Austin Healey SBC V8

[Stygian]

An old high school mate unexpectedly called in to the shed yesterday whilst I was rubbing back my EK. He and his father worked on this Austin Healey 100/4 as a project together. He lives in London so doesn't get to drive this as much as he would like.

They bought the car less engine years ago when Healeys were not fetching much money at all. It was less engine but had been modified somewhat, including a disc brake front end with VH40 booster. They bought an original Healey four cylinder and gearbox with the intention of restoring it. However, quite by chance, they were in a Bowral antique store and got chatting to a guy who used to race Healeys back in the sixties. He said he had one which he did this and that to, and they said "That sounds like our Healey". True enough, he came around and it was his old car, which he used to race with a 265 Chev motor. So rather than restore it, they thought they'd put a mildly worked 265 Chev back in it. An auto gearbox went in to because they had one.

It goes well, sounds great and gets driven as it should!

Choppedfan (Mick): Eric's waved his magic on this one too

[Devilrod]

Aaaah the poor mans Cobra

Sure would be fun to drive though very nice.

[choppedfan]

An old high school mate unexpectedly called in to the shed yesterday whilst I was rubbing back my EK. He and his father worked on this Austin Healey 100/4 as a project together. He lives in London so doesn't get to drive this as much as he would like.

They bought the car less engine years ago when Healeys were not fetching much money at all. It was less engine but had been modified somewhat, including a disc brake front end with VH40 booster. They bought an original Healey four cylinder and gearbox with the intention of restoring it. However, quite by chance, they were in a Bowral antique store and got chatting to a guy who used to race Healeys back in the sixties. He said he had one which he did this and that to, and they said "That sounds like our Healey". True enough, he came around and it was his old car, which he used to race with a 265 Chev motor. So rather than restore it, they thought they'd put a mildly worked 265 Chev back in it. An auto gearbox went in to because they had one.

It goes well, sounds great and gets driven as it should!

Choppedfan (Mick): Eric's waved his magic on this one too

Eric never ceases to amaze me

Man thats one cool car, as they say "Dare to be different"

Mick

[Stygian]

"Poor man's Cobra" I'm going to put that up on his Facebook page. But gee those Cobra things are as common as bums.

There wouldn't be many old cars in the NSW Southern Highlands that Eric hasn't touched Mick.

[WayneXG95]

That's just plain magic Andrew. I love it..

[bootlegger]

The car looks great im just not sure why you would go down that path.

If he found the guy that raced it and hopefully it had a documented past then why wouldnt you go out of your way to recreate that race car.

To the normal healy joe its been ruined with a small block chev and auto.

As a race car its far more interesting and valuable especially if it was successful.

Every now and again I get some monkey tell me I should take the healy sprite engine and remove the alloy body work off my 58 fiat 500 race car.

[Stygian]

Hey Dave, I was surprised to see the SBC in it last Saturday, as I thought they wanted to put it back to original. My mate said this was their first intention and even bought the appropriate driveline. But in their view, it had been modified to the extent that it would never be concourse. Through the antique dealer, they met the guy whom raced it, so they decided to put a warm 265 Chev motor in it like it had back in the day. It wouldn't be that hard to find out more about its racing history, but they're pretty happy with the way the car is and wouldn't want to rebuild it into a full blown race car. The antique dealer himself used to race an MGTC (he still has it) back when hillclimbs up Oxley's Hill in Bowral were allowed. I've seen some pretty cool old photos of these competitions.

[bootlegger]

Hi stygian. I wouldnt have restored it to stock. I get putting the small block in but why the auto. It would never have been raced like that. With all the pics etc that might be with the car it would be way more interesting than a stocker.

[Stygian]

I hear you Dave. In my opinion an auto in a sports car is an abomination, and I let Mike know that too! He said that they had the auto already so they just put it in. But I think his father likes the auto and wanted more of a grand tourer than a sports car. His dad is getting on a bit.