Austin Healey day at my neighbor's place

[jbwelda]

Was driving home with the groceries, come around a bend and what do I see?

Had to be one of the biggest gathering of this particular tribe I have seen lately. Ranging all the way from daily drivers to beautiful restorations, or maybe never restored, just kept immaculate.

I also have to confess almost pure ignorance on a subject I thought I at least knew a little about, the various marques and series of these cars. Turns out I know squat and in fact am kind of curious about those cars with the side vents...have not found photos of that anywhere with a search for Austin Healey. More investigation required!

Here are more photos than you probably care to look at...














There were TWO yellow frogeye Sprites in attendance!




boy if you ever wanted to build that Revell 100/6, this would be the place to do your research!










Some I liked particularly well, a 3000 with minilites and lucas driving lamps




Factory hardtop (think its factory anyway), and those side vents:







Really kool bubble shape to it:



Some more details, side vents appear functional



72 spoke wires and hot rod style exhaust exit (again, factory)



Nice louvered hood and leather tie down strap:






Another day in the delta there were at least two other hot rod style runs that I saw but didn't bother to stop, had to get my groceries home.

jb

[Pontz]

These pictures bring back some memories - I owned a '60 Frogeye for over ten years, with a 1275 in place of the original 948 cc. It was rough around the edges, but it was always fun to drive. I showed it once at a sportscar show like this one, along with many other fine Healeys. Man, I miss it, but sold it to get a '66 Mustang to carry the whole family on an outing (needed those two extra seats).

Thanks for sharing the photos.

[harron68]

All I can say is YOU are a lucky guy! It reminds me of the time I happened by a mustang "fest" with over 200 in attendance. Every day brings a chance for great things to happen! I luv those real sports cars. Thanx.

[jbwelda]

Yeah thats so true about being a lucky guy, during nice weather there is always a weekend run of some sort of car or motorcycle or bicycle out here. I have gotten pretty jaded but still every once in a while, something really catches my attention enough to stop and take pics. I wish I had more time to go mix with the owners, who were out in the garden having lunch, looked like. Or high tea.

Did a bit of research, those vents on the side are for racing, extra cooling for the engine, and may have been used in factory works cars. With that in mind, I was surprised to see so many of the cars there sporting them. The other thing about most of the later AHs, they got imported to America, like the vast majority of them.

Thanks again!

jb