Couldn’t Carroll Shelby have come up with an Austin Healey in his search for a light, English chassis to implement his idea of planting a powerful V8 engine in just that? Anyone who has read the book “Inside Shelby” or “Nasty Boys” hardly needs to stretch his imagination. If the then best-selling Austin Healey or the freshly launched MGB had not sold like hot cakes in the USA, if Shelby had not negotiated very special purchasing conditions with the struggling manufacturer AC and thus chosen the rolling chassis of the AC Ace, would today – 59 years after the presentation of the first AC Cobra 289 and the associated creation of the legend of this probably unique automobile – the popular “Cobra” perhaps have looked very different? Maybe even like or similar to this Austin Healey we present to you here.
Engine
E-Street Cylinder Heads, Flat Tappet Performer Plus Camshaft Kit, Hardened Pushrods, Performer-Link Timing Set, Head Bolt Kit, Double Camshaft Driving Train, Edelbrock Performer Carburetor 4 Compartment with E Joke, Performer Air Filter, Contactless Ignition System with Racing Plugs and High End Ignition Wires, Master Blaster 2 Ignition Coil, Aluminum Valve Cover for Adjustable Pushrods, Racing Thermostat, High Performance Aluminum Radiator. Alternator with higher power, adapted electrical system with Spal E-fan automatic and manual. Modified and adapted exhaust with custom fan headers and stainless steel pots Big Bore re/li. Power is listed as 321 hp, which we believe untested on a dyno. Displacement, chassis, conversion, Vmax etc. are TÜV approved.
Transmission
Borg Warner T5 5 speed manual transmission with hydraulic clutch and special bell. Single reservoir for hydraulic clutch. Modified short ratio max speed 195km/h but this gives extremely good acceleration. The gearbox is filled with high performance oil and is therefore also designed for greater power. Complete overhaul in 12/2018
Chassis
Complete conversion to Bilstein telescopic dampers (Putzke ́s driving fun)rear with racing springs from Denis Welsh with additional longitudinal struts and Unibal joints additional Stabi with modified bushings. Front large adjustable Stabi with racing springs 180Kg, lowering.
Brakes
Single reservoir for brake circuit with brake booster, front disc brakes with Pagid brake pads and steel flex lines, rear alloy brake drums with cooling fins and steel flex lines, brake force control valve in engine compartment. Racing brake fluid.
Rims and tires
Spoked rims 5.5 X 15 black chromed with 205/65 R15 H and central locking spare wheel in the trunk.
Tank
Denis Welsh Racing Tank Works 80/85 liters with matching gauge and reserve warning. Improved range compared to the 50Liter original tank, no additional consumption compared to the inline six cylinder.
Dual fuel pumps individually switchable with backflow protection and dash connections.
The tank has two extractions and a built-in catchtank all made of aluminum. Trunk completely lined in aluminum with built in emergency stop.
Body
Completely overhauled with needed modifications due to engine rebuild, frame treated with Mike Sanders for years and in very good condition. Repainted and partially restored at classic car store with many new parts and improvements. Overhauled and improved electrical system. Plug-in windows and soft top in black.
Overall result
A probably unique Austin Healey in original and unmistakable optics, which is light years better to drive than the series model 100/6 by reasonable changes of its original. For someone who wants to drive a unique Big Healey with perfect optics, with convincing driving performance and the unmistakable sound of a sporty V8, this Healey is probably a rarely applicable stroke of luck to be available at all.
By the way, this vehicle is also no problem for women!
Due to the overhauled steering the brake booster and the short shift the car drives as unproblematic as a modern roadster.
All described conversion parts were newly installed in 2017/2018. The Fzg. has his retread about 3000 km mileage.
Fzg. is rebuilt with major assemblies such as engine, transmission, brakes u. Chassis and thus has considerable additional power, which is not fully registered! We ask for special attention to this note and refer to the conversion measures before possible inspection!