I know there are many listers who are interested in Healey history and I
thought it would be interesting to relate my viewing of what is probably
the largest photo collection of historic competition Healeys.
Yesterday I drove down to meet fellow lister Philippe Dubois who lives
just south of Paris. It was the first time I had met Philippe and we
enjoyed a nice drive and an excellent lunch near the forest of
Rambouillet. Philippe has a 3000 running a 300 degree cam, Dennis Welch
aluminium head, triple Webers, Mallory dual point distributor, dual
breaking, etc. etc...very nice!!!!
As I'm always looking out for 100-Six related photos etc I asked
Philippe if he knew Herve Chevalier who is the author of two 'must have'
Healey Books
Les Healeys au Mons 1949-1970 (forward by Geoff Healey)
Les Healeys dans Les Alpes -1947-1967 (forward by Don Morley)
Philippe said that Herve lived about 30 kms away, right next to the
legendary banked race track of Montlhery. We called, and he asked us to
drive down to see him.
Herve has the most amazing collection of period Healey photos - many are
unique and unpublished - he has been collecting these all over Europe
for the last 25 years or so. Not only do they contain innumerable
pictures of the works cars, team members etc they also include photos
of private rally entrants previously unheard of - such as a Belgian
registered 100S participating in the Monte Carlo Rally!.
Herve has owned the same 100-Six for 30 years and when I told him of my
search for interesting 100-Six items he gave me a copy of an ultra rare
colour photo of UOC 741, the 100-Six that ran in the 1957 Mille Miglia.
The photo shows the car, with bumpers on, competing in the Monte Carlo
Rally. Interesting to me was the colour of the car. It is a darkish
blue, over white with a blue hardtop. The colour is very similar to
Patrick Quinn's BN3.
The great news is that there are more books on the way. Herve showed us
the final draft of his new book due out later this year, which will
cover Healeys in the Liege-Rome-Liege and Liege-Sofia-Liege Rallys.
As if that isn't enough he has all the material (hunderds of pictures)
to produce two more books planned for the next two years. The first will
cover the Monte Carlo Rally and the other will be on the Tulip Rally.
His collection of Monte Carlo pictures goes all the way back to when
Donald Healey himself won it and includes many many pictures from this
era.
For all collectors of Healey books and memorabilia I believe your
collection isn't complete without Herve's books. They might be less well
known in the US and Aus, however I should mention that the text is in
both English and French, so language is not a problem.
Needless to say I have no financial interest etc. etc.
Herve does this as a labour of love not as a business venture and so
deserves all the support he can get.
Enjoy the read
Derek
www.healeysix.net
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