100 Le Mans - Dealer modified.

[DerekJ]

I couldn't resist posting this.

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C609104

Stated as receiving the 'Le Mans' kit at the DHMC in 1956.

I know a couple of guys at JME so I might follow up to see what documentation exists - if any.

 

[Healey Nut]

Roughly converted that's 73G's Canadian . if it is what it says then I would say its a good deal .

 

[Editor_Reid]

They had me at "2 Sets of Keys." Wow.

So we're told that it was delivered directly to the DHMCo where it hung around for two years or so before being road registered. (I wonder what they did with it all that time if it never went on the road.) Interestingly, all possible witnesses to such as claim are (ahem) not available for comment.

And the claim of "original factory 100M conversion kit" - haven't they (a Healey specialist shop) figured out the difference between the Kit and the 100M conversion after all these decades? Perhaps they'd find this enlightening: https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcf/showthread.php?79916-What-is-(and-isn-t)-an-Austin-Healey-100M

Hey, if it really is some kind of test car and it really had the entire Le Mans Engine Modification Kit installed while at the DHMCo all that time, they're offering it at a bargain price. Looking forward to seeing the documentation that supports their report...

 

[andrewss]

I think that they might have forgotten to put a '1' in front of the £40,000 pounds... Just a basic RHD 100/4 without those fable words 'Le Mans' sell for more than £40,000 in the UK..

 

[catfood]

I saw this car while JME were rebuilding my bodyshell. If I remember correctly the the car was first road registered by DHMCo two years after the heritage certificate had it delivered (to DHMCo). So the inference is that it spent those two years at the Cape. The price reflects its condition. Very good 100s fetch around 60k GBP in the UK at the moment and Chris at JME reckoned this one needed around 20k spent on it to bring it close to that sort of standard. I didn't ask as to whether there is any documentary evidence as to when the M kit was fitted, if none then that is probably also reflected in the price. My own car was also delivered directly to the DHMCo but was only there for a few days before it was road registered. Unfortunately nobody seems to know why these cars were delivered directly to DHMCo but I have heard several suggestions including that they may have been bought (possibly at a discount) for friends of DMH. However this is pure speculation.

 

[Editor_Reid]

Unfortunately nobody seems to know why these cars were delivered directly to DHMCo but I have heard several suggestions including that they may have been bought (possibly at a discount) for friends of DMH. However this is pure speculation.

Let's not forget that the Donald Healey also did new car sales. Lots of cars were delivered there, as they were to other dealers. It doesn't mean that they were all some kind of "special order" or "test car" and such. That said, I grant you that two years between delivery and road registration raises a question.

 

[catfood]

Did he do new car sales before he opened his first showrom at the 'Cinema' which was 1956 I believe, after the demise of the 100?

 

[HealeyRick]

Who knew Yenko Stinger Corvairs came in "factory" cars and "kit" cars; https://bringatrailer.com/2015/04/29/one-of-115-1965-chevrolet-corvair-yenko-stinger-stage-1/ (read the comments)