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Austin Healeys in Malta

DerekJ

Luke Skywalker
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Hello again forum members.

First the sad news. I sold my 100-Six in March , but its gone to a very good home and will be enjoying the French countryside.

Ive been in Malta a couple of months now and finally got time to visit the Classic Car museum. I must say its one of the best Ive ever been to in terms of quality and presentation. There are only about 60 cars but they are all in A1 condition and the presntation is excellant with very creative period diaramas. They are mainly Bristish cars including an E-Type, MGA, TR3, MGB, Lotus Cortinas (Mk 1 and Mk 2)C-Type, XK 140 etc and also the owners fathers original family car, which he tracked down in the Uk and rstored. Its a duck egg blue Austin Somerset convertible. Beautiful. There are foreign cars too, including a beautiful salmon pink Thunderbird and an early Corvette plus some very nice Alfas and Fiats. Part of the decor includes working juke boxes and assorted petrol pumps and other automobilia. A must visit if you're ever in Malta.

And there are are 3 Healeys!!!. The big Healey is a 100-Six in Blue and white, just like my own, I nearly cried. If Jim Lesher reads this he should add it to his register. Its a 1957 2 port car, ex-UK. VIN is BN4-S-45240. A Standard car with disc wheels and no overdrive, originally it was all blue.It still has its original fuel tank with the 100 style fuel connection to the tank. The restoration is excellant with super paint in a very accurate Healey blue. There is also a white Frog eye and a red square bodied sprite. Both Excellant.

I spoke to the owner and he says there are some Healeys on the island out of captivity. He thinks maybe 3 big Healeys. Now I have to track them down...and buy one !!!!????

cheers
 
I spent Thanksgiving Day weekend in Malta in 1998, I believe it was. I even didn't know that they had a classic car museum there; wish I would have known or thought to ask.

I did, however, visit the ex-BMC dealer and bought a distributor cap for a BJ8 very reasonably. They let me visit their spare parts department with "my list." It wasn't really very fruitful, but I tried.

Unfortunately, they told me that they had just thrown out a large quantity of old BMC manuals, shortly before my visit. I was tempted to visit to the local "tip" (British for dump) and search around a bit, but my wife does have SOME limits on what she considers vacation entertainment.

Alas.
 
Hi Derek;

From what you wrote, you are getting settled in and checking out the local scene. It sounds like you are going to enjoy your "retirement" in Malta. I certainly recall the run we made to the Indy Conclave several years ago with Rich Chrysler. Both of our cars make gorgeous music. It is a shame you had to pass yours on to another custodian.

We had our British Sportscar Flea Market on April 22nd with fantastic weather; my guess is that we beat previous record of 3000 attendees. The accompanying car show filled the parking area to a maximum. On the following weekend, 10 of us from the Austin Healey Club of Southern Ontario headed for the Kingston British Autojumble put on by the local Boot N' Bonnet club. We all had a great time and met some Healey owners from the local area that did not belong to any clubs and seemed to just come out of the woodwork.

If you ever get an opportunity to visit Southern Ontario do give a call. Eight to ten of us that are retired [play time - I love it] meet for breakfast each Monday and set up our weekly adventures & road tours. Loosly, we are the ROMEO's - retired old men eating out.

Enjoy the sun Derek and remember, Keep Smiling - Murphy Lives

--Scott
 
Editor_Reid said:
I was tempted to visit to the local "tip" (British for dump) and search around a bit, but my wife does have SOME limits on what she considers vacation entertainment.

Hmmm... Alas!! Finally a proof of the old adage "One man's trash is another man's treasure."

Reid let's go dumpster diving in all the old colonies! I'm sure we will find widgets, what-nots and books for all manner of those valuable Hillmans and Humbers!
 
Reid,

Don't beat yourself up. I don't think the museum existed then. Its installed in a new building, probably built by the owner who is a property developer. (he needs to be to afford the cars, I forgot to mention there are also some modern cars as well including, several Ferraris, a Bently Continental and a Dodge Viper.)

I also think your decision not to spend thanksgiving weekend in a rubbish tip while on holiday with your wife in Malta probably saved your marriage!!!

Hi Scot

Yes, retirement is pretty good isn't it! Say hi to everyone on your next monday meet. I miss my Tim Horton's Boston Cream and coffee! I may actually buy a classic car even if its not a Healey. I would probably use it as a daily driver as I don't actually use a car that much anyway. There's plenty of choice, I bumped into a guy yesterday who owns 8 Morris Minor Travellers! I quite fancy a Ford Cortina Mk1 or Escort Mk 1 or maybe an Alfa Guilia.

cheers
 
Derek - I am glad you alive and well in Malta. I hope you are enjoying retirement? Too bad about the sale of your car. Thank you very much for info on the Longridge 2porthead find, in a museum no less. Great for Concours with the early fuel tank connection. Did it also have the vacuum trap inline? That is good for the Longbridge. I will add it to the Registry. Do you have any photos to share with all? Sorry to say, because of family health issues, I am behind in updating my files. I actually still owe Bill and Rudy the final stats on the 50th Anniversary Gathering at VIR in Sept. Healey106 - Jim
 
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