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Original factory 100M.

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Johnny

Johnny

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Just had an interesting interview with a senior member of Gateway Healey. He owns an original factory 100M. One of the ways, he says, of determining this fact is very interesting.
"Original factory installed 100M cars had a chrome screw inserted on the front shroud lip, where the hood sits, and securing the shroud to the chassis." I noted this screw was on the right side near the dash. He said the factory did this to identify factory cars from the kits that were sold outright. So apparently this chrome screw was not included in the kit. I know Michael Oritt has a 100M, any other owners wishing to verify this?
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Johnny:
Just had an interesting interview with a senior member of Gateway Healey. He owns an original factory 100M. One of the ways, he says, of determining this fact is very interesting.
"Original factory installed 100M cars had a chrome screw inserted on the front shroud lip, where the hood sits, and securing the shroud to the chassis."

I know Michael Oritt has a 100M, any other owners wishing to verify this?
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Johnny--

Not sure which screw you're talking of but IMHO any point of differentiation this small could and would have been picked up and copied onto wannabee M's long ago. Given that there were only 640-1000 "Factory M's" made, depending upon who is counting, I always find it interesting what a high percentage of them seem to still be in existance in relation to other models, including of course "stock" 100's. BTW, my car is NOT an M but rather a 100 with a factory Le Mans conversion kit that was installed either by the first owner or the dealer, or both, in Florida in 1957. I know this only because of paperwork that came with the car plus the presence of original carbs, cam, etc. etc. that also came along. The "M" on the grille badge came as well and it is often easier at shows, etc. to just say that "yes the car is an 'M' rather than explain the difference.
 
Certainly not the ultimate autority on this but in my readings I have never seen anything about a screw that identified a factory M.

I have always found it interesting though that AH autorized dealer conversions of 100-4's to M's yet people pay a much higher price for a factory M when in essence they are the same.

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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Bruce Bowker:
I have always found it interesting though that AH autorized dealer conversions of 100-4's to M's yet people pay a much higher price for a factory M when in essence they are the same.

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Bruce--

Except for some almost-invisible scratchings on the distributor and carb intakes and the difficult-to-replicate poor quality of the original Cold Air Boxes, it would be nigh onto impossible to tell an early "Factory" Le Mans kit from one made up from parts that can currently be purchased on the market from one of several suppliers. Since anyone can make a "Le Mans" conversion there's little panache....
 
He also said besides the chrome screw, (which was a secret known only to factory employees installing the "LeMans modifications") he never saw one with an "M" on the grille badge. That was added by dealer installed kits.
I'm just the messenger, BTW nice picture Michael.
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Ahem. It seems that the rumors and folklore are never vanquished. Every time we kill one myth, two arise in its place.

The chrome screw thing is a total fairy tale, in my opinion. I've never even heard this one before -- maximum points for creativity in the "100M History Obfuscation Sweepstakes."

The little "M" badges affixed to the 100 flash suffer from having several stories of their history. The most credible information, in my opinion, is that they were affixed at the Donald Healey Motor Company when a 100 was made into a "factory 100M" although some of those cars very probably did not receive it.

I've been in this game a long time and read and studied everything in print on the subject that I have ever been able to find, and talked with lots and lots of people including original owners and factory folks, and I discount the idea that dealers would have/could have affixed the M badges. They were NOT part of the Le Mans Engine Modification Kit and therefore would not have been supplied to dealers, and where in the world they ever would have gotten their hands on something that was made for and used only by the Donald Healey Motor Company in England... well, it just doesn't jibe with the known facts.

No one can prove a negative (we can't "prove" that no dealer ever stumbled onto an M badge and put it on a 100), but it is contrary to all of the credible evidence.

If you're really seriously interested in the 100M, I highly recommend contacting Bill Meade, keeper of the "WORLDWIDE 100M LE MANS REGISTRY" (533 Cedar Drive, Watsonville CA 95076; (831) 722-3253 (phone and fax) for a copy of his 100M info.

Now then, I've got this 100M, and rumor has it that Stirling Moss drove it to the North Pole and loaned it to Santa one year.. yeah, that's the ticket, Santa Claus... and Santa turned it into a 100S, "S" for Santa... yeah, that's right... and the sleigh bells inside the door panels are original equipment... yeah...
 
