In a message dated 09/02/2005 1:38:49 PM Pacific Standard Time,
richchrysler@quickclic.net writes:
Ah, but all was not lost. Donald Healey grabbed hold of the opportunity to
use up those 2660cc engines, and a lot of the mechanical components and
designed and marketed the prettiest British sportscar the 1950's ever saw,
the Austin Healey Hundred.
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They were horrible engines with a stroke as long as my .....well, pretty
long, anyway, and worm-eaten ports that only grudgingly admitted fuel and air.
That notwithstanding, they had gobs of torque (which is good, as they came
unglued if operated above about 5000 RPM) - so much so that the BN-! blocked
off the first gear on the reverse pattern Austin lorry transmission they used,
and ended up with a default 3 speed all synchro gearbox.
On the 100 S, where they used a head that could actually breath, the power
was very good for the period, but even the regular 100 M version wasn't too
shabby - I've raced against them and they can be hard to lose on the straight,
where they run like a train, until you come to a tight corner, where they
also brake about the same as a train.
I do agree that they are an attractive styling design - and the 100 is by
far my favourite over the later 100-6 (a lamentable creation with the heart of
another and heavier Austin lorry) and 3000 (with a somewhat tuned Austin
lorry engine)
Bill
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