A95 wagon as a group to help tow a race car would make a great set up as a Classic car with a Sprite on the trailer.

A check on the 110 wagons in my BMC Rally Book " The BMC / BL Competitions Department " by Bill Price covers the period of 25 years [ 1955 - 1981 ] by one of the guys in the Works Comp department.



There is a photo of a Wagon one servicing the Morley brothers Mini in the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally, in other photos shows they used 110 Saloons with trailers too !! Not all were Austin some were Wolseley 6/110 as used at the Acropolis in 1967

As an aside Marcus Chambers who was in charge at one stage ran a Wolseley 6/99 Farina in the 1960 Viking Rally with Den Green

[Ray Bell]

The A99s were the later (A60, Freeway etc) shape, Roger...

The A95 and A105 were the same shape, the A99 and A110 were the later style. Wolseleys too, 6/99, 6/110.

The A99 with the 3-speed and B-W overdrive was a masterly tow car. I used to tow my Clubman everywhere at close enough to 100mph with it, but front suspensions took a hammering, new to useless in under 10,000 miles.

[stubuchanan]

Probably needed them with the Ruddspeed modifications - would have made a great tow car for a Sprite/Midget Racer .. Good spotting Ray - hadn't really looked at the picture properly ..
Bit of a Mess -early Ford Laser beside it what date would the photo be ?

Have now !


I know BMC used the Westminster A105 and A110 wagons as support vehicle for the BMC Rally Team Mini's MGA's B's and Big Healey's in the 1960's

Being picky, I know, but the "Laser" is actually a Mazda 323 2-door hatchback - same mechanicals but slightly different body treatment. I had a Ford Laser from late '80's till its demise in early 2000's, but can't find a photo of it, surprisingly - a good knockaround shopping car and motor still ran like clockwork till the end. Laser was a 4-door hatch with quarter-window in rear pillar.

Stu

[Roger Dowding]

Being picky, I know, but the "Laser" is actually a Mazda 323 2-door hatchback - same mechanicals but slightly different body treatment. I had a Ford Laser from late '80's till its demise in early 2000's, but can't find a photo of it, surprisingly - a good knockaround shopping car and motor still ran like clockwork till the end. Laser was a 4-door hatch with quarter-window in rear pillar.

Stu

Not " picky " Stu B, - gave it a " boys look " probably remember Lasers being it that colour - they would be the first of the front wheel drive 323's / Lasers -
My Uncle had the last of the rear wheel drive 323 Station Wagons for a while - his " take to Waiheke " Car that the family often used to go there - save wear and tear on the Daily Drivers.

At one time [ 1979 ] a guy had a RWD 323 of that earlier era that had a 13B Rotary in it ..looked very standard until the
" Wop,wop,wop "
as it sat on the start line at Pekanui Road, near Pirongia - then it was gone .... Was there in my TR4A .. must look up some details as John Climo has sent me a spreadsheet with many of the Competitors in the series of Bardahl Hill Climbs for the 1979 /80 season.

[Roger Dowding]

Been busy going through Myle Hicks stuff - his writings and photos which is helping to get it in sequence.
A guy called Russel Leathers had the car originally a 1959 BN7 - so an early 3000 and ran it at Ardmore for a couple of years then at Pukekohe, Chamberlain Road and elsewhere .. The montage of photos are when Gavin and Myles bought both the AH and the Austin - Myles notes last warrant on the Healey in 1970 - see an NSCC Scrutineers sticker in the Montage too !!

More to come and must check through my Ardmore stuff - may have the entry details of the car 1960 - 1962 there.

Mcloughlins must have bought it 1964 - have a photo of it at Pukekohe with a permanent plate BN2253.

Photo of when it went to the Hicks - on the trailer - from the Montage of Four photos..



The stickers NSCC and Shell meetings

[Roger Dowding]

Entry Lists from Graham Woods of the Sports Car Races - Trophy and Handicap Races.
The extra link is the connection with the Russell Leathers Austin Healeys [ he had more than one ] and the McLoughlin Brothers [ Pat ( Peter ) and Roger ] who also had several, Sprite 100 Six and the Ruddspeed 3000 that became the Austin 4000.

