G'day
Good to see that I am not the only person who thinks that 1958 Westland is
hideous.
I have read the same too, but have a look at the Association of Healey Owners
website that says quite clearly the DHMC built their own chassis. Honestly I
don't want to be critical of GCH, but quite a bit of stuff has been found in
error through subsequent research.
There were problems with the early chassis with cracking around the front
suspension bracketry and that's why the modifications had to be undertaken.
However I wouldn't say that A, B and C chassis were experimental as 500 were
built. Mine is a B type and it escaped to New Zealand before any rectification
was undertaken.
Hoo Roo
Patrick Quinn
Sydney, Australia
-----Original Message-----
From: healeys-bounces@autox.team.net [mailto:healeys-bounces@autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of Peter Svilans
Sent: Thursday, 28 May 2009 1:12 PM
To: healeys@autox.team.net
Subject: [Healeys] Healeys
Patrick,
<< Westland did not make the chassis >>
Geoffrey Healey, in The Healey Story p.35 outlines how five serious faults
were apparent in the early production chassis. The rectification
modifications were to have been made but Roger Menadue found that this had
not
been done, apparently put off till the next production series of chassis:
" DMH was very annoyed and sent Len (Hodges) down to Westland Aero Parts, WHO
MADE THE CHASSIS, with instructions not to return until all modifications had
been incorporated. The next task was to recall all the cars already built to
Warwick and modify them to the same standard without alarming the owners."
Its my understanding that Westland Aero Parts supplied the basic chassis
which
was built up with suspensions and Riley motors at the Cape, in the same way
that Thompsons provided the basic rails to Jensen, who added the bulkheads
and
body, and then were assembled with suspensions and motors at Austins.
Somewhere there is a reference to Peter Shelton of Westlands in Hereford
stating that DMH had given him the contract to continue supplying chassis to
the Cape despite many other bodybuilders now being used, as a reward for his
early support of the Healey company. Maybe it was in a link in the "history"
portion of the hideous fiberglass 1958 "Westland" for sale a while back, I
can't quite remember.
There is no doubt that the Cape had the facilities for producing their own
chassis (with their 8 foot brake) in prototype and experimental (types A,B
and
C) form, but once production of hundreds of cars got underway, this was
farmed
out.
Best regards
Peter
**********************************************************************
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.
**********************************************************************
_______________________________________________
Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html
Healeys@autox.team.net
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys
http://www.team.net/archive
|