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- AUSTIN-HEALEY (GB) 1953-1971
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| AUSTIN-HEALEY (GB) 1953-1971 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 15 2010, 04:24 PM (720 Views) | |
| DaWeber | Dec 15 2010, 04:24 PM Post #1 |
Station Wagon
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The Healey 100 was first presented as a concept car at the london Motor Show in 1952. Mass production was assumed by Austin, a very successful automobile manufacturer at that time. Two different chassis were introduced for the Austin-Healey (A-H) . The larger sports roadsters were the 100 Series , which were replaced by the 3000 series. But production ceased in 1968, possibly due to the extreme low body frame clearance which had a tendency to to scrape bottom on many roadways. In 1959 Austin also introduced the Sprite which also used the A-H moniker . These two seater sports roadsters were even smaller with less horsepower. They earned the nicknames of "Frogeye or Bugeye" since the large ( in appearance ) headlights protruding from the engine hood looked like a set of animal eyes. The second generation of Sprites used the same body design as the MG Midget. Only slight differences existed, such as the grille and badges. One of my favorite models in small scale was made by Johnny Lightning (JL) in light blue,. This was the same color of the Sprite I owned many years ago It had a very unusual life on the road with me. It was driven on the East Coast as far North as MA and all the way South to FL . It was mainly a fairweather car, since the canvas top had to be installed over a spring collapsable frame. The windows were sliding Plexiglas panels . It even received a trip to Phila PA on an active duty Aircraft Carrier enroute to an extended yard repair. Yes, looking back, I miss this car! But my JL and other models give me some solace. |
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| Dean-o-mite | Dec 15 2010, 08:19 PM Post #2 |
Muscle Car
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1953 Austin-Healey 100 - Hot Wheels  Dean |
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| diecastdingo | Dec 15 2010, 10:05 PM Post #3 |
Minivan
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Apart from the above HWs - I only got this: The J/L Austin Healey Sprite. My beef with this one is that it is way too big compared to other J/Ls - but the engine bay opens, nd of course, I never owned one of these, so I probably look at it in a different way than DW.    |
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| DaWeber | Dec 15 2010, 11:46 PM Post #4 |
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Station Wagon
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Hi Patrick I agree the scale is too large, but the detail is basically good, EXCEPT that as I recall, the engine hood was hinged at the front and opened at the firewall by the windshield. This is not the only car model that JL ( or was it RC?) erred on. The AMC Pacer model suffered the same situation, until JL secured the hood on the last issue of the Pacer! |
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| diecastdingo | Dec 16 2010, 12:26 AM Post #5 |
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Minivan
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I was gonna mention the hood, but I didn't mean to be too harsh on it. But yes, it is the wrong way round. |
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| Swifty | Dec 16 2010, 12:46 AM Post #6 |
The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
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RC is the one that issued the Pacer with the hood the wrong way. I mentioned this to Mac Ragan when he announced they were bringing the casting over to the JL line and I guess there was no way to modify the tooling to a front tilt. I'd have preferred the incorrect rear-tilt over no-tilt. 
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| James | Dec 16 2010, 03:46 AM Post #7 |
Mr.Bowtie
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My very first car was a Sprite, I didn't even have my license at teh time, brought it home and my girlfriend and I cleaned it up and then some one drove by and offered me way more money then I paid for it, SOLD......... That was a long time ago, I was thinking the hood just didn't look right, that it hinged at the front, but I only had teh car 2 days.... I wasn't 100% sure on that. My Sprite was red.... Edited by James, Dec 16 2010, 03:49 AM.
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| DaWeber | Dec 16 2010, 02:36 PM Post #8 |
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Station Wagon
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As I recall, I had my Sprite from just after I graduated College '62 until I was transfered back home from my USN ship in FL in 1966. By that time the car needed more care than I could give it and did not believe it would make the trip back to Phila PA. But I enjoyed it while I had it. Thus, I had the Navy fly me home and the next day after arrival, I bought a brand new K-G Convt ( yellow , just like the recent MB issues).Those were the days! |
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