G'day Dave
Couldn't agree with you more Dave.
My first experience was years ago when I was driving my BN1 over a
bridge here in Sydney. It's a arched concrete structure that is a
delight in any Austin-Healey. I spied a dark green sports car coming up
behind me and it was a 289 AC Cobra which went past like I was standing
still.
Since then I have had the pleasure of driving both Bristol and Zephyr
engined Aces as well as a 289 and 427 powered Cobras. I also have have
some bad memories of driving less than well soted replicas. I must admit
that like yourself I prefer the Bristol powered cars as I think they are
more pure of form and the 289 version with its little extra flares in
the guards.
However I think the body work on the 427 is an abomination and while
with the four wheel independent suspension they do handle after a
fashion I think the earlier cars with the transverse leaf springs are
more enjoyable.
Yes I know the real ones are worth a squillion dollars these days but I
still think back to when I first drove a 289 powered car that it felt
exactly like my Austin-Healey with a V8 stuck in it.
Hoo Roo
Patrick Quinn
Sydney, Australia
Ps This is much more fun than legal crap.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-healeys@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-healeys@autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of David Porter
Sent: Thursday, 21 September 2006 10:39 AM
To: 'Bob Johnson'; ahmcmlix@aol.com; healeys@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: Video on Google
As regards to the AC (Bristol/ACE/Shelby/et al.) They are in my humble
opinion the most sterling of all the period sports cars. They sit right,
drive right, sound right, feel right and look good too. I'd trade my
very nice BN2 for one in less than a heart beat if I could afford the
difference in price and it was a Bristol in particular.
The engine sits way back in the chassis and may seem to the novice
driver as having too much of a yaw sort of feeling. Also the transverse
leaf springs impart a different sensation, but I can assure you that
they will out perform the Healey in nearly all respects save perhaps
weather protection (the tops were worse than Healeys) and now a days
parts are pretty dear and the all aluminum bodies are easily damaged.
Please reply here if you have one you'd like to swap for...
Dave
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-healeys@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-healeys@autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of Bob Johnson
Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 4:47 PM
To: ahmcmlix@aol.com; healeys@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Video on Google
Ohh,Ohh, loved it!
Now, was the burgundy car a Bristol or a Cobra? Either one, did those
cars just not corner or was the driver just a way, way novice? (Class AP
vs. CP As I recall from younger days at VIR) Those cars should have
smoked the Healey. He passed them twice in curves.
Bob Johnson
BJ8
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