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

[Roger Dowding]

The Jim Reece : " Mongrel " which Jim ran with the Sports Car Group in the middle North Island, Palmerston North area, the car was multi-use as seen here - and often towed his smaller race Cars a Sprite or others
The huge trailer makes the car seem small.



" My Race winning Sprite"
50 mph in 1st.
79 - 80 mph in 2nd
Suspension totally changed but for the rear springs, which were changed for new ones.
Over 39 wins documented in New Zealand. This car has a comprehensive race history over its two owners.

Jim's Sprite - one of them, would have been on a trailer behind the Mongrel many times.
Must get Jim to write a bit of a story to go on the thread with some photos

[Roger Dowding]

Very WET weekend in the Bay of Plenty, and much of New Zealand, the downside,
The upside have unpacked boxes of stuff that has been in storage since last March in Australia for 3 months and then in Te Puna found my books photos, model cars, and other stuff.
Also have a few photos to download, so could be new stuff to post.

In the meantime ; an old photo ;


My 100 and I at Napier in 1984 - The AHCCNZ National Rally.

[Roger Dowding]

ERC posted a picture of an Austin Healey 3000 at the recent Caffeine and Classics. LGE325.
The car is a recent import to New Zealand - ex Germany and Left Hand Drive.

Year: 1959
Make: AUSTIN
Model: HEALEY
Colour: Black
Second Colour: Red
Body Style: Sports Car
VIN: 7AT00T07X18472154
Plate: LGE325
Engine No: COVERD
Chassis: HBT7L267

Seats: 4
CC rating: 2,912cc
Fuel Type: Petrol
Assembly Type: Imported Built-Up
Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Car show Mileage of 48000 when imported in March
- , information from Carjam

The Ray Green photo, thanks ERC, haven't seen the car yet

[Roger Dowding]

Eric Grunden now runs thing repair and restoration business, I met Eric in 1982 when he worked for Walt Glendenning.
Have been in touch with Ken Hyndman " Ken H " about the connections. so thought would repost the original business cards from Walt's business

Have edited the post, Business Card photos in next post

and speaking of Absolutely British here are some Austin - Healeys hiding behind an Anglo - American, photo ERC [ Ray Green ] Ray do you know when and where it was taken !! from a post on Fb page Classic British Cars



something wrong first the post vanished and now the top three pictures aren't showing ??

[Roger Dowding]

And now they are ???

Today 16th May gone again so reposted

Absolutely British the original card



the second card as used in 1982



and the current letterhead with a note from Ken H ..thanks Ken ;

[ERC]

The Gordon Keeble and Healeys were in the pre 1966 car park at the 2009 Goodwood Revival. I thought's I'd posted that pic or even the Healey's before? I was with my youngest brother and we were rushing away back to Christchurch (the Bournemouth one) for a Chris Barber concert. I only had a pocket compact camera with me on that trip. Hopefully this year's trip will (all 3 days) yield plenty of pics of interest.

Pics do keep disappearing Roger, so you have to go back to edit the original post, delete the words 'Attachment' and the HTML tags and just upload them again. Very frustrating and time consuming, but it happens regularly.

[Roger Dowding]

The Book, by Donald Healey with Peter Garnier and Donald's son Brian " Bic " Healey was published in 1989 and I bought a copy back about then, to accompany my three Geoffrey Healey books on the marque, and a book written by Donald Healey and Tommy Wisdom in 1959 published in 1960 entitled " The Austin - Healey ".
Have started reading the book, as only ever got it out to ' research ' information from time to time.. I see the book for sale in new condition on Amazon.com for USD99 .. Publication price in 1989 was GBP 14.95 .. so guess it is worth a bit now. second hand copies around USD 50.00.

