Help with ideas tracking down original owner of a 1956 Austin-Healey

cmc140 · 03:25 PM

Hi all,

I'm trying to track down the history of an Austin-Healey 100M that my father purchased 10 or so years ago. He purchased it from a widow in State College, PA who gave him some history of the car, as her husband was the 2nd owner. She stated that they purchased it in 1960 from the original owner and that it was raced at Marlboro in the 50's. However, I have searched google and can't find anything that relates to the numbers of this particular car.
It's a 1956 and it's a very early factory 100M, built in November of 1955.

Does anyone have any ideas of where I might look? Unfortunately, I don't believe contacting Eleanor for more info is an option. Although, I currently have my father pursuing that avenue.

Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Chris

Here are pics of the car when my dad picked it up and how it is now.

Baz · Baz's Garage

Beautiful car!

There are several registries:

HEALEY Data - Keeping track of every Austin Healey - Austin Healey 100, 100 Six, and 3000 information, articles, photos and register

Car Registry : The Austin-Healey Experience

British Sport Car - Austin Healey LeMans 100M Car Registry - Purpose

Big Healeys

And several clubs as well.....

Good luck!

cmc140 · 03-10-2012, 04:08 PM

Thanks Bazza! It looks like I have more places to look.
I appreciate the links.
Chris

pavulon · 03-10-2012, 04:11 PM

not sure if every state has a title history search available but some do.

vonsmog · 03-10-2012, 04:25 PM

I sold a factory 100M to a guy in PA, but that was in 85'. Took the money and picked up a 74' 911S. Should have kept the Healey!

davidbir · 03-10-2012, 04:50 PM

I used to own chassis #229745--what is the number of yours?

cmc140 · 03-10-2012, 04:53 PM

Thanks for the help so far.
The car is number 229195.
I looked at doing a title search but I think that it is coming back with a different car that has the same last six numbers with a newer style vin.
I'm not sure it will go back to 1956 so I'm not sure it's worth the $5.

Reg · 03-10-2012, 06:31 PM

My Dad had a 100-6, a '59 I think. Sold it before I could drive. I shook Donald Healey's hand when I was 12 or 13 and still have the T shirt he signed at a Conclave breakfast. While Dad\s car had the sound the 4's has the look - especially the M and S's

Nice Car! Good luck on the search.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Beautiful car!!

Evans, Marv · 03-10-2012, 07:30 PM

I had a '56 back in the earle/mid '60s. It was BRG with yellow upholstery. I always felt like I was going on an adventure when I got into that car, turned the key, & pushed the starter button. Good luck on tracking down the history of that one.

cmc140 · 03-10-2012, 08:48 PM

Thanks for all of your replies. I truly appreciate all of your stories. The reason for my quest on more info has to do with the deal that my father has proposed to me. He's basically downsizing and moving to FL. He wants me to have the Healey with the stipulation that I restore it. It probably sounds like I'm trolling, but luckily I have the coolest father on the planet. It's almost like he is making up for so deeply infecting me with the car bug.

:
I know from the heritage certificate that the car was originally black with red interior. However, I would love to get more information or possible pictures of the car when it was black for reference prior to restoration.
I'm also conflicted though as the car is very nice as is and I don't quite feel comfortable accepting it. I told him to sell it and spend the money elsewhere, but he wants me to have it. He's also a big fan of my work and at the same time the only fan of my work.

vonsmog · 03-11-2012, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reg

My Dad had a 100-6, a '59 I think. Sold it before I could drive. I shook Donald Healey's hand when I was 12 or 13 and still have the T shirt he signed at a Conclave breakfast. While Dad\s car had the sound the 4's has the look - especially the M and S's

Nice Car! Good luck on the search.

Reg,
Was that in 1980 in Toronto? I was there with my GF, now wife in my 59' BN6 100-6. I got Donald Healey to sign my owners manual and some other small things. He was quite nice about all of it. I still have the 100-6 as it was my first car and never had the heart to sell it, but I should have kept the 100M and sold the 100-6 if I couldn't keep both. Oh well, live and learn!

Scuba Steve · 03-11-2012, 05:40 AM

I wish you the best of luck, but you're looking for the original owner of a car that was built 56 years ago. If you were planning on contacting them, they're very likely at least in their mid-70s so there's a very real chance that they're just not around anymore.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Chris,
What a fantastic opportunity your father has given you! Restore the car and involve your father in the project, if at all possible! Document the process and post pics and progress here.

davidbir · 03-11-2012, 07:44 AM

I just recalled a site that would have been a help to you--www.coldplugs.com--but I checked it and it has been closed down! the owner of the site is John Cohelo and I may have an email address somewhere for him. He built this fantastic site with photos of racing at Marlborough and nearby tracks in the mid/late fifties. There were certainly photos of Healey 100s racing there.
I will see what I can find. Anybody else remember this site or know John Cohelo (sp?)

cmc140 · 03-11-2012, 02:20 PM

Steve, I completely understand what you're saying. It may be a futile exercise, but I figure it's worth the effort. I thoroughly enjoy car history, it's just exciting to me.

Art, thanks for the kind words. I plan to have may dad help me when he's out on visits, but he only get out a few times a year. I will however definitely involve my girls when I can. I've been trying to instill the car bug with them every time I have the opportunity. Below are a few examples.

David, thank you for the link. I was able to checkout that website on archive.org and then I found a few pictures that got me pretty excited. However, I believe they are a little to early. There are also a bunch of other links that I'll have to pour through. I'm a generation late with automobiles that is for sure.

Joeaksa · 03-11-2012, 02:46 PM

I used to be a member of the Healey club and they might be a source, but the links above will prolly get you close.

Sure miss my BN-7 but you cannot keep all of them...