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Why Would Anyone Butcher a Healey with a V8?

trrdster2000

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Saw a few 327's in the big Healey's back in the 70's The one I got to drive handled well, but only had a 3 speed transmission, so with the rear end was more a cruiser than a road car. Weight was a little closer to 50/50. He was using it as a AutoX car. Can't remember the class.
 

DerekJ

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The bigger question for me is why was a Corvette powered Healey allowed in a race at Goodwood. I don’t recall seeing that before in UK classic racing, which is based on controlled specs. That Maserati has got to be the most beautiful car ever.
 
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HealeyRick

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Weren't most nasty boys created from junkyard cars back in the day?

Some were, some weren't. Most of the early conversions were done when original engines failed. Race cars seemed to be popular in the beginning. I always like to cite that 8 of the 50 100S cars had a V8 in them at some point, either because of broken motors or out of a desire to improve the performance of what had become a non-competitive race car. Then hot rodders seized on the idea of a high-power engine in a light body. I'd guess that most of the cars were done on used cars with tired motors rather than coming out of a junkyard.

The bigger question for me is why was a Corvette powered Healey allowed in a race at Goodwood. I don’t recall seeing that before in UK classic racing, which is based on controlled specs. That Maserati has got to be the most beautiful car ever.

I saw a post by David Matthews suggesting that Goodwood entry might be influenced by one's connections. I know for a few years that original Cobra owners haven't been happy by some replicas being allowed to race.

I saw this very cool Healey V8 special at Laguna Seca a few weeks ago that had been raced since the '50s:

68601621_653492735059900_2313723900539699200_n.jpg


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68792571_653492705059903_8918860337332092928_n.jpg
 

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HealeyRick

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Michael Oritt

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"Being able to outpace a Maserati 300S with your Corvette-engined 100 could have something to do with it."

The relative value of his car versus that of the Chevy-Healey might also have led the Maserati driver to feel more comfortable behind it versus in front of or alongside it....
 

steveg

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"Being able to outpace a Maserati 300S with your Corvette-engined 100 could have something to do with it."

The relative value of his car versus that of the Chevy-Healey might also have led the Maserati driver to feel more comfortable behind it versus in front of or alongside it....

Irreplaceable.

According to Wikipedia, it has 245bhp, which would put it down on power compared to the Healey-Vette.
 

vette

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" The relative value of his car versus that of the Chevy-Healey might also have led the Maserati driver to feel more comfortable behind it versus in front of or alongside it....

An understandable sediment but at one point in the video it can be seen that the Massi was pulling up on the Healey rather quickly on a straight, the Healey driver did an obvious double take in noticing the situation and just proceeded to pull straight away from the Massi.
 

dougie

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Some were, some weren't. Most of the early conversions were done when original engines failed. Race cars seemed to be popular in the beginning. I always like to cite that 8 of the 50 100S cars had a V8 in them at some point, either because of broken motors or out of a desire to improve the performance of what had become a non-competitive race car. Then hot rodders seized on the idea of a high-power engine in a light body. I'd guess that most of the cars were done on used cars with tired motors rather than coming out of a junkyard.



I saw a post by David Matthews suggesting that Goodwood entry might be influenced by one's connections. I know for a few years that original Cobra owners haven't been happy by some replicas being allowed to race.

I saw this very cool Healey V8 special at Laguna Seca a few weeks ago that had been raced since the '50s:

View attachment 60541

View attachment 60542

View attachment 60543


I thought the recent bid was high enough, but he's put a lot into getting back into shape.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1953-austin-healey-healey-chevy-vintage-racing-special/
 

twas_brillig

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My perception is that it made sense to pop V8s into crapped out Healeys in the 50s/60s/70s; not so much since then.
Fun watching the video, and seeing those (relatively) skinny tyres drifting out somewhat unexpectedly on a few of the corners. Either way, I'm glad to see the two of them out there. Doug
 

Michael Oritt

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An understandable sediment but at one point in the video it can be seen that the Massi was pulling up on the Healey rather quickly on a straight, the Healey driver did an obvious double take in noticing the situation and just proceeded to pull straight away from the Massi.

Vette--

The Healey driver's apparent situational unawareness seems not have been lost on the driver of the Maserati who following that tends to keep a safe distance.
 

Michael Oritt

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So, it appears, was the Maserati, which had the faster "Best Lap" by 2.2 seconds:

DNF 8 Michael LYONS Austin Healey-Corvette BN1 - 1954 11 3 Laps 17:36.890 1 Lap 89.17 1:34.080 7
DNF 21 Lukas HALUSA Maserati 300S - 1955 10 4 Laps 15:31.911 1 Lap 91.94 1:31.902 4
 

steveg

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It would have been interesting if there had been lap times for the Mercedes 300SLR which had nearly 100 more bhp than the Maserati.

I wonder if a Scarab ever ran at Goodwood. Another interesting lap time. Also the Maserati 450S.
 

jlburdge

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Being able to outpace a Maserati 300S with your Corvette-engined 100 could have something to do with it.


Glad you asked Rick. I saw an Austin outside of a boat dock builder's shop. Stopped and asked about it. It had been on fire and stripped out, floor pans/trans tunnel rusted out, fender support frame cut out, etc. Had been sitting outside for 4+ years (that I know of) because everytime I went by and had the time I tried to get it from him. No deal, he was going to "fix it up" someday. FINALLY, we made a deal---for a used chainsaw and a 30-30 rifle. It was n my shop, on blocks for 5.5 years as I word on it in my spare time (the shop WAS my work). I decided to put a 289 Hollman/Moody (350H.P.) engine in it as a full restoration was not possible. Some "Purists" may scoff at what I have done, BUT, at least it is on the road once again instead of a junk yard. AND it is one ****-of-Auh-Ride.
 

jlburdge

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Here is my "Butchered" Healey. I do not apologize for saving it from the scrap yard .
 

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ahealey1004

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Looks great jlburdge! I'm a fan of modified Healeys, and stock Healeys too! Thanks for sharing.
 
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