All time favorite car

[greyflash]

My all time favorite car was the Austin Healey from back in the 60's. While in Italy recently I came across nine restored Healey's that drove into the plaza at Lucca. What a treat this was for me. I will post my favorite one but there are more on my Italy Gallery #2 on my Pbase website.

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[MontyDog]

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[eng45ine]

Sweet ride Gordon. The perfect little cruiser to take you away from all of the stresses in life.

 

[hans]

Beautifull piece of craftmanship

You nailed it Gordon

 

[Gilles]

One thing for sure Gordon when one of those car drive by your house, just by the sound you know it's a Austin Healy, you don't even have to look.

 

[catalyst]

Ahh, Gordon what a beauty that is! One of my all-time faves also. The lines and personality of the Healey are timeless. Your photo captures it very well.

Even though the Healey is well out of reach for me, I have managed to link up with one of its distant descendants - a MINI Cooper.

catalyst

 

[greyflash]

Thanks to all. From your remarks it sounds like I have struck a resonant chord with all of you.

 

[Leigh]

That's a fine ride!!! My dad drove an Austin Healey in college. Guess the love of sports cars runs in the genes...I drove a Porsche in college (not a high end one...it was a 924S), but it was a fun drive nonetheless! Anyway, my dad still talks about his "glory days" and his fun car. I'll have to show him your shot when he comes to lunch tomorrow!

 

[greyflash]

Leigh, your dad is a lucky man. I have never owned an Austin Healy but always wanted one. Too many responsibilities and not enough money.

 

[Ken-L]

That's fantastic! This car was my "dream car" in the 60's. It was the first one with a synchronized 1st gear.

In 1972 I had an Alfa Romeo Spyder Veloce, but as wonderful as that was I would love to have had a Healey!

 

[simonramsden]

That's one beautiful car.

A regret to say my brother owned one about 15 years ago - a fixer upper that he stripped down and spread the parts around his friends houses (ran out of space in his). Then he left the country - one very nice car in bits, never to be restored - wot a waste.

 

[Rich Gibson]

The Healy is a fine car! There is something about Englich car exhausts that no one (except perhaps Ferrarri) has ever matched. It's correct, that you could always tell a Helay was coming by the sound.

My first love/hate relationship was with a (then) Datsun Fairlady/2000. It was the last sports (convertible) model before the 240Z. The car had a forklift engine converted to an overhead cammer. This was post WWII and they had to use what they had. This involved two timing chains and a confusing procedure for setting it up.

The sheet metal was paper thin and the exhaust header surrounded the starter which "melted" every 9 months. But boy howdy when you put your foot into it it lept and screamed! Actually I think they called it the Japanese MG. My second foray was a 1993 3rd generation Mazda RX-7, possibly the worst car Mazda ever made. I negotiated my way into a Miata (MX-5 for you folks on the other side of the Atlantic) because of all the mechanicial failures and the fact that I originally bought an extended service warranty for 80,000 miles.

I kept the Miata for 9 years...I loved that little beast.

Rich

 

[Russ Smith]

I wanted an Austin Healey ever since a friend of mine had one when I was in high school. If I recall it was the model 3000 I wanted. I got to ride in his often. I remember the floorboard was always hot.

Great image. Brings back a lot of memories for a refugee from the 60s.

Russ

 

[greyflash]

Gee and I thought this was my private lust to want a Healey. Thanks for your comments and your sharing in my dream.