[Healeys] History of the engine for the Healey 100??

[Patrick and Caroline Quinn]

G'day Mike

Sounds very fanciful to me. 

You really have to go back to the immediate post-war Austin 16 to get to the
roots of the engine. 

The Austin 16 was the first post WW2 Austin vehicle and with it was
introduced a new overhead valve four-cylinder of 2,199cc. It was also
Austin's first OHV engine. It was subsequently used in the Austin A70 and
derivatives. 

Then in larger capacity (2,660cc) it found its way into the A90 Atlantic and
of course the Austin-Healey 100.

There was also a six-cylinder engine used in the Austin Sheerline (and also
used in the first Jensen Interceptor and later 541 Coupe).

While the 2,199/2,660 four-cylinder gave way to the new C-series
six-cylinder it lingered on to the late 1960s for the Austin Taxi.

If Geoff Healey had his way the petrol version it would have been
re-introduced in the 1960s to power the Austin-Healey, as he never really
liked the six-cylinder engine. However he suggested that the stroke be
decreased so to allow for the engine to rev harder and higher. It would have
been around 2.5 litre and properly tuned would have developed around 150bhp.

Sorry no connection with any GM product like Bedford or Chev.

Hoo Roo

Patrick Quinn
Sydney, Australia

-----Original Message-----
From: healeys-bounces+p_cquinn=tpg.com.au at autox.team.net
[mailto:healeys-bounces+p_cquinn=tpg.com.au at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of
mike brooks
Sent: Wednesday, 16 January 2008 9:41 PM
To: healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: [Healeys] History of the engine for the Healey 100??

Does anyone have definitive information on the history of the 100 engine? In
different books and magazine articles I have read various stories about
Bedford van engines, engines for the war effort, 4 cylinder version of the
Chevrolet Stovebolt six etc. etc.

Mike Brooks
'56 BN2
Milano, Italy