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1956 Austin-Healey 100
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| Address: , California, | |
Car Class: COLLECTOR | |
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"Vehicle to be offered for Auction sale August 16th- 18th, 2012 at Russo and Steele's 12th Annual Monterey California Auction. Please contact us for more information., 1956 Austin-Healey 100/R (Rally), No other car like this exists, as it is the creation of an engineering genius with a lifetime of knowledge of and experience with Austin-Healeys. Mark, the owner of Sport and Specialty auto restoration, consistently produced award-winning cars for his customers, but this was his personal project., In his words: This car is a concept of what I felt BMC could have done with the 100 if their priorities were different. The rally effort for the 100's was nothing like the six cylinder cars, racing and sales being up front. I tried to use all of the current pieces and methodology that worked with the concept. All appropriate 100/S pieces (fuel tank, vented seats, hood hold-downs, alloy body) worked well. Other pieces were modified or manufactured. I always loved the Dunlop alloy pin drive wheels on “D Type' Jaguars and Healey land speed cars. I worked with a company in England to have these cast. The center offset is a bit different than other repros. When I saw a period photo of the 100S prototype with these wheels, the idea was reinforced., The engine seemed a bit problematic when highly modified. The use of an alloy head and higher revs wasn't necessary in a road rally car. So, the cast iron head was retained, but redesigned with intricate porting and increased valve size. A steel billet crank, beam rods, reinforced block, and camshaft timing were used, with the idea of torque first, horsepower second. The idea was to make a tough, mid range engine with period available pieces and technology. Unlike others who have modified these, our biggest surprise on the dynamometer was the obvious restrictions in the header. The bends were glowing red while the mixture indications and timing were fine. The answer was a custom tubular header with very large primary tubes, collected to a 2 ½' exhaust. The numbers jumped. Final figures were 200 ft. lbs. Torque, 191.4 horsepower at the flywheel. A relatively mild 11.55 compression was used, but 110 octane fuel is the choice, just for insurance., Obviously, there is a volume of other work done to this engine. All systems were redesigned, but still based in period and Healey components. Even the generator is a period Lucas high-output from a Jaguar, with the large belt being retained. Years of drawings, castings, fabrication, machining, scouting sources just to obtain raw products, is the history of this car, and it was worth it to me. I wondered how the car would be received, not being a factory modified car or stock. Thankfully, the acceptance of the car was evident at its debut at the 2002 Healey International in Lake Tahoe, where it was voted “Best in 100 Class'. It was great to see that so many people understood., Mark unexpectedly passed away in 2011, and his family hopes that this treasure will pass on to someone who truly appreciates it.",, Auction
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