Solved - NEH 5265: Austin-Healey 100/6 Coupé built to race at Le Mans

Carnut · June 10, 2018, 04:15:27 AM

What's this and for what purpose was it built?:

Remember - solving puzzles using 'Google Search by Image' is BANNED on AutoPuzzles!

Carnut · June 25, 2018, 03:36:04 PM

Experts?

mekubb · June 25, 2018, 04:18:59 PM

Looks familiar.... Triumph ?

Skut · June 25, 2018, 06:18:04 PM

There looks like there is an Austin Healey in there somewhere.

tobytwirl · June 25, 2018, 06:19:45 PM

Looks suspiciously like a Healey 100/4 converted in such a peculiar way that it might be for a film? Is it another De Mola coupe?

Carnut · June 25, 2018, 06:38:27 PM

No Triumph there as it is an Austin-Healey.
Nothing to do with Demola as far as I know, although I don't know who the builder was.
i know the model though (not mentioned yet) and what it was allegedly built for..

tobytwirl · June 25, 2018, 07:20:50 PM

So is it a 100 Six? Was it intended for publicity in some way?

Carnut · June 26, 2018, 03:52:15 AM

Quote from: tobytwirl on June 25, 2018, 07:20:50 PM
So is it a 100 Six? Was it intended for publicity in some way?

Yes, a 100/6.
Not built for any publicity purpose though.

tobytwirl · July 15, 2018, 05:18:41 PM

I have seen this photo when hunting for the de Mola Healey, but can I find it now? Was it built for speed eg Bonneville?

Carnut · July 15, 2018, 05:57:51 PM

No, not for that kind of speed.

tobytwirl · July 15, 2018, 07:31:45 PM

Some form of racing?

Carnut · July 16, 2018, 03:45:20 AM

Quote from: tobytwirl on July 15, 2018, 07:31:45 PM
Some form of racing?

Yes - built for a specific race.

tobytwirl · July 16, 2018, 05:32:37 PM

Carrera Panamericana ?

Carnut · July 16, 2018, 05:51:36 PM

Quote from: tobytwirl on July 16, 2018, 05:32:37 PM
Carrera Panamericana ?

No..

tobytwirl · July 16, 2018, 06:48:57 PM

Is this an American car?

Carnut · July 17, 2018, 03:47:34 AM

Quote from: tobytwirl on July 16, 2018, 06:48:57 PM
Is this an American car?

No - you've already established it's an Austin-Healey 100/6 base; it wasn't modified in the USA either.

D-type · July 17, 2018, 02:55:24 PM

Was this Austin Healey built to run in the Sebring 12 Hours?

tobytwirl · July 17, 2018, 03:11:01 PM

so was it modified in Europe?

Carnut · July 17, 2018, 05:51:24 PM

Quote from: D-type on July 17, 2018, 02:55:24 PM
Was this Austin Healey built to run in the Sebring 12 Hours?

No..

Quote from: tobytwirl on July 17, 2018, 03:11:01 PM
so was it modified in Europe?

..and Yes.

tobytwirl · July 17, 2018, 08:24:27 PM

Built for Le Mans?

Carnut · July 18, 2018, 05:15:06 AM

Yes!
Unfortunately I have been able to find out very little about this interesting car or who built it.
Below is the ad with the car For Sale (currently).
Very strange that the car seems to be almost unkown.

nicanary · July 18, 2018, 06:10:23 AM

I also saw that ad, and was waiting for the puzzle to be promoted!

The Janos Wimpffen tome "Time and Two Seats" contains not only an entry list, but also a note of cars which either had entries scratched or did not arrive. Unfortunately I sold my copy last year! It's possible that something about this car will be in the appropriate list. The Spurring books don't have this information.

oko94 · July 18, 2018, 11:26:27 AM

I have Christian Moity's 3-volume Le Mans encyclopaedia which contains a picture of every car entered in the race from 1923 to 2010. Tonight I'll check if I can find this car in it.

Carnut · July 18, 2018, 12:22:08 PM

Thanks.
Reading the ad I'm not sure if it ever got to actually enter the race.. It just seems to have practised for it!

oko94 · July 18, 2018, 06:12:58 PM

You're absolutely right, but the aforementioned book also covers cars that didn't make it to the race (because they crashed during practice, failed scrutineering or were withdrawn for other reasons).

The puzzle car is not featured in Christian Moity's book.

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Solved - NEH 5265: Austin-Healey 100/6 Coupé built to race at Le Mans