[Healeys] Non Standard Colours

[Alan Seigrist]

One of those CKD healeys is here in Hong Kong, brought here by a South
African Cathay pilot about 20 years ago.

Oddly, it is an early BN4 chassis, with a 3000 motor, and a BN7 ID plate!  I
gather it must be a frankencar...

Alan


On 7/27/07, Josef.Eckert at t-systems.com <Josef.Eckert at t-systems.com> wrote:
>
> John,
> The following information I have got mainly from members of the
> Austin-Healey Club of South Africa and restorers who had one of these
> cars in their hands. Completely KD may be the wrong expression for the
> kits delivered. What I was told is that i.e. engine and gearbox were
> delivered separately to the complete body shells (whatever complete
> means in this content). I can only assume that primered bodies from
> Jensen were prepared together with all the other parts needed. Several
> parts were also localy sourced from South African suppliers.
> Here what I have got from the Austin-Healey Club South Africa:
>
>
> The CKD operation of BMC was carried out at the Cowley South Works, T
> Block. All production Healey engines came down the same line including
> units for CKD, and on for delivery to T Block painted. Gearboxes came as
> a separate unit and also packed in the crate the same. Most bodies came
> in primer and painted locally.
>
> In South Africa Austin Healeys were assembled at the BMC plant at
> Blackheath in the Cape between the years 1958-63. Big Healeys and
> Sprites were assembled from CKD Kits. Chassis numbers for Big Healeys
> commenced with 1001 and Sprites 101. While the number of BT7's made is
> unknown, the figures for other models were:
>
>
>
> 1958-59 BN4 105
>
> AN5 134
>
> 1959-60 BN6 33
>
> BN7 10
>
> AN5 155
>
> 1960-61 BN7 70
>
> ANS/6/7 44
>
> 1961-62 BN7 10
>
> 1962-63 BN7 5
>
> AN5/7 2
>
>
>
> That gives a total of 568 excluding BT7's. South African built Healeys
> are indistinguishable from their English built counterparts, apart from
> a plate affixed to the L/H inner wheel arch which gives details of the
> car i.e.:
>
>
>
> Chassis/Engine no., colour, trim, date built, etc. .......
>
>
>
> Very useful info when it comes to a rebuild. All Healeys leaving the
> factory were given an intensive road test to the top of Sir Lowry's pass
> and back again -something that no other product emerging from the plant
> enjoyed, not even the XJ6.
>
>
>
> The Blackheath factory built 3 'Works' racing Healeys and two Sprites
> (which have since disappeared) and one 100/6 which is still running
> around Cape Town. To support this local manufacture extensive spares
> were available from the network of BMC agents. Apart from this local
> source Healeys were also imported across the range.
>
>
>
> This part of the Healey Story is still neglected and the cars are often
> put in the same category as we say "bitsers". Cars, which were made out
> of 2 or more wracks.