1960 Ardmore



1961 Ardmore



1962 Ardmore



1963 Pukekohe the first running of the New Zealand ' International ' Grand Prix ..


ignore the Ardmore reference on the photo my Typo ..



Car Race #122 Ardmore 1961 the Ruddspeed 3000. with Russell Leathers - ready to race ..



The Ruddspeed on Ardmore racing -
racing number #71 1962 with Pat McLoughlin - Thanks to Myles Hicks for these car images



The Full Ruddspeed story will follow

[Roger Dowding]

The Full Ruddspeed story will follow ;

not quite ready but I have this ..



Something to get a hold of ..

The Car had three Registration - Number Plates;

Cream on Deep Red ; 603.043 with Russell Leathers when the car arrived in NZ 1961 [ 56-61 plates ]

Black on Yellow ; 420.664 with Russell Leathers and as onsold to the McLoughlins in mid -late 1961.
[ 61-64 plates ]

Aluminium - Silver on Black ; BN2253 with the McLoughlins the first issue of permanent plates in 1964

[Roger Dowding]

The first part of the Leathers, McLoughlin, Hicks story of an interesting Austin Healey 3000.
- The Ruddspeed 3000 - Austin Healey 4000 / 4200 - Ruddspeed 3000.

Most comments from Myles Hicks and some from BMC BOY;

The early life of the car ;

" . It’s a 1959 3000 BT7 from memory. " comment by BMC BOY

" A bit of the story of the car. 'from Myles Hicks..
Russell Leathers order a Healey 100/6. in 1959 for tourist delivery and sent his wife to the UK to collect it. When collected, it was one of the first 3000 MK1’s produced. She delivered it to Ruddspeed for a full conversion, which at that time was very similar to works spec.
When it arrived in NZ Russell raced it for approx 2 years. He said it was the only race car he had owned which cost him nothing to race, as the prize money paid for his races. "

Myles also noted ;

" I think the Ruddspeed May have been kept in the UK for a year before they brought it in, possibly for duty/tax reasons. "

Russell Leathers had a Healey prior to the Ruddspeed as noted by the entry in the 1960 Ardmore GP meeting - the Sports Car Race ; in a 100 - four cylinder.

The 1960 Entry List ; [ posted before ]



Indeed a very early 3000 BT7 -

A photo of the car - bonnet up showing the top of the engine - as modified by Ruddspeed.



The car ready for the 1961 Ardmore GP meeting - first time it raced in New Zealand. Race #122



Entry List for the 1961 Race.
Note the entrant is G Leathers - presume that is Russell's wife who had collected the car taken it to Ruddspeed and would have been the " Purchaser " in England - This was probably under the Tourist Delivery scheme - where the car could be retained in the UK for up to 6 months - I believe.

1961
The car at Auckland Car Club Chamberlain Road Hill Climb - a well known road in the Speed Event calender in the 1960's 70's - this photo posted in a later post belongs here, and from the Number Plate Car would be with Russell Leathers-



The McLoughlins with an Austin Healey at 2702 cc - presume the 100/6 that they later traded /part exchanged for the 3000.
Quite a few Austin Healey's in the the race



He then sold it the Pat McLoughlin.

Picture of the Ruddspeed with the McLoughlins - and a 100 6. This car went to Russell Leathers as a part exchange.
Note the Black on Yellow number plates so mid late 1961.



that is next part of the story;

[nigel watts]

Same car? - This was at the 2012 NZFMR.

[ERC]

No! That is Mike Sexton's 100S recreation... He also has an immaculate Healey 100 - plus other cars and motor bikes.

I have known Mike for about 30 years (through my work) and it wasn't until he turned up for a classic trial at Pukekohe, some years ago, that I had any clue at all that he was interested in cars! Over many years and through three companies, my best client by a country mile.