British Invasion

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale) 05/16/2017 at 14:08 • Filed to: Austin Healey, 100-6, BN6, Classic Car, British

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I have always loved British cars and my Mother has never understood it. But she has never discouraged my passion for cars and actually allowed me to buy my first car as a project 1969 Austin Healey Sprite MKIV.

I love this car and I hate that 7 years later I was never able to finish her. But I will be moving back home soon and mom will be allowing me to put my car in the garage and finish it. This video (below) is really lighting the flame under me to finish my car and also has reignited the flame I had to buy a big Healey too. My dream big Healey is a 100-6 BN6

AH 100-6 BN6

BMC C-Series

That would be the I6 2 seater version of the Austin Healey 100.The BMC C-Series motor is an overhead valve 2.6L inline 6 making 117 bhp and 149 ft-lbs of torque. This would push the 100-6 0-60 in 11.2 seconds and up to a top speed of 111 mph. That doesn’t seem like a lot, but in 1956 you have imagine what that kind of speed was like.

This is an absolute dream car of mine and I have been contemplating selling my GTO and trying to buy one of these. As much as I love my GTO, she isn’t perfect and I would rather sell her off and get a classic car and then one day down the line get a GTO that I find perfect to me. Any way it is just a thought at the moment.

Jobjoris > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/16/2017 at 13:29

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Finish that Sprite! Almost bought myself this over a year ago...

Ring a bell? It’s history was a bit shady (seller claimed it to be an original one but I could not get it verified) though so I left it.

Love those green engines...

CaptDale - is secretly British > Jobjoris 05/16/2017 at 13:41

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That front end is all wrong. I will finish the Sprite, but why not have a big Healey too?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/16/2017 at 14:15

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This would push the 100-6 0-60 in 11.2 seconds and up to a top speed of 111 mph. That doesn’t seem like a lot, but in 1956 you have imagine what that kind of speed was like.

The Lincolns of ‘58 could make 0-60 in something like 8 and topped out around 130, despite being 19 feet long. Obviously not a British car, but still - absolutely bonkers.

CaptDale - is secretly British > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 05/16/2017 at 14:23

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Yes, but that Lincoln was a boat, the Healey would have lapped it many times over in any racing situation.

McMike > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/16/2017 at 14:32

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My dad had a 3000 before my parents were married. I think he grew tired of the 150bhp

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/scanned-hundreds-of-photos-at-the-house-today-1553092159

CaptDale - is secretly British > McMike 05/16/2017 at 14:34

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I think I would fall in love with the I6. If anything I would bore it out maybe and go triple carbs, but there is something beautiful about sexy slow car fast.

What a beautiful 3000. The V8 swaps aren’t uncommon. I kinda like those ideas, but idk you know...

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/16/2017 at 14:43

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I know, but dat straight line, tho. Blower Bentley jokes about “world’s fastest lorries” come to mind.

CaptDale - is secretly British > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 05/16/2017 at 14:50

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mmmm, blower Bentleys are the tits!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/16/2017 at 14:57

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In comparison to the Lincoln, a Blower Bentley weighs around 800lb less, but only has a barely shorter wheelbase. Basically, the MEL engine in the Lincoln Tub of Lard years was an optimized cousin to the FE which later became such a standard in racing - MEL had (IIRC) bigger journals, better flowing heads, tighter tolerances throughout, higher standard compression. Heavy as fuck, but high marks for performance - one reason I want to get my ‘59 up to snuff and autocross once or twice.

CaptDale - is secretly British > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 05/16/2017 at 15:01

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Yes, but the Blower is also an ancient design compared to the more modern Lincoln. I would love to see your Lincoln autocross.

Jobjoris > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/16/2017 at 16:20

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All wrong??? It’s a (as I said probably non-original) Lenham GT!

A big Healey looks great ( the English roadster if you ask me) but, and I can tell from my own experience, they drive a bit like a truck. Or a lorry as the British say...

CaptDale - is secretly British > Jobjoris 05/16/2017 at 16:28

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Ah yes the Lenham was an “upfitted” or modified AH Sprite. Now if it was an original Lenham or a repro you would have to get someone who knows more about them to tell the difference.

Really? I wouldn’t think they would, but then again I haven’t gotten to drive one. For cars that kicked rallying ass I would think they drive nice and sharp.

Jobjoris > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/16/2017 at 17:28

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Well, you could get one at the Lenham factory (which was a shed actually) or modify your own Sprite back then. Seller claimed this one to be “the last of the factory that was never completely finished”. I had contact with the Lenham company them selves (or rather, the guys that had taken over the parts division and the Dutch Healey museum (we have one!) but no one knew that story so it was all way too shady for me.

Really. It’s a true masculine drive. It’s awesome.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Jobjoris 05/16/2017 at 17:31

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That is very cool. Neat story too whether it was fishy or not.

I am kinda glad to hear that. Idk, but thank god I have a proper english tweed jacket and many flat caps. Unfortunately I am kinda freaking out cause the restored price of a 100/6 BN6 is way out of my league and I can’t find any just nice driver ones or a decent driveable project. Maybe I will. Scour the FB owner sites and forums (god I fucking hate forums).

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/17/2017 at 05:51

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Oooh now that’s a gorgeous Healey. Sprite too!

The old C-Series has some pretty hard limits when it comes to making power (head studs that pass through the inlet port...), but you can still massage them an impressive amount. No need to put up with 117bhp in a modern world ;)

I say get one!

CaptDale - is secretly British > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 05/17/2017 at 11:32

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I could start off living with only 117, I mean the Sprite only only has 65 hp...

I will try, unfortunately the ideal price and condition aren’t coming together. Maybe I will find one, maybe I won’t. But I am going to try damn hard to find one

torque > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/17/2017 at 16:18

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Excellent video! Never thought I’d watch the whole thing, really interesting history of British post WWII sports cars.

Also I never knew about Pat Moss being such an excellent driver, learned something new!

CaptDale - is secretly British > torque 05/17/2017 at 16:27

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Right?! I mean everyone talks about Sterling, but I had never heard of Pat either and I love British rally cars...

torque > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/17/2017 at 16:37

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Exactly! Especially since in the video at least they Ann Riley (co-driver) stated how much press they received, which certainly makes sense given how rare it would have been in the 1950's to have a winning female racing driver (hell it is unfortunately still rare today) + being Sterling’s sister, man on man to say Triumph lost out is quite the Understatemeent!

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/17/2017 at 16:44

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Oh yeah of course :) just that there’s plenty of headroom ;)

Good luck and make sure you post up if you do find one :)

CaptDale - is secretly British > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 05/17/2017 at 16:53

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Everyone likes nice headroom.....

I think I found one, now I just have to find out more pricing and photos and if I can sell off my cars to afford it.

CaptDale - is secretly British > torque 05/17/2017 at 17:12

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yeah, I will do more research on her and make an Oppo Post