On the book "Austin-Healey 100&3000 Series, Graham Robson wrote, on Chapter
5, page 88,
about the last "Big Healey" record breaking expedition at Bonneville in 1956:
the team took two six-cylinder engined cars (which were effectively
prototypes of the new 100-Six model, though both were modified versions of the
1954
cars). The streamliner visited the wind tunnel once again and received a
completely different body style, while the old 1954 'endurance car' was given a
longer and more shapely front and rear, and was set to tackle long-distance
marks.
The endurance car used a 156bhp 2.6-litre engine fitted with a triple-Weber
installation, and a prototype of the six-port cylinder head which would be
introduced on production cars near the end of 1957."
and then on page 108 it's said than Eddie Maher had designed this head."
and on Marcus Chambers's "Works Wonders" on Chapter 3, page 41:
"The last Mille Miglia
The same car was prepared for the 1957 Mille Miglia, which was to be the
last of
the Italian classic 1,000-mile road races because of the accident involving
de
Portago's Ferrari which crashed killing nine spectators.
The event was used to test engine modifications which were later to be
introduced onto an uprated version of the 100-Six (BN6). This included a
six-port "
cylinder head, detached aluminium alloy inlet manifold, twin 13/4 in (44.45
mm) SU
carburetters and a modified distributor. On the raised compression ratio of
8.5:1, a
further 15 bhp was produced raising the power output to 117 bhp at 5,000
rpm."
This car has been in the 1957 Sestriere Rallye already but probably with the
previous head.
That's probably the first introduction of the six-port head in a rallye car.
regards
Philippe
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