Hello, new to the forum and new to Austin Healey.

[andrea]

Richard
Very good example of 100/4 Le Mans -with few touch wheels and seats can return to originals specifications if yu want
In France there are one site specifically dedicated to 100 4 menages by Didier Mongin a very nice person
https://www.austin-healey.fr/
After the custom clearance operations - you will go on the road with this legendary car-and understand completely our infatuation -Enjoining!
Benveuto!!
https://picasaweb.google.com/112770819864514987162/TUSCANYRayd2013#5928195973170304450

 

[Bob_Spidell]

"... It sold for the then-breathtaking sum of $231,000 (I'm pretty sure of that figure)."

I think you're correct, Reid (hard to forget those wheels). To my knowledge, that is the largest sum ever paid for an 'M;' even the low-mileage, 'barn find' that Wayne Carini 'found' and auctioned didn't go that high (his mechanic Roger said the sound of its rebuilt engine was "music to this old man's ears").

"1. It had the bent cross brace in front of the radiator indicating that it was a genuine 100M. Of course that telltale can be faked, but it's surprising how many people do not know about that clue, so it's definitely a good sign that the car has it."

Didn't we conclude here that some Ms didn't have the bent brace? The story goes that if either of the bosses--Geoff or Donald--were around the mechanics pulled the engine to change the cam and pistons as they were supposed to, but if they weren't they did the work in situ, requiring the bending of the brace (FWIW, our M has the bent brace).

 

[RichardK]

Congrats Richard, for your first Healey you really made a beautiful choice, most Healey aficionados would kill to have such a beautiful example. My advice, just enjoy your beautiful Healey and don't let too many folks nit pick about this and that! I am very sure many people in this forum would be more then happy to help you with any technical questions along the way when needed. The best thing to do is get yourself a complete detailed manual and study the various systems of the car. Actually, these are very simple sport cars to maintain and work on. When properly sorted out these cars will give you years of enjoyment. Oh yes, be prepared to get attention and make new friends along the way...people will flock around you at gas stations and where ever you happend to be. By the way, I really like the. red painted wire wheels. Enjoy and welcome to the club! Pictured is a 100 I viewed at a local car show years ago and always liked the matching painted wire wheels.View attachment 41250

Thanks and thanks for the great advice, where is the best place to get my hands on a manual? I don't mind the nit picking actually, it helps me to learn more about the car and the ways I can improve on it so it's win/win.

Great looking car in the pic, wheels do like nice!

 

[Editor_Reid]

"1. It had the bent cross brace in front of the radiator indicating that it was a genuine 100M. Of course that telltale can be faked, but it's surprising how many people do not know about that clue, so it's definitely a good sign that the car has it."

Didn't we conclude here that some Ms didn't have the bent brace? The story goes that if either of the bosses--Geoff or Donald--were around the mechanics pulled the engine to change the cam and pistons as they were supposed to, but if they weren't they did the work in situ, requiring the bending of the brace (FWIW, our M has the bent brace).

Urban myth in my book, and a great cover for those who own cars without the bent brace and want to claim it's a genuine 100M. My 100M - with the bent brace - almost got it straightened by a restorer who didn't know that it was an original feature. Darn good thing I informed him that it was an original feature before he got around to straightening it!

If I hadn't informed him about it, it would be a real/genuine/factory 100M without a bent brace, but not because DMH or GCH were watching when the car passed through Warwick.

 

[RichardK]

Richard,

Bill Meade - Founder and Registrar of the "Worldwide 100M Le Mans Registry" - will likely have some good data on this car. (I believe that you'll find that the car is merely "registered" with Bill; not verified in any way.)

If it is the car I believe it to be, I first became aware of it maybe about seven or so years ago when it sold at an auction in Texas. I believe that RM (now merged with Sotheby's) was the auction company. It was part of a collection of a Texan whose cars were mostly done in red and black or black and red. It sold for the then-breathtaking sum of $231,000 (I'm pretty sure of that figure). Even with the increase in prices for genuine 100M cars in recent years, that is still a very strong price. Apparently a couple of deep-pocket guys got into a bidding duel and drove the price up above reasonability - the winning bidder way overpaid.

I saw the car offered at auction again a couple of years later in Arizona. Again, I think it was an RM auction because I remember seeing it in the preview area (parking lot) of the hotel they used for their auction site. As I recall, it sold for less than half of the $231,000, making it the record Healey sale ... record loss, that is. I remember thinking that over $100,000 disappeared (or perhaps more accurately, failed to reappear) in that single sale.

I have three specific recollections of the car:

1. It had the bent cross brace in front of the radiator indicating that it was a genuine 100M. Of course that telltale can be faked, but it's surprising how many people do not know about that clue, so it's definitely a good sign that the car has it.

2. My impression of the restoration was that it had been what I would term, "merciless." I guess you could say that it was the opposite of a "sympathetic" restoration. NO trace of patina survived, no original surface was left un-redone, etc. It's a bit hard to describe, but I'd characterize the restoration as heavy-handed, industrial strength. (Sorry to be vague, but it's difficult to put into words.)

3. The non-original choices - the red-painted wire wheels and two-tone seats, for two examples - were not what I would have done, but they were done well and are not especially difficult to undo. The incorrect color break just behind the front wheel arches indicated, to me, a not-very-knowledgable-about-Healeys restorer.

