This is the second installment of the Streamline 100/6s post. It's a bit
like going to the flicks on a Saturday arvo and watching the serials.
I used to think Rocketman was just great.
Hoo Roo
Patrick Quinn
This car was driven by Formula One driver Peter Collins at Nassau in
December 1956 and it too was fitted with a streamlined body painted BRG.
It was not a success as not only did the engine leak oil everywhere the
Italian horses were only small ones and it lacked power. Geoff comments
that as it was not successful the car was modified to take a C-Series
engine and not only did it handle better but performed better as well.
Nassau was in December and Sebring was in the following March. Putting
one and one together I am willing to bet real cash money that the Nassau
Ferrari engined car ended up being car No 25 at Sebring.
By the way at P90 of Healeys and Austin-Healeys there is mention that
the 100s powered record breaking car was later fitted with a
six-cylinder engine.
What about the endurance cars? Did the DHMC have enough capital behind
them to build the endurance cars as well as separate cars for Sebring? I
doubt it, but it's purely my thoughts.
If you want to see what the endurance car looked like from the front
have a look at:
http://www.acmefluid.com.au/larry/PQBN3.html
It's a photo of DMH next to an endurance car and by the way that's my
car immediately behind.
How do I know it's an endurance car? I received the photo from the late
Ron Yates without caption but look at the cockpit. It's streamlined with
a wrap-around screen while the Sebring cars have open cockpits and aero
screens. Not a problem to fit either of course but it makes you think.
By the way the first rally car was a 100/6 with the English registration
UOC 741 and was a standard bodied car. This car has no connection with
the endurance or Sebring cars.
Does any of this diatribe shed any light on what happened to the 57
Sebring cars? No not one little bit as their whereabouts are still a
complete mystery. However there is a little clue in one of the Geoff's
books when he tells of when Carroll Shelby was trying to find a partner
for his idea of showing an American V8 into an English sports car.
Geoff said that Shelby visited the DHMC (he was a friend of the Healey
family) looking for a Austin-Healey to fit a V8 into. He was shown
around the back to where the record breaking and endurance cars were but
they were all far too rusty to use because of the salt. Later questions
to BMC received a firm no and history tells us the he found friends with
the Sherlock brothers at AC and turned the Ace into the Cobra.
So perhaps the endurance cars and Sebring cars were the same?
I honestly don't know but given time the answer is there in the various
publications and from those who are still around.
Whatever it's all great fun.
Hoo Roo
Patrick Quinn
Sydney, Australia
**********************************************************************
This message is intended for the addressee named and may contain
privileged information or confidential information or both. If you
are not the intended recipient please delete it and notify the sender.
**********************************************************************
|