[NOTE: Since the car has now been sold, this page is purely for those interested in the story and details of a fun and well-loved race car that has now moved on to a new owner.]
THE STORY
The car was purchased by my father in 1961 and has been in the family ever since. It was raced in some form from almost day one, and has amassed a decent racing history (though all purely amateur – see pictures). Dad did SCCA regional road racing in the Pacific Northwest back in the 1960s (unfortunately, I have no documentation of this, just Dad’s stories) and some occasional Time-Speed-Distance (TSD) rallies and concourses with it in the late ‘60s and into the 1970s. He then placed it in dry storage until the mid-’80s, after which he spec’d the car into primarily an autocrosser, with occasional forays into track day or hill climb events. Dad won the SCCA Solo II E Prepared season championship (as well as the comparable Western Washington Sports Car Club class championship) for many, many years in the 1990s and early 2000s. The car has also been a fixture at national Austin-Healey club events across the country, winning too many autocrosses (often with Fastest Time of Day), gymkhanas, and top speed events to count.
When dad passed a few years back, the car became mine. I raced it once or twice a year for several years and have had an absolute blast with each outing. However, my work schedule no longer allows me to keep up with a full race car, and it was Dad’s desire that someone have it that would give it the regular workouts it deserves. Thus, it is (very reluctantly) time to sell it.
The car is still mostly Healey, with some notable exceptions. Specs in part are as follows: Austin A90 block (engine was assembled by Action Machine near Seattle, WA – an excellent shop), Dennis Welch aluminum head and oil sump, custom headers and exhaust, SU carbs, Holley fuel pump, electric water pump, electric fan, GM alternator conversion, Nology spark plug wires, Lucas coil, Muncie M-3 4-speed transmission with reverse lockout (reverse works perfectly, must pull an additional lever to use it – prevents accidental engagement while racing), Centerforce clutch, Ford 9-inch rear end with Mosier 4:11 gears and Strange axles (rear suspension is a custom, fully adjustable 5-link), Sprite steering rack, 4-wheel disc brakes (fronts are from an Austin-Healey 3000, rears from a Lincoln Versailles station wagon), 7-inch rims with Hoosier slicks, 5-gal fuel cell, roll cage, and more. Car uses 110 octane fuel and is ear-shattering loud, just like Dad liked it.
FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR A RESTORATION CANDIDATE RATHER THAN A RACE CAR, this may well be your car. At additional cost (negotiable), the following parts package is available: 1 windshield with original glass, 1 rebuildable generator, 1 oil pan, 1 Healey rear end (differential), four fenders without flares (I believe they are the original fenders), original doors (one driver, one passenger) in good condition (mild rust on bottoms), 1 steering column (complete with gearbox), 1 fuel tank, driver and passenger side screens (plastic in them would need to be replaced). Other spares are also available, price negotiable (see other pages on this site).
As far as structural integrity is concerned, the car is sound and a solid platform for racing – there have been no chassis failures of any kind in the last 50 years. Car has been in heated garaged for the last 40 years.
The car has never been in an accident that I know of in the last 50 years. However, Dad did tell of two times when the car had to have frame and body panel repairs done back in the ’60s. So while the frame and body are solid, they are not unmolested.
The car is a very capable autocrosser in the right hands, and is one of the most visceral and entertaining driving experiences I know of (and that’s saying something: My other rides over the last few years have been a 2007 Roush 427R Mustang and a 2015 Z06 Corvette).
To See and Learn More
Questions?
Please feel free to contact me by clicking here.
Thanks for looking!