If the car were mine <unsolicited advice follows; please deposit 25 cents, refundable/>, I'd get the break line between the red and black paint corrected, lose the white pinstripe between the red and black paint, get the correct knob for the wipers, straighten the trafficator, and probably leave the interior otherwise as-is - it's dramatic, different, very well done, and after all, as a sports car it's supposed to be showy. ENJOY it on those French back roads, and welcome to the forum. If you want a great Healey contact in France and contact with their club, let me know and I'll help you faire leur connaissance. Bon chance.

Hello Reid,

Thanks for all the details, great stuff. As I was researching the car more, I found that it actually sold last year in Arizona for 170k. Maybe that is the second auction you were thinking about?

I understand completely what you mean about an "industrial" restoration; the car is immaculate in terms of paint and typical wear and tear as well as the lack of any "patina" look and feel to it. I certainly do appreciate the nuances of a vintage vehicle with all it's slight imperfections and wear. That being said, I can't complain as long as the car was brought back to original specs for the most part.

I'm still trying to figure that last part out. The changes you brought up for the car make sense and aren't too hard to do. Thanks for pointing these out to me as they are a good way forward.

I'd love to hear more about any other details you can re-collect about the vehicle or it's history and would also appreciate that Healey contact in France.

One thing is clear, I can't wait to get my hands on the car and finally take her for a spin. Merci!

 

[Keoke]

HI Richard always good to see newbies from far away places come on the forum.

Welcome aboard.

 

[RichardK]

Richard
Very good example of 100/4 Le Mans -with few touch wheels and seats can return to originals specifications if yu want
In France there are one site specifically dedicated to 100 4 menages by Didier Mongin a very nice person
https://www.austin-healey.fr/
After the custom clearance operations - you will go on the road with this legendary car-and understand completely our infatuation -Enjoining!
Benveuto!!
https://picasaweb.google.com/112770819864514987162/TUSCANYRayd2013#5928195973170304450

Thanks for the link Andrea and great looking cars! Grazie Mille!

 

[RichardK]

Reid has covered all the main points. I personally don't worry much about originality, my car has a completely different engine and gearbox to original. It appears your car is a genuine 100M and as such you may want it to look more original. On the other hand you may want to enjoy it as it is, only a Healey connoisseur is going to know it isn't exactly correct. The Black over Red colour is a correct combination but the seats should be red. The wheels should be silver. I said it would look nice with black wheels only because I happen to like dark painted wires, plus I think it would nicely contrast with the red sides. It looks like a beautiful car, enjoy it and prepare for endless debates about whether 100Ms should really be worth as much as they selling for.

Thank you very much, everyone has their own tastes as you say and I'm definitely not one to judge what's right or wrong. My personal taste is to try to get a vehicle as close to when it left the factory as possible. I don't know, maybe it allows my imagination to take me back in time ha ha.

In any case, I'm loving the community here. Glad to be a part of it

 

[Editor_Reid]

Hello Reid,

Thanks for all the details, great stuff. As I was researching the car more, I found that it actually sold last year in Arizona for 170k. Maybe that is the second auction you were thinking about?

No, it sold for the $231,000 I mentioned in 2007 (how time flies) as part of the "Ponder Collection," and then sold again in 2011 for $107,250. That was the record loss I was referring to - over $100,000 less than just four years previous, and less than half the price of the previous sale at a time when 100M prices were headed up. The Arizona auction crowd just didn't like it. I recall that it was not represented, carelessly prepared and looking lonely and unloved in the preview area.

I'd love to hear more about any other details you can re-collect about the vehicle or it's history and would also appreciate that Healey contact in France.

I don't know any more about the car's history other than its subsequent auction sales for $170,500 last year and what is presumably your purchase of the car a few days ago. It's evident that no owner subsequent to that high-dollar sale in 2007 has done much of anything with it. I can't see anything changed about its appearance. I've no idea how many miles might have been put on it since the 2007 sale, but my hunch is that it has been owned by speculators and/or owners of big collections who didn't really "love" it, more likely regarding it as "a trophy" - just my subjective impression.

(Full disclosure: I write catalog descriptions for RM, but have never written one for this particular car.)

The French connection (sorry, couldn't resist) is the guy whom "andrea" mentioned earlier/above in this topic: Didier Mongin. I've another contact there, but Didier should be all you need to get in touch with the French club and all things Healey en France. Bon route!

 

[RandyHicks]

Regarding the bent brace, I have to agree with Bob S. My 33,000 mile Florida Green 100M (documented from new) does not have the bent brace and I have seen several others that do not. (My OEW/Black brace is bent) At Gettysburg last summer Mike Dale was going over my 100M and commented on the brace not being bent. We talked about that and he confirmed that all were not bent and it depended on who did the modification and who was in the shop at the time. Sorry Reid.

Reid is correct on the background of Richard new car. I last saw it in Scottsdale when it went for $107K. My biggest concern at the time was the pinching at the top of the doors which usually indicates weak sills. The rest was merely cosmetic.

Richard, please contact me off-line so that I can update the AHCA 100 Registry with your contact information.

Randy

 

[pan]

Being a small businessman (and a thrifty Cornishman as well) I suspect that DMH would have been in favour of bending the brace, as opposed to the extra labour time required to pull the engine out just to swap the camshaft.

 

[Michael Oritt]

Richard--

Congratulations on acquiring a stunning car. The degree of one's concern with originality and authenticity is an incident of ownership and while some might be critical of changes that have been and/or will be made it is your privilege to do as you see fit. There are many things I have done to my car--an early (1957) LeMans modification--since acquiring it in 1999, but it continues to give me pleasure.

My only unsolicited advice is to drive it and enjoy it.