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More Healeys

September 7, 2006 / Roger

Hm, I must have a minor Healey buzz going (or I located a folder of long-forgotten scans on my computer, I’ll never tell). This is my 100-Six in the snow of 1989–the Healey and I were stuck from 2:30 in the afternoon until midnight on the 520 floating bridge. We didn’t turn a wheel for nine hours. I ran out of gas, sat in a stranger’s car to stay warm, caught a lift from a crazy guy who drove 15 miles to deliver me to my house two miles from where we started, and there found a foot of snow at 3:30 in the morning. This was a big snow (there were more local news reporters than snowplows running around) and it stayed below freezing for two weeks, unusual for western Washington. The Healey was actually a pretty decent car to drive in the white stuff!

Roller Paint Jobs

September 6, 2006 / Roger

There is a huge thread, now over 80 pages (I think that’s 1600 messages) on a board I don’t normally frequent–I’m not really into “mopars”–about roller painting your car for about $50 in supplies, and achieving pretty good results. The pictured car was painted by said method, as was the orange bug in his photobucket album.

Results seem to be mixed, with some success and lots of “uhhh.” The folks not doing well seem to be rushing the process. It is labor intensive, as much so as the laquer jobs of old.

RAC Rally, 1965

September 5, 2006 / Roger

This is one of my favorite photographs–one of the last “works” Austin Healey rally cars on the incredibly wet 1965 RAC (Royal Automobile Club) rally. The car was driven by Timo MÃ¤kinen and Paul Easter; this is a period publicity shot from BMC.

My Car and a Favorite Pre-War Car

September 3, 2006 / Roger

This is the Austin Healey 3000 Mk. 2 I owned, pictured at the Seattle vintage races in 1995 or 1996. Imagine my delight when, after a day at the races, I came back to my car to find this pre-war Aston Martin parked next to me. I’m not sure of the exact model–there is an excellent guide here–I believe it might be a 1934 Mk. II 2/4 seater.
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MG M-Type

September 1, 2006 / Roger

My friend Tom sent me a few photos of one of his cars, a 1931 MG M-Type. This is the only model of pre-war car I’ve actually had a ride in, and I’d really like to eventually find an MG or other sporting car from the period. They’re diminuative but fun and define the word “character.” There is some great information on the “MMM” cars at, wait for it, the MMM Register.

Tom’s car is really lovely, without being over-restored:

Mum’s First Ride

August 31, 2006 / Roger

My mother’s very first motorized transport, back in Cheshire in the mid-fifties, was a brand new Triumph Terrier. She has many tales of wrapping herself in newspaper in an effort to stay warm, and of pulling into petrol stations only to find her hands were so cold she couldn’t operate the pump or make change! She only had the machine for about a year before selling it and buying a Mini Countryman wagon as her first four-wheeled transport.

P.S. I’d like to find an example of either machine to restore one day, so…

Useful Capacity

August 30, 2006 / Roger

Twice in the last week the Land Rover has been pressed into heavy hauling duty. Last week it was a Costco Wholesale run (and when we go to Costco twice a year, we really go). Almost 600 pounds of stuff, swallowed up very neatly. Tonight I retrieved an old Delta Unisaw (circa 1948, pictured), which is 300 pounds of cast iron and stamped steel, and again the mission was successful. All in all, it’s a useful car, and has been a good buy thus far (knock on wood). Just turned 113,000 miles, too.

Missing Car

August 28, 2006 / Roger

As in, I miss this car. It’s one of the few cars I honestly wish I still had…though once my current E-Type is back on the road I’m sure all will be better.

The Angry Dreamer

August 27, 2006 / Roger

“The Dreamer” writes a certain type of classified ad, and they’re always amusing. This person believes beyond all sense that their car is worth a fortune. That, combined with some ‘tude about not wasting his time, makes it even more worthy (an aside: you’re placing an ad for an old car, of course someone’s going to waste your time before you sell it). When there’s no price, we’re approaching grand-master ad-writing territory–and if it’s in all caps? There is nothing left for them to learn, they have mastered the art form. For example:

1977 FIAT SPIDER CONVERTABLE. I HAVE A AWESOME RESTORATION PROJECT 77,000 ORIGINAL MILES. 2.0 L DOHC 5 SPEED BODY,INTERIOR,TOP,EVEN ORIGINAL RUNNING GEAR IN SURPRISING CONDITION. IT RUNS, DRIVES, AND STOPS VERY GOOD. WILL NEED NORMAL RESTORATION RITUALS TO BE SHOW- ROOM CONDITION . OR PUT A TIMING BELT ON IT AND CRUISE TOPLESS FOR THE SUMMER. IF YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS CAR IS WORTH DONT BOTHER CALLING, IF YOU DO HAVE SOME MONEY TO INVEST AND ARE SERIOUS. CALL M—- @ xxx-xxx-xxxx AND LEAVE A MASSAGE.

I’m not a trained masseuse, so I don’t dare call (even if I had any desire to own a Fiat, Italy’s entry into the “Which Car Can Rust Fastest” competition). But that’s a $1,000 car, at the most, and I bet he wants way more than that.

August on Whidbey

August 26, 2006 / Roger

Took the ’63 MGB out today for a spin. Not much more to say other than a good early MGB is a great car to drive, and a great way to get into ye olde British cars if you haven’t already.

RUSTY HEAPS