[Healeys] Healey Fiesta

[Kees Oudesluijs]

These two cars are totally different and cannot be compared. The rwd 
Sunbeam/Talbot Lotus was developed from the Sunbeam Ti as a pure rally 
beast with the Vauxhall slant 4 derived 2.2 ltr Lotus 911 engine (an 
enlarged 907) and was very successful at that. Around 250hp in rally 
trim and 160hp in standard road trim. They are a hoot to drive thanks to 
the high power/low torque engine, the low weight and the short wheel base.

The US spec fwd Ford Fiesta was just jazzed up slightly with some small 
engine (80hp) and bodywork mods. Healey had very little to do with the 
car, he just lend his name for well needed cash. Only one was made 
versus around 2500 of the Sunbeam/Talbot Lotus cars.

Kees Oudesluijs



Op 30-11-2020 om 10:59 schreef Peter Dzwig via Healeys:
> I think of the H-F as an oddity and of historic interest because it was
> the last car that the Healeys made (but a shame, perhaps, that it was a
> Ford!). I have no recollection of its handling.
>
> Although I too never drove a Healey Fiesta, a friend had a Sunbeam
> Talbot Lotus which was a very similar car in concept (fast hatchback
> worked on by a well-known sports car company) with great performance as
> I recall and good handling. It was a model of what a car might be that
> in its turn led to things like the VW Golf GTi, whatever you think of them.
>
> Regards,
>
> Peter
>
> On 30/11/2020 04:36, Jean Caron wrote:
>> Chris,
>>
>> I certainly do not see the Healey 100 in the same light as an A90
>> convertible, completely different bodies, but I agree very similar
>> engine. As far as the Fiesta is concerned, I am just wondering why,
>> other than money, would DMH align himself with a Ford product that, at
>> the time, was just an econobox, and not a very good one at that. As Rick
>> Neville indicated, apparently it was a quick little car, I certainly
>> never drove it, basically read the articles about it, first in Road &
>> Track magazine.
>>
>> Its rarity is not in question, I guess, for me it is so totally
>> different that what we were used to see from the Healey family,
>> especially being associated with a Ford product. At that time, the
>> Japanese cars, such as the Datsun, Toyota and Honda were far better cars
>> in that same configuration of models that to me, it would have better
>> suited their image. I am glad someone likes it.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>>   
>>
>> Jean
>>
>>   
>>
>> Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
>> Windows 10
>>
>>   
>>
>> *From: *Chris Dimmock <mailto:austin.healey at gmail.com>
>> *Sent: *November 29, 2020 12:28 AM
>> *To: *Jean Caron <mailto:vintage_roadster_restoration at hotmail.com>
>> *Cc: *pdzwig at summaventures.com <mailto:pdzwig at summaventures.com>;
>> healeys <mailto:Healeys at autox.team.net>
>> *Subject: *Re: [Healeys] Healey Fiesta
>>
>>   
>>
>> Jean, Isn’t that the same as some non Healey journalist describing the
>> Healey 100 as a “modified Austin a90 convertible, which was a pretty
>> lousy car in its day”?
>>
>> The Healey Fiesta Is part of the DHMCo history. And as such, deserves
>> some respect from Healey enthusiasts.
>>
>> Sincerely.
>>
>> Chris
>>
>>   
>>
>>
>>
>>      On 29 Nov 2020, at 5:13 am, Jean Caron via Healeys
>>      <healeys at autox.team.net> wrote:
>>
>>      
>>
>>      In the end, no matter how many badges there are on it identifying it
>>      as a Healey Fiesta, it is still just a modified Ford Fiesta, which
>>      was a pretty lousy car in its day.
>>
>>       
>>
>>      Jean
>>
>>       
>>
>>      Sent from Mail
>>      <https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.microsoft.com%2Ffwlink%2F%3FLinkId%3D550986&data=04%7C01%7C%7C236e46b8af8a4ea7ffc608d8942ff4c1%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637422280970842374%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=t7474dUGguiZ98GkTB9T5p6ZTd%2FI4bdsuLO6dGiIYmg%3D&reserved=0>
>>      for Windows 10
>>
>>       
>>
>>      *From: *Peter Dzwig via Healeys <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>
>>      *Sent: *November 28, 2020 11:30 AM
>>      *To: *'healeys' <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>
>>      *Subject: *[Healeys] Healey Fiesta
>>
>>       
>>
>>
>>
>>      NFI, just thought some of you might like to see this rarity:
>>
>>      <https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.classicmobilia.com%2Fshowroom%2F11446137-healey-fiesta-coupe%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7C8480b8854faa44e346ac08d893c33c6c%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637421814023471459%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=XL3mvjIrVd1rpUXHS1Eaa1qHeH1LyG8JbXIMiSMNGjk%3D&reserved=0
>>      <https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.classicmobilia.com%2Fshowroom%2F11446137-healey-fiesta-coupe%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7C236e46b8af8a4ea7ffc608d8942ff4c1%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637422280970852372%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=sW%2BvR9fFhp3dFON9BFTi5zBUTWIL2prooIE%2FtD02udI%3D&reserved=0>>
>>
>>
>>      Peter
>>      --
>>
>>      Dr. Peter Dzwig
>>
>>       
>>
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>>   
>>