Living with a Healey 100

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A befriended and well-experienced garage keeper and old car dealer (we didn't speak about classics at the time) told me one day that the majority of his customers were looking for cars built at around their own year of birth. It certainly didn't go for me at the time - I was only a boy and the cars from my own age seemed dull and way too young to me. But as time goes by I must admit that they are growing on me. I am not alone. Our respected editor jumped up when he heard about the Austin-Healey 100 of writer below. The car turned out to be one year younger then himself, but that didn't temper his enthusiasm. The essence of his query was: what is it like to drive?

Well, it certainly is a fun car used for fun drives and that sums up quite a lot. In 19 years time the Healey took me from anything from Monte Carlo to John O'Groats and it remains a trusty friend - despite the countless breakdowns. The two-seater is very snug inside, with the aluminium trim around the tub giving it a bit of a boat-feel once you're in - a British barchetta perhaps. The huge steering wheel that was originally fitted has been replaced by a smaller diameter sports wheel. Not so much because of its sportiness as for the original hoop didn't leave a lot of room for long legs placed horizontally just above the low floor (co-drivers are centimeters removed from the exhaust below where things can get really hot). It's quick, too, and pretty loud once you rev up the four-cylinder. But it's also very torquey and I prefer to change gear very soon to keep revs low, only to switch off the overdrive for the occasional overtaking. It doesn't feel particularly light with that big engine in the front but the roadholding remains a treat every time you take off and the car is not easy to oversteer when it's not wet.

Joris, you'll love it. I do, and it's 20 years older than I am! Ah - the year? Your guess!
 
(Words and pictures Jeroen Booij)   

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