Healey

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Healey | Pre War British Sports Cars

The Healey was not strictly speaking a pre-war sports car, but rather a post war one. Significant though, as it was the first brand-new design to be announced after the cessation of hostilities in 1945. Donald Healey, Britain's Number One rally-exponent, particularly in the Monte Carlo event, put all his years of experience to good use in producing this fine example of a high-grade sports car. The car was designed from radiator to back axle as a high-speed touring and competition car, and featured helical-spring suspension, with front wheels individually sprung.

The latter followed then recognised Grand Prix practice in that a trailing link wass controlled by a damper. Weight was kept down to a minimum, but not at the sacrifice of the frame, which was of box-section construction throughout, with 6-in. deep side members and scientifically dis­posed, rigid cross-members. The open car scales 19-cwt. com­plete, whilst the saloon was 1-cwt. heavier. The power output is said to exceed 100 b.h.p. The power dept. was a modified version of the 2.4-litre Riley (80.5 x 120-mm., 2443-c.c.), and was the largest capacity, private-car four-cylinder unit manufactured in the United Kingdom prior to 1949.

It followed familiar Riley practice in that the overhead valves were operated by pushrods via the medium of two high-located cam­shafts. The inlet and exhaust systems were of the straight-through variety, and twin S.U. carburetters were fitted. The latest type of Borg & Beck centrifugally assisted clutch wass used, and the synchromesh gearbox had ratios of 3.5, 4.96, 7.54 and 12.76 to 1, a selection of cogs which brought to mind the vintage sports car at its peak. The standard saloon Healey, using Belgian pump fuel (the engine having been carefully checked as regards engine size, compression ratio, etc., by the R.A.C.), achieved over 111 m.p.h. on the Jabbeke-Aeltre motor-road near Ostend on July 24, 1947.

Healeys were also noted for their pheno­menally low petrol consumption at high cruising speeds, such as 30 m.p.g. at 80 m.p.h. Bodywork was fully aerodynamic on both types.
1946 Healey Prototype With 2.4 Litre Riley Engine
Capable of over 100 miles-per-hour, the 1946 prototype Healey Sports-Tourer was powered by a 2.4 Litre Riley Engine.
1946 Healey With Riley Engine
1946 Riley-Engined Healey O.H.V. Twin-Cam Pushrod showing helical I.F.S.
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