Austin-Healey Big Healey: książki - historia i technika (1/2)

Factory-Original Austin-Healey 100/6 & 3000 : The originality guide to six-cylinder Austin-Healeys, 1956-1968

An inspired design by Donald Healey and his small team at the Healey Motor Company, the four-cylinder Austin-Healey 100 sports car had proved a major success and made a big name for itself by the time its successor, the six-cylinder 2.6-litre 100/6, arrived in 1956. This came as a 2+2 seater, joined in 1958 by a two-seat version.
Both were replaced by the more powerful 3000 model in 1959, again offered as a two-seater or 2+2, and available with disc brakes.
The Mk II 3000, launched in 1961, could be had either as a 132bhp two-seater with triple carburettors and side screens, which only sold in small numbers, or as the less spartan 2+2 convertible with wind-up windows, and the final version was the 2+2-only 1964 Mk III, now with 150bhp, a wood-veneered dash and better appointments.

All these "Big Healeys" are as much admired and sought-after today as when they were new, offering a splendid mix of looks and performance as well as the traditional sports car attributes of open-air motoring and a gutsy exhaust note.
Here marque expert Bill Piggott gives full details of correct specification and equipment for all these cars, backed up by in-depth colour photography of outstanding examples of all models and variants. Body panels, external trim and badging, paint colours, interior trim, dashboard, instruments and controls, under-bonnet components, engine and transmission, lamps, and other features right down to the tool kit, are all covered.
More than 350 specially commissioned colour photographs of outstanding examples of all models provide evidence of the originality in detail that so many owners and prospective owners of these great cars seek.

Austin Healey 100 In Detail - BN1, BN2, 100M and 100S 1953-56

When Donald Healey displayed a new sports two-seater on his firm's stand at the 1952 motor show he cannot possibly have been envisaging the extraordinary success that it was to enjoy.
Yet the reasons for that success are not hard to define today: the car's gorgeous, ageless looks; its mechanical simplicity; its very keen price; the effortless torque of its big four-cylinder engine; its roomy cockpit.
The top speed was 100mph and the car was easy to drive: almost everything about it seemed to have fallen neatly into place, though the three-speed gearchange, despite its overdrive, was a less-than-ideal solution, and because the body sat so low on the road owners had to get used to damaged exhaust systems.

The BN1 model - the one with the three-speed gearbox and dual overdrive - was replaced by the four-speed BN2, also with overdrive. The other models in the range were the 100M, which had a high-compression cylinder head and an output of 110bhp compared with the standard engine's 90bhp, and the 100S, the competition variant of which only 55 were made. This had 132bhp, all-aluminium bodywork and disc brakes front and rear.

Having commenced in 1953, production of all types of the four-cylinder 100s reached nearly 15,000 before they were phased out in 1956 in favour of the 100/6 model. Of this number, most went for export, particularly to North America.

This book opens with an exposition of the background to Donald Healey's creation of the 100 and with an account of his career to that time. This is followed by a description of the successive stages of design and development and of the eventual manufacturing agreement with Austin.

Then comes a detailed technical analysis of the 100, covering all aspects of the chassis, running gear, engine and transmission. This sets the scene for subsequent chapters on the BN2, the 100M and the 100S, each of which receives comprehensive treatment.

The author also provides information on the cars' participation in competition, including the Mille Miglia, Le Mans and Sebring, draws comparisons with rival models like the Triumph TRs and Jaguar XKs, and gives advice on the practicalities of owning a 100 today, including parts availability, common problems, maintenance and preservation.
Seven outstanding examples of the 100 - including an unrestored Le Mans car - have been specially photographed for this book and are featured in some 120 colour shots. There are also more than 250 black-and-white illustrations drawn from archives and from sales and publicity material.

Austin-Healey 3000

Brooklands Portfolio book about the Austin-Healey 3000 models from the years 1959-1967. Describes the Austin-Healey 3000 Mk.1, Mk.2 and Mk.3.

• The articles, taken from contemporary British and American car magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and technology.
• Also driving impressions, tests, comparison tests, technical specifications, etc.
• Offers also advice for the purchase of a pre-owned Austin-Healey 3000.

Austin Healey 100 & 300 Series

The "Big Healeys" took the motoring world by storm in the 1950s and 60s - these powerful and fascinating cars were not only popular as production cars, but also enjoyed considerable success in rallying and racing.
This book is the in-depth story of the marque's evolution, from Donald Healey's initial inspiration to the Layland take-over that saw the end of Austin-Healey.

Topics covered include:
- the complete history of the company and development of 100 and 2000 models;
- full specification tables
- detailed accounts of the cars' competition fortunes.

Austin-Healey

Born in 1952, the Austin-Healey 100 soon took the UK and US markets by storm. A beautiful, brutish car, it was what many sporting motorists had been waiting for, and at a relatively affordable price.
Following the 100 was the 3000 - a car as successful on the rally stage as it was loved on the open road, and the Sprite - which recreated the market for the cheap 'everyman's' sports car.

Graham Robson, an authority on the British motor industry, presents a concise history of Austin-Healey, and the marque's success on road and track. Illustrated throughout, it is an ideal introduction for all lovers of this quintessentially British sports car.

Big Healeys - All models (1953-1967)

Interest in Big Healey models has continued to grow since production was halted over 40 years ago, and support for the marque remains strong. This book is an indispensible resource for anyone contemplating the purchase of an example of these iconic cars.

A candid assessment of each model guides you to selecting the right model for your intended use, and arms you with the essential knowledge to select the right example of this increasingly popular marque.
Featuring both short and thorough evaluation guides, advice on paperwork, auctions, restorations, and much more, this is an invaluable book for both first-time buyers and seasoned collectors.

Austin Healy Big Healeys: Alle Modelle (1953-1967)

Klassikerexperte Reid Trummel hat für den vorliegenden Ratgeber die wichtigsten und hilfreichsten Insiderinformationen für alle "Big Healey"-Modelle (100, 100/4, 100/6, & 3000 Mk I-III) von 1953 bis 1967 zusammengestellt.

Wie gewohnt präsentiert sich dieser Band als kompakter Ratgeber und unverzichtbares Hilfsmittel bei der Beurteilung des Zustandes eines zum Verkauf stehenden "Big Healey"-Exemplars.
Hier findet jeder Interessent wichtige Tipps, worauf er beim Kauf achten muss, um nicht später eine böse überraschung zu erleben. Außerdem ergänzt ein ausführlicher Teil mit wichtigen Adressen und Ansprechpartnern diesen wertvollen Begleiter.