Original Owner Factory 100M

[Editor_Reid]

I found the envelope that my "M" badge came in. It's got one label, marked EMB M151, and it's from Sports & Classics in CT - 203 655-8731/2. There's also another label on it marked as follows: 11-436 A EMB151M 504641 95000823. Might help someone who wants an original-appearing "M".

I also found an article from the April-May 1988 Austin-Healey Magazine by Reid entitled "The Case for the "100 Le Mans" Grill (sic) Badge". If anyone wants a copy let me know - I can scan it in and post it, with Reid's approval of course.

No objection. But if you're going to highlight the spelling of "grill," let's note that I was no longer editor of Austin-Healey Magazine by that time. In fact, it was the first issue after I relinquished the editorship (due to an upcoming assignment in Djibouti in east Africa).

That was also in the recent aftermath of the discovery of the microfilm copy of the original Job Production Cards for the 100, and therefore not long after we finally had a definitive list of which cars came from the factory as 100M. It was still common to call those cars 100 Le Mans (which I did at John Wheatley's suggestion).

I was also a new owner of a 100M at that time, having purchased one from the original owner in October 1987. On Halloween, actually.

Doesn't seem that long ago, but ...

 

[AH100M]

Sorry about the sic Reid. "Grill" just stood up and waved at me and I couldn't ignore it. (For those who are interested, grill is what you do to a steak or what you grill it on. Grilles keeps rocks out of your radiator).

I know about "editors". I've had my writing "corrected" enough times that I gave up being exasperated. Once a "...for all intents and purposes..." was changed to "...for all intensive purposes..."!!

Anyway, if anyone wants to read the article let me know and I'll post it.

 

[mk31755]

Would you please post a copy of the article about the M badge? I would like to "reid" it. By the way it is not hard to take off the copper wire on the back of the reproduction badge and resolder it so it goes east and west instead of north and south, Thanks Mk

 

[AH100M]

Will do, first thing tomorrow AM New York time.

 

[AH100M]

Having trouble with my scanner. Will do it this weekend.

 

[HealeyRick]

Having trouble with my scanner. Will do it this weekend.

Lucas scanner?

 

[AH100M]

No, GM. Cable fell out and I lost all control.

 

[mk31755]

Reid;

Could you please post a copy of the article, for me, since we are having problems getting it scanned? Thank you MK

 

[Editor_Reid]

Reid;

Could you please post a copy of the article, for me, since we are having problems getting it scanned? Thank you MK

Here it is. Please bear in mind a few things. "Grill" should be "grille." This was written 27 years ago when we were young, the Earth's crust was still cooling and the continents were still taking shape, and knowledge of the marque was rather less detailed. We had not yet settled on calling the 100M the 100M. At John Wheatley's suggestion I was then calling them "100 Le Mans," but have no doubt that the article is discussing the 640 100M cars.

Based upon everything I've observed in decades of observing, I believe that most of the 640 100M models originally had the "M" attached to their "100" grille badges. Sure, there might have been a few that got sent out without them, but I believe that that was a small - probably very small - minority. As far as what I believe, all of the 640 should have the "M" (and certainly no other cars should! - such as the standard 100 in a local shop that sports the "M" on its grille badge - tsk, tsk, tsk).

Click on the small image below to enlarge it.

 

[Michael Oritt]

Reid--

My car was converted to Le Mans specs by first owner in 1956. It came to me with an M badge attached to the grill(e). Are you of the opinion that I should remove the M and disturb history?

 

[Editor_Reid]

Reid--

My car was converted to Le Mans specs by first owner in 1956. It came to me with an M badge attached to the grill(e). Are you of the opinion that I should remove the M and disturb history?

Well, counselor, that opens an interesting line of inquiry.

It reminds me of the Roman coins I purchased in Tunisia when living there over 15 years ago. Having bought them from a guy who appeared seemingly out of nowhere while I was visiting some Roman ruins, I was aware that some or all of them may well have been fakes, copies. But I didn't pay much for them and I thought that they were interesting and decorative and was willing to own them either way, real or counterfeit. However, sometime later I took them with me to Rome where I had them assessed by a coin dealer. I advised him of where I purchased them and that I was well aware that some or all could be fakes. However, upon looking at them spread across his counter, he quickly declared, "First of all, I can tell you that they are all real." Then in describing them individually he informed me that a few were "period fakes" - counterfeit coins made back in the day by Rome's enemies to undermine their economy and their legitimate currency. For this reason they now had their own value as historical, period artifacts. I enjoyed that fact as much as I enjoyed the authenticity of "the real ones."

So let me answer your question with one of my own. Since those counterfeits were not "real" Roman coins, and since they were neither recognized nor represented as real Roman coins, would you dispose of them as unwanted, illegitimate articles?

 

[Michael Oritt]

So let me answer your question with one of my own. Since those counterfeits were not "real" Roman coins, and since they were neither recognized nor represented as real Roman coins, would you dispose of them as unwanted, illegitimate articles?

Reid--

Thanks for the interesting analogy. And while I may have asked what you thought I have no plan to remove the "M" and revise history.