The Straight Six Brewery
Little snippets of Nancy’s journey since she was brought back to life…
The finished Nancy, she is stunning even if I say so myself
When I grow up ….
Streamliner on test in Austin’s Wind Tunnel
Donald Healey had thought of building a special streamlined record car, but time was against him to start from scratch. So a decision was taken to use a production car as the basis for the new car. It would be necessary to improve the shape of the body to improve its aerodynamic properties. So a scale model was made of the proposed streamline shape, and as a result of tests carried out by the Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Ltd. in their wind-tunnel. It was from these results carried out that Healey would need a new front and rear end, with bubble-type Perspex cover for the driver. Austin’s experimental sheet metal department made a revised body that could be fitted to the standard chassis.
From results taken by the Austin technicians on the Streamliner in the wind tunnel, and then comparing this data with results from other models, they calculated the Streamline potential maximum speed would be 200mph.
Now work started on increasing the output of the 100S competition engine, which in standard tune delivered 130 bhp at 4,700 rpm. This engine already had nitrided crankshaft running in trimetal bearings and special cylinder head with enlarged valves and special porting. To eliminate the possible problems using a head gasket, it was decided to lap-in the head to the block.
Dr. J. H. Weaving, head of BMC. Gas Turbine Research, was responsible for the preparation and tuning of this engine. He decided that the best way to get the power needed, would be to supercharge the engine using a standard Shorrock Type C250B. This was the largest one available, and connected to the front of the crankshaft via a Layrub couplings. The maximum boost available was about 8lbs/sq with this setup the engine was now producing 224 bhp at 4,500 rpm
With the extra power generated it was necessary to increase the capacity of the cooling system. Coventry Radiator and Presswork co., Ltd. produced a special radiator core that was installed in the streamlined nose. Tecalment company were involved in suppling a combined oil cooler and filter for the engine, along with a large diameter tube which fed fresh air into the cockpit.
Austin Healey 200 MPH
In 1953 the company wished to gain publicity for the Austin Healey specially in the USA. One of the best ways to get press coverage is to break some speed records, and what better place than the Bonneville salts flats in the state of Utah?
In that year Donald Healey Motor Company had built a special version of the Austin-Healey 100 sports car with the aim of setting both high-speed as well as endurance records. This Endurance car, which looked not too dissimilar to a standard Austin-Healey 100 was driven by Donald Healey himself, George Eyston, Carroll Shelby, Mort Goodall, and Roy Jackson Moore.
Austin-Healey 3000 MKIII
Date when launched 1964 discontinued in early1968
Total produced Abingdon 17,712
Price ex Works
Oct 1965 £915
Engine
2,912 cc 148bhp at 5,250 rpm Max torque 165 lbs/ft at 3,500 rpm
Length 13ft 1.5ins Width 5ft 0.5ins Height (hood) 4ft 1ins
Wheelbase 7ft 8ins Track front 4ft 0.8ins rear 4ft 2ins
Austin-Healey 3000 MkI .
Date when launched 1959 discontinued in 1961 Total produced Abingdon 2,825 BN7(2-seaters) 10,825 BT7(2+2 seater) Engine 2,912 cc 124bhp at 4,600 rpm Max torque 162 lbs/ft at 2,400 rpm Length 13ft 1.5ins Width 5ft 0.5ins Height (hood) 4ft 1ins Wheelbase 7ft 8ins Track front 4ft 0.8ins rear 4ft 2ins Price ex Works (Oct 1959) £1,168 (2 seater) £1,175 (2+2 seater)
NANCY WAS A EARLY MK1 3000
Austin-Healey 100-six BN4
Date when launched 1956 discontinued in 1959
Total produced Longbridge 1956/7 6,045. Abingdon 1957/9 4,241
Price ex Works Feb 1957 £1,144
Engine
2,639 cc 102bhp at 4,600 rpm Max torque 142 lbs/ft at 2,400 rpm
Length 13ft 1.5ins Width 5ft 0.5ins Height (hood) 4ft 1ins
Wheelbase 7ft 8ins Track front 4ft 0.8ins rear 4ft 2ins
Austin-Healey 100-six BN6
Date when launched 1958 discontinued in 1959
Total produced Abingdon only 4,150
Engine
2,639 cc 117bhp at 4,600 rpm Max torque 142 lbs/ft at 2,400 rpm
Length 13ft 1.5ins Width 5ft 0.5ins Height (hood) 4ft 1ins
Wheelbase 7ft 8ins Track front 4ft 0.8ins rear 4ft 2ins
Model 100 BN2
Date when launched 1955 Discontinued in 1956
Total produced BN2 3,924
Price ex Works BN2 (1956 Jan) £1,126
Engine
2,660 cc 90bhp at 4,000 rpm Max torque 150 lbs/ft at 2,000 rpm
Length 12ft 7ins Width 5ft 0ins Height (hood) 4ft 1ins
Wheelbase 7ft 6ins Track front 4ft 1ins rear 4ft2.8ins
Donald Healey converted 1,159 BN2 versions with a tuned engine.
Engine 2660cc comp.ratio 8.1 to 1. 110bhp at 4,500rpm Max torque 143 lbs/ft at 2,600rpm
Nancy the Austin Healey 