Reid, if you ever get back to St. Louis I would like to set up a meeting between you and the 100M owner. I'm sure you would enjoy talking with him.
He was taken for a drive in the Healey that Donald drove cross country in 1953(?) when Donald came through St. Louis.
He is the second owner of the 100m and has probably owned it for close to 50 years. It has never been restored and it is still a dependable driver.
He was also a salesman for the largest British car dealership in St. Louis at one time.
He was a member of the original St. Louis Healey club which gives him 40+ years membership.
He has never claimed Stirling Moss drove his car B-)
If I have any facts incorrect I'm sure Johnny will correct them.
bob mc
62 BT7 Miss BT
 
Reid, if you ever get back to St. Louis I would like to set up a meeting between you and the 100M owner. I'm sure you would enjoy talking with him.
He was taken for a drive in the Healey that Donald drove cross country in 1953(?) when Donald came through St. Louis.
He is the second owner of the 100m and has probably owned it for close to 50 years. It has never been restored and it is still a dependable driver.
He was also a salesman for the largest British car dealership in St. Louis at one time.
He was a member of the original St. Louis Healey club which gives him 40+ years membership.
He has never claimed Stirling Moss drove his car B-)
If I have any facts incorrect I'm sure Johnny will correct them.
bob mc
62 BT7 Miss BT
 
I'd love to meet him and see his car. Sounds like he has some interested tales to tell. St. Louis is a long way from Portland, but you never know. I get around some.

I bought my 100M from its original owner on Halloween of 1987. It was both a trick and a treat, and as soon as we get the massive rear main leak fixed, and the smallish head leak fixed, I might actually be able to drive it after its 10+ year restoration.
 
"Now then, I've got this 100M, and rumor has it that Stirling Moss drove it to the North Pole and loaned it to Santa one year.. yeah, that's the ticket, Santa Claus... and Santa turned it into a 100S, "S" for Santa... yeah, that's right... and the sleigh bells inside the door panels are original equipment... yeah..."

Now wait a minute. I was told the exact same story about my 100M. Surely there can not be two of these cars.

Bruce
 
On a more serious note regarding the little "M" on the badge on the grill - were ALL of these attached or were there badges made as a one piece item with the M?
 
Nice stable Bruce, I'm envious. When I'm ready to publish the Gateway Healey's member story (owning the 100M) I'll try and include here for all to read. Meanwhile you'll just have to be happy with the little tidbits I recall from the 3 hour interview.
I do recall him to say Donald started the idea of a 100M after dealers wanting them. They started out with five original, off the line, cars. These cars would be the one's without an "M" badge, and with the chrome screw they used to identify them.
I agree with Bob McElwee Reid, you're welcome to St. Louis anytime. Soon I hope.

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Johnny - thanks for your comments. Just wish I could drive them a lot more than I do. When I took the 4 car picture I did not have my AH 100M which appears in a few messages up in this thread. I will try to line them all up again sometime.

Anyhow were there any 100 M front badges made as a one piece unit or were all M's after either at the factory or dealers?

Bruce
 
<< Anyhow were there any 100 M front badges made as a one piece unit or were all M's after either at the factory or dealers? >>

The little "M" is attached to the existing 100 badge. The M is a separate item. It attaches wit two little wires.

What I have gleaned after years and years on this and related subjects, is that they were affixed at the Donald Healey Motor Company (DHMC), at the time the cars were converted into 100M models, but by no means did all of them receive an "M". It was never a part of the mod kit, and did not have a Part No. (i.e., it was NOT an Austin item, it was something they had made by and for the DHMC).

My 100M, made February 29, 1956, had one. (I bought the car from the original owner.)

There are a few possible/reasonable exceptions, but rather than distract from the basic rule (described above) of how, when and why they were attached, I'd rather not get into stories and one-off exceptions and old wives tales; it only confuses the known history when you throw in the sketchy history.
 
Bill Meade of the Worldwide 100M Registry has created an incredible document that actually shows you what to look for when verifying a 100M. When I registered my "M" he authenticated the VIN and body number (as did my British Heritage Certificate). Bill's publcation has absolutely no mention of a chrome screw.

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