Healey Liftback ?

I found this photo on the web.
Anyone know the story behind this?

Re: Healey fastback ?

I started a thread about A-H fixed topped cars last year, and asked if they were still around. Never saw or heard about this one before- looks like a lift-back.

Re: Healey fastback ?

ModifiedBJ7 said:

- looks like a lift-back.

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Or a hearse. It kinda looses the sportiness.

Re: Healey fastback ?

Wow, looks like the only true four seater Healey. Maybe a custom job? Don't really care for it, though...

Re: Healey fastback ?

Looks like a custom. Donald Healey did make 2 (maybe just one) for himself, if I recall the story. That does not look like the one I saw though.

Re: Healey fastback ?

Correct, DMH did have a personal car that resembles this one but this one is not his original personal car.---Keoke

Re: Healey fastback ?

You may want to check out Bill Emerson's book on pp 106-109. This car is very similiar to the two that were comissioned as test vehicles by the DM Motor Company.

AUSMHLY said:

Anyone know the story behind this?

Click to expand...

THAT one looks like THIS one.... Probably a Universal Laminations.



HERE is one from Kellison. . THIS one used the original/stock Healey trunk lid.

Tim

If I remember right, someone in the '70s offered a fastback hardtop,it used the stock boot& was pretty sleek looking.I really wanted a hardtop at the time(wa weather), luckily the urge passed, though I think it would have looked cool on my '60 BT7(2place)black,better left stock. cheers Genos2

There were fastback hardtops available. I looked at one for my 1965 MGB in 1965.

This ad is from the September 1962 Road & Track magazine.

I'd SURE like to find one of those Kellison's. Me thinks that they look better than the Univ. Lam. units.

Tim

Well Tim, just send your 25¢ in for the brochure.

Wasn't there a recent article in one of the nations pubs about a year or so ago about the ACME unit?

hmmm, 15 minutes to install the beautifully designed top. I'm leary about that claim.

I do like the lines. I also like the tail lights.

Where do I send my money????? I doubt it only takes 15 minutes to install though.

I do remember the 2 hardtops DMH made. Since BMC wasn't interested (they went with the MGC). I did read somewhere that DMH sold the plans to FORD in 1969 and they in turn used the plans to make the Mercury Capri hatchback. I always thought if I could find a '69 Capri maybe I could utilize for a AH.
What do you guys think?

according to Graham Robson's book, 'Austin-Healey 100 & 3000 Series, the ones built by DHM were called Hatchback Coupes and they do have a more vertically sloped Hatch at the rear. the side rear window treatment is shaped differently than the one you show. Reference: Pg-173. I believe I like DHM's design myself.

I can see 2 good reasons for liking the ACME Fabricating Co top.

bundyrum.

What's the other one Bundy? Oh, you mean the car!

Hello vette,

I can honestly say I was not thinking about the car itself this time.

AUSMHLY. That picture is the same one as on P183 of Chris Harvey's 1978 book, HEALEY The Handsome Brute.There is a very brief description but nothing with any detail.

On page 177 of the same book there is mention of 2 BN1 type cars converted to coupes one of which acquired a 100/S engine and gearbox that Donald Healey drove for a number of years. The 2nd car was built with a 6 cylinder engine and had an opening rear window. I remember a car in Australia in the early 1980"s that had this feature. I think this was copied off the Austin A90 Atlantic Hardtop.

Mention is made of a Ralph Boothe maybe from So Cal who also built a coupe on a BN2 he bought in 1956. I believe this has been documented elsewhere.

P 178 of the same book starts to talk about the 2 6 cylinder coupes X312 built at Warwick and X313 built by "Tickford".

The only other coupe mentioned was one on p 179 called a WSM.

More details and photo's on X312 and X313 can be found in Geoff Healeys' 1980 book, Healey: The Specials, Pages 153-160.

There is a phot and few details on Page 83 of Graham Robsons' 1981 book, The Big Healeys: A Collector's Guide.

Best Regards,

bundyrum.