The book is an interesting read after all these years, and the parts that are Donald's own words or as approved by him are in an old fashioned style.. an editorial comment for the book

" This is the life story of a remarkable man. Creator of many famous sports cars, including the Austin-Healeys and the pre-war Triumph Dolomite, Donald Healey was equally successful as a rally driver, winning the Monte Carlo and competing in the Mille Miglia. He also established a world speed record for production cars, driving a streamlined version of one of his own Austin-Healeys. With the help of Donald's son, Brian, Peter Garnier, for many years a close friend of the Healeys, provides a fascinating account of a long and varied life. "

Sadly Donald Healey passed away, aged 89, in 1988 before the book was finished, that was left to Peter and Brian



Met the Healey family at Snowmass in Colorado in July 1982 at the "30th Anniversary of the Austin - Healey ".

Here I am with other Kiwi's, don't really dig those shorts these days !!



To the purist's out there, I have included the hypen - in Austin - Healey

[Roger Dowding]

Posted on Facebook Page " Traditional Speed Supply " a Hot Rod and Car Parts business in Auckland - Mark Joblin shared the photo, so went to see the Page;



Also on the " Traditional Speed Supply "page was this item - connection to Bruce McLaren who drove a 100 in the 1950's
The Poster for the Movie completed last year.

[Roger Dowding]

The photos were provided by Ron Simmonds



V8 powered on a BJ8 chassis /body - some dispute as to how original the car is. I like it, and Donald Healey always wanted the cars to be improved and uprated !!



A more original car, still has some modifications was parked next to the V8 one



As an aside have finished the Donald Healey Biography and also read the early book by Donald and Tommy Wisdom,now moving on to the Geoff Healey books, all three of them !!.

Can't find a good image of the cover early book only the frontispiece ; my copy I acquired without the loose cover.
Image is small


Same issue with the Geoff Healey books and haven't photo'd them myself yet

[Roger Dowding]

Photo from Alwyn Keepence archives Alwyn is a member of A-H Club of Queensland. Photo has been seen on other forums.



The 100S - a different car in the UK 1950's ; Pat Wells archives
Car set up for long distance racing with light over the race number on the side

[Roger Dowding]

My Good Healey Club Mate, Barry Moon in his 100 at a Classic meeting, Pukekohe December 1983 - photo Milan Fistonic
Barry bought his car around the same time as I did in 1982, he progressed to a 3000 though in later years. The 3000 that he took me to Masterton for the 1989 Rally in

Thanks for all the views people;

[John McKechnie]

Roger- Barry watches these threads, and I tell him just in case.

[nigel watts]

[ERC]

Barry Moon raced a Ford Escort with us. I can't remember which one, without checking, but it might be the Hillsy Hills one. (#483)

[Spgeti]

Barry Moon raced a Ford Escort with us. I can't remember which one, without checking, but it might be the Hillsy Hills one. (#483)

Yes it is Hillsy’s Escort Ray.

[Roger Dowding]

The Car has featured here with photos by others [ John B and Nigel Watts ] - finally got my camera to talk to my Laptop again [ could be operator error]
Here are some shots from Hampton Downs in January.. the story is in the first two shots.
The car was just on display, but according to others, did perform elsewhere over the racing season

[Roger Dowding]

From ERC's " Just a Mix of pics " thread;
Allan Horner and his A - H 3000.

with a pre-war Mate - with a Healey connection as Donald used the 2.4 litre Hi Cam motor in his early cars, Westland, Duncan, Silverstone and others !

[Roger Dowding]

Some photos from the meeting held just recently

The Logo


A group of cars ready to run fast ..


a very smart looking 100


a very famous car ABL6 .. used to reside in the USA with Bill Bolton in the 1980's, now restored

[Ray Bell]

Not in NZ, not in Australia (unless Robbie bought it as a resto project)...

Your everyday American Austin Healey c1961 (newest car appears to be the '61 Plymouth).

[Roger Dowding]

Not in NZ, not in Australia (unless Robbie bought it as a resto project)...

Your everyday American Austin Healey c1961 (newest car appears to be the '61 Plymouth).

The Healey already looking well used and modified - downdraft carbs look American - on a V8 ??