I have owned my Factory M since 1984. Serial numbers included there is
nothing special on this car that can not be perfectly copied at a competent
machine shop. Yes you can look at a car, you can validate the serial numbers
are right, you can test the metal to be certain that the right parts are steel
and aluminum. Yet few consdier testing serial numbers. False serial numbers in
the bonnet/boot and the aluminum are cut into the steel/aluminum, not pressed.
A completent shop will press the numbers into the part. It is a matter of
paying the right fee or doing the work correctly yourself. Not easy, just a
challenge to some.
As many say, check the Heritage Certificate and the serial numbers. Then know
that a Southern California restorer was found to be buying 100-4's and selling
them as M's. Given his knowledge of several 100-M's, he converted serial
numbers to known M serial numbers. This happened maybe 20 years ago and these
cars are still out there. Having a few mismatching serial numbers does not
prove a car is not an M. Many were crashed and parts were taken from other
cars. Plenty of body panels will be replaced. Nobody in their right mind
wanted louvers with engine dirt flying out into the windshield. Nobody wanted
that cold air box in the way of servicing the carbs. That stuff went to scrap
quick.
To really know a car, you need to know its history. You need to know who owned
this car as far back as possible. My advice is to avoid paying big $'s for a
car without knowing history. The M registry is a great tool, use it.
My car was owned by Pasadena City College professor, Jack Anderson. While
Steve Gerow attended college there, Jack gave Steve Gerow a ride. This might
have led to Steve's correct and current affection for Healeys. I also have a
copy of a 1960's California registration noting the model as "LeMans" with an
original hand-written letter from Jack Anderson's wife describing Jack's
affection for the car. All great documentation confirming the car is original.
In 1984 we did not have this chat list, or books published by Moment and
Anderson. We knew little of this subject.
This car was previously owned by Carole Walker, a Real Estate Salesperson. It
was honestly represented to me with the assurance that it WAS NOT a genuine
100-M. It was inspected by an expert and the carbs were on the wrong side. The
inspector drove a black Austin-Healey and was a member of the Austin-Healey
club. So much for experts ;-)
That said I must now sign,
Jim LeBlanc
Austin-Healey Club Expert
1956 100-M
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