Don't laugh, but I think this might be my old car, now for sale in Holland:
http://www.hofman.nl/auto/13267/Austin+ ... BN1+100-4/
You've all heard me talk ad nauseam about owning 4 AH-100s when I was younger, and that my final one had a Corvette engine in it. I sold that car in NC in 1973 and I think this might be it. I've identified at least 10 unique features about my car which are present on this one:
1. My engine was a 1957 Corvette 283 but bored out to 301 c/i (which this car has, but I don't think this guy knows it's been bored out);
2. My engine had an aftermarket 3/4 Duntov cam (which this one also has);
3. My gearbox was a 4-spd Muncie (which this one is);
4. My differential was the stock AH unit (which this appears to be);
5. My exhaust dumped directly onto the leading edge of the rear tires ( which this car does, also. Altho this car has better exhaust pipes than mine did, the cherry bomb glass pack mufflers are the same);
6. My hood was louvered and held down by a single leather strap with two buckles (which this car also has);
7. My interior was missing the tunnel cover laundry (which this car is also missing);
8. Because my car had a Tarantua Street Torker (or Sweeper?) intake manifold, which turned the 4Bbl sideways about 18*, I had to use a throttle CABLE instead of a throttle linkage (which this car also uses, despite the absence of the old manifold. He could have used the standard linkage but "my" cable was already installed);
9. My car had a funky thick-wood-rimmed, sun-bleached steering wheel with no center cap (which this car seems to still have!);
10. My horn was a tiny "pin" button deep inside the steering wheel center (which I can see on this car!).
There are a few differences btwn my old car and this one:
1. To pass inspection my car had a JC Whitney large plastic button mounted on the side of the steering wheel shaft which I could hit with my knee or hand to beep the horn. I don't see that on this car, altho there is a toggle switch in the middle of the dash which might replace that;
2. I had removed both bumpers from my car (but the anchor points were still there);
3. My car had twin chrome teardrop racing mirrors;
4. My hood lifted completely off, so in addition to the strap I had a hold down pin in each corner (but the hinges were still on the car);
5. My car was deep metal flake blue; this one is British Racing Green;
6. My car had solid steel wheels because the weight and torque of the V8 made eggs of the four original AH spoke wheels;
7. My car had a different (beer barrel) shifter and knob than this has.
This guy wants about $33,000 for this car today. I think I sold it for less than $2000 back in 1973. I made it run the 1/4 mile in a little over 14 seconds but I never made it turn or stop very well, due to the weight of the V8.
Healey Hundreds always suffered from extreme cockpit heat, even with the original 2.5L 4 cylinder OHV engine. With the Corvette the heat was unbearable. After just 10 miles I was looking for an excuse to park it and let my feet cool off, even thru my boots.
I have written to this guy and asked if the car came to him via the USA. It would be sort of cool to own this car again, but I can think of so many other things to do with $33K.
Frank