NOJ 393 Provenance

[Healey 100]

Healey Friends:

Many of you have probably noted the upcoming sale of NOJ 393, the pre-100S Special Test Car.
NOJ 393 Auction

This is supposedly the car that was involved in the infamous 1955 LeMans crash. From looking at the damage of that Healey, I find it hard to believe that this car was repaired after the accident.

No doubt, a good body man can fix anything, but why would Healey go to that much trouble to save this particular car? I have seen pictures of "lost" 100S's that were wrecked in races and abandoned by HMC.

I could certainly see saving the running gear and engine, race cars always can use spares. I can't quite understand why it would be worth repairing this badly damaged car just to sell it to a privateer? A 100S was not so priceless in 1956.

It all sounds very fishy to me, perhaps others know more about this particular car.

 

[John Turney]

A Yahoo search of "NOJ 393" yielded some sites that confirm the story and were written prior to the Bonhams page. This AUTOSPORT Forum thread (written after Bonhams page) the has some interesting discussion of the car, including some posts by Doug Nye.

 

[dougie]

I'm sure Reid might chime in, but be assured this is the real deal. This car has very good documentation. Pick-up a copy of "Big Healeys In Competition," by John Baggott. It's a good read if your into racing Healeys.........I am. Oh and the following picture is of the person who authenticated the car in question.

 

[BigGreen]

Mail on-line;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...er-sell-1m.html

Hans

 

[john_j]

I like the way it seems to be tied on the trailer with a piece of washing line....

 

[dougie]

I like the way it seems to be tied on the trailer with a piece of washing line....

I agree, in the states we'd use bailing wire. Oh well, it's only worth a million and some change.

 

[HEALEYJAG]

1.3 Million sale!!