My dad built this Austin Healy roadster with a 426 max wedge in the late sixty's while in Pasco, WA. He sold it to a "young kid" whom supposedly raced it on the streets in the Portland Oregon area. I was wondering if anybody in the pacific Northwest remembers seeing it then or may know where it's at now.
Do you have any more details about it? It reminds me a great deal of one I had in the middle 70's. I bought it without a motor, and when I first saw it there was a nailhead in the engine compartment. The one I had was a '54 100-4 and had a '62 Chevy rear axle under it. 30 years later I don't remember much else that would identify it, except mine had similar paint and rollbar and I both found and sold it in Idaho.
It was definitely fast. My dad said it ran in the high 9's in the 1/4. He also said power braking was pretty much useless because the front wheels would just start skidding forward despite them being locked up. I really regret never being able to get a ride in it since I was just a *****le in my dad's eye at the time. I really wish I could find it!
Cool car, wish I could help. I will think of you though, I have a Sunbeam with a 2.8 V-6 in it. Love the Healy.
Hmmmm. My brother has inherited the family 69 Austin Healey roadster. I guess a 426 would be just about right, though I cannot imagine getting it in that engine compartment... And there is NO way the front suspension would tolerate that. It barely holds the car up as stock... Very cool old pics. Thanks for sharing and good luck on your search. Hate to say it, but I am betting someone has wrapped it around a pole by now!
Anybody else remember seeing this car in the Portland area, in the late sixty's? It would have been part of the street racing scene at the time.
Redlinetoys sez....... Hmmmm. My brother has inherited the family 69 Austin Healey roadster. I guess a 426 would be just about right, though I cannot imagine getting it in that engine compartment... And there is NO way the front suspension would tolerate that. It barely holds the car up as stock... If your brother has a 69 Healey, it is a Sprite and not a "Big Healey". You're correct, the suspension in a Sprite will not handle the weight of a big V-8, but the big cars will handle it without a problem. The 6 cyl Healey engine weighs more than a SBC.
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