Bill H and Bill N's Healey adventure
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Burlington or Bust!
This is the story of two people with the same name (Bill Sullivan) and their wives (Joyce Sullivan and Nance Crow) driving two original Austin Healeys across the country in June, 2007. We all live near Albuquerque and our goal is the 2007 Austin Healey Conclave in Burlington, Vermont. This event runs from June 24-29. Check out our daily blog for progress reports.
If you wonder what an Austin Healey is, see the Austin Healey Club of America or the Austin Healey Club USA. The original Austin Healeys are British sports cars that were produced from 1952 until 1967. They were designed by Donald Healey using mostly Austin mechanical components with a simple streamlined body. Not many Healeys were built, but they have always had a following amongst sports car enthusiasts. They were known for good handling and plenty of power. There was never enough money in the Healey camp to update and improve their car, and eventually the Porsches, Corvettes, Jags, and Mustangs put the original Healey out of business -- although the smaller Austin Healey Sprite and MG Midget continued in production well into the '70's.
If you've ever driven an Austin Healey, you'd understand that traveling with one of these cars has its challenges. These cars are cramped, hot as hell in the summer, and they are old. The two Healeys in this story are original 1954 and 1960 models. Although these cars were rebuilt completely years ago, they have both been driven a lot since and we are uncertain about their reliability.
Here are a few details about the cars in this story. Bill H. and Joyce have owned their blue 1960 3000 for about 15 years. Bill is one of Albuquerque's most experienced Austin Healey restorers, he has put together 6 of these cars. He starts with extremely rough originals. This car was built from several parts cars he had obtained over the years. It is a model BN7 with the 3000cc six cylinder engine. It has the rarely fitted disc wheels. Most 1960 Healeys had small rear seats for kids, but Bill's is the much rarer two seat model. Bill has used this car as a daily driver since it was restored. It has racked up over 80K miles being driven in and to almost every state and many Healey gatherings in the US. This car has even toured the historic Healey sites in England with a group of intrepid Healeyists on the UK2K tour in 2000. Some of these UK2K tourists plan to join our trip to Conclave if and when we reach Buffalo, NY.
Bill N. towed his 1954 Austin Healey 100 from a field in New Mexico in 1974. This car was 95% complete, only the lower 5% of the car was missing! Bill N. loved cars but had never restored one. Fortunately, he met Bill H. and Bill H. taught Bill N. how to deal with these fractious cars. They became fast friends and are delighted to remain so today. The '54 Healey 100 was finished and running in just a couple of years. This car is a Model BN1 with a 2600 cc four cylinder engine and three speed transmission. It has an unusual rear seat setup with small seats for kids, a feature not offered on the production Healey 100. We have learned that the Healey shop at Warwick modified a few of the production 100's to add rear seating for customers that asked for it. We suspect this is one of those cars. The car also came with a fiberglass top, seldom seen on Healey 100's. Bill N. has driven this Healey to the western International events in 1982, '92, '97, '98 and '2002. The car has accumulated over 25K miles since it was restored.
Both of the Sullivan families have driven old cars of various vintages on long trips. They frequently tour with the Veteran Motor Car Club of America. Bill N. blogged two cross country trips in a 1927 Buick and a 1940 La Salle. Hopefully, this trip will be as successful as those, we will keep you posted on our blog. You can reach us by e-mail if you like, we would welcome your comments and suggestions.