[Healeys] Recent 100M on BAT

[S and T Miller]

If you were following it recently,  you might find my observations interesting.  So I went down to Michael's motor cars to help him determine if the 100m indeed has a BN1 chassis. Here is what I found.

It has the BN1 inner fenders with the rolled pressings. It has the BN1 front brake hose frame mount the is less pronounced welded BN1 bracket, as the later cars have a bolted on bracket. The front shock towers have no evidence of being replaced and show the factory welds. The gearbox mount shows non-original/factory welds as if it were replaced to accommodate the BN2 mount.

What I found most interesting is that where a BN1 has two OD relays mounted under the dash, it took shining a light it different directions to just make out the slight evidence of filled holes (4 of then for the two relays). And I was able to reach inside the vent just below that area with my fingers and feel the welds and welding wire that was used to fill those 4 holes. I can tell you someone took great care to try and make those holes seem as they never existed.  Along with that, where a BN2 would have the single OD relay attached to the firewall with machine screws screwed into welded captive nuts on the firewall,  you can see plain sheet screws were used to mount it in what would be a BN2 relay position.

I also feel the engine tag is a repo because of the lighter stamping. Originals tend to have the numbers/ letters stamped with a deeper end result.  I took my repo engine tag along to compare, and they appeared identical in the stampings. The body/ bath tag and VIN plate appear original. Now that doesn't mean that the engine isn't the correct M engine, because there could be many reasons why the engine tag was replaced. Anyone who drove a stock 100 compared to a 100M can attest to the difference in power, and Mike stated that it indeed has that M power.

The boot lid shows no evidence of the stay bracket being swapped off another lid, and if you look closely you can see that the boot shows some previous age/life. I'd believe it to be original. I could not make out any evidence of the bonnet number being sliced in from a M bonnet, but I will say that the underside of the bonnet seemed suspiciously clean and prestine. I couldn't detect any age like the boot, but that would be for someone else to decide.

Mike had asked me if the cold air box was original,  and I simply don't have that experience to know. I have anyways heard if it looks old, it's original.  It does indeed look to have some age, so?

I feel at some point in this car's life someone went to some effort to try and conceal that these 100M parts were reinstalled on a BN1 chassis. Another interesting note is that there was an attempt to fill the holes where a BN1 chassis plate is fitted on the frame rail. Perhaps the person didn't realize that the holes continued over to the BN2's, and thought they were erasing evidence of a BN1 chassis?

With all that said, Mike is simply trying to represent the car correctly. The car is a very nice car! Paint is very nice, car is straight, and gaps look good. Interior is very nice, and looks to be a very good car all around. I didn't drive the car, but Mike has years of experience under his belt, so I'd trust his opinions on that. With the quality of the restoration,  it is surprising that the front frame to shroud brackets were not welded to the frame. Chrome looks good, and I'd think winning some trophies at a popular vote car would not be an issue.


The Millers

"Always drive them, but remember each drive in an antique car is a test drive."
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