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austin healey silverstone?

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anthony7777

Yoda
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o.k. most of you have read the story of me salvaging a 100m from an old ice house, it seems i have a nack for finding healey parts and cars in the strangest places, the latest find as far as i can determain is a "riley" dual overhead cam engine that was/is used in an austin healey silverstone, never heard if this car before, my question is does anyone here know anything about them, own one, seen one, race them, collect them? etc. thanks anthony.
 
The Riley engine was used in

Healey Westland Roadster 64 produced from 1946-50
Healey Elliott Saloon 101 produced from 1946-50
Healey Sportsmobile 23 produced from 1948-50
Healey Silverstone 104 produced from 1949-50
Healey Tickford Saloon 222 produced from 1950-54

Cheers,

Ian
 
Silverstones were 'real' Healeys not Austin Healeys! Healey website is linked in my signature.

At Goodwood revival 2009 there was a display of H and AH cars - mainly 100S but the Cadillac engined Silverstone was there....with a nicely engraved notice saying Austin Healey. Luckily a nice lady on the Vulcan stand let me have a bit of gaffer tape to cover over the Austin bit!

If I had a penny for everyone who said 'Austin Healey' when I tell them mine's a Healey I'd have ...... ÂŁ4.57 by now :smile:

The engine was also used in Rileys from about 1933, including RMs and in slightly modified form, Pathfinder, although the Healey version was slightly 'warmed up' compared to the Riley.

They are very collectable - only 105 built so pretty rare, about 60 of them survive, we had 20 or so on the track at the Silverstone circuit last July for the 60th anniversary of the car and they are still raced - 2 at Goodwood 2008. Silverstone register is on here https://www.healey-classic.de//


John
 
I've always liked this car, and would love to own one, but unless I fall into a truck load of money and the leprechauns smile on me,
Irish.jpg
, It'll be in the after life! :jester:
803.jpg
 
OPA 2 - I've driven that at Goodwood*! The thing that upset me about it and the same with another D type I drove a few years ago is how cramped they are - I'm only 6' and have short legs and a long back but there isn't enough space for my legs - I have to push my knees outwards so far that I can't change gear.

E types let the seat go further back so there may be hope of getting my legs in - I'll try one day.

John

(*Not quite as impressive as it sounds, I did a slow lap of the car park as the owner did the same with mine to compare how light/heavy the steering was :smile: )
 
There's a book written about OPA 2, by the guy who owned and raced it in the 50s - drove it to the circuit, raced, drove home.

Total cost for the year ÂŁ291, which doesn't sound much, but equates to about ÂŁ8000 now, which I guess is still quite cheap for a years racing!

It's called Racing a Sportscar, by Charles Mortimer, still available secondhand if you search.

racing_sportscar.jpg
 
The Riley motor is a twin cam, but not overhead cam. The cams are in the block with push rods operating the valves via rockers. One camshaft works the Inlet, on the opposite side another camshaft works the exhaust valves.
Similar to the Triumph motor-cycle of the '50s & '60s.
There is an Austin-Healey 100 in Australia fitted with one of these Riley 2.5 litre motors. Its bigger and even heavier than the 2.66 litre Austin motor! I last saw this car at the 1993 AH National Rally in Canberra.
OPA 2 spent many years in New South Wales, owned by Fred Vogel.
 
andybj8 said:
Heres a few pics I took of a few interesting cars last year in Warwicks town centre:

https://www.austin-healey3000.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=6099590

Pat Moss's car was there, one of the 4000's, Silverstones and the SR recreation.

cheers Andy
Click to expand...

My car's there :smile: , on the left between the man with the pink/red shirt and the lady with the black jacket. We had about 15 Warwick Healeys at that event, which doesn't sound many, but until recent years getting double figure was unheard of!

https://www.austin-healey3000.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=41571037
 
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