Coyote's Classic Cars

I first saw an Austin Healey BN1 in 1953. Salivated like a dog wishing for bacon. I’d recently graduated from high school and could not afford a Healey. I’d been into hot rods and drag racing my ’34 Ford five window coupe. The lines of that BN1 changed my mind about what an automobile should look like. Hooked.

After college, I drove a delivery truck to earn enough to go to grad school. During a route, as I passed La Jolla British Cars, a white roadster on the showroom floor—parked between two Jags—sent me back for a closer look. It was an Old English White 1958 MGA. Not a Healey, but I had enough bucks in the bank. Drove it home that afternoon. I didn’t go to grad school that year.

Dad took one look. “What’s that?”

“A MGA.”

He scratched his head and frowned. “It only has two seats.”

“Pretty nice, huh?”

“You’re nuts.” he said. “You could-a bought a Chevy.” End of conversation.

I sold the MGA in ‘61 to pay off college expenses. Mistake. However, I did have a job and bought a '61 3000 Mk II BN7 two-seater the next year—same OEW with a red interior. Sold it in 1965. It was a fine driver with the sound you all know and love. Bought and sold my next set of wheels—a '66 MGB—in just a two years. Okay, but not what I wanted.

November 29, 2001, I bought a beautiful Iris Blue ’60 MGA. Won’t part with it. Kept looking ‘cause I swore I’d find a BN1—and did—May 21, 2003. Had an excellent frame and body even though there was some engine work to do. Did it. I've installed a Denis Welch aluminum head, and a Smitty 5 speed modification. The project included a Mike Lempert 3:54 ring and pinion into a 3000 rear end. I made a new fiberglass transmission tunnel and insulated the entire firewall and floors. I've installed an alternator, a Pretronix ignition, and changed from positive to negative ground. All positive changes.

In July of ‘06, I drove to Nelson, British Columbia for the Healey Get-together. I don't think the air temperature ever got below 100F. Some days it was 106 to 110 and higher. Whew. 4,025 miles, most of them top down. Put it up once to change my fuel filter. Something usually goes wrong whenever I drive through Salem, Oregon. Witches?

For all who attended, and those who did not, the Austin Healey Conclave 2008 was hailed as a huge success! There were at least 198 registrants at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, and over 150 Austin Healeys, representing almost every model that wears the badge. I will post a gallery of photos very soon. From June 29th through July 4th, there were the usual conclave events: rallies, the car show, a gymkhana and funkhana, and a number of really swell events that brought most of the folks together in one room.

Gerry Coker, the man who designed the Healey 100, and John Sprinzel, who, to lift a quote from the front leaf of his excellent book, Spritely Years, … is best remembered for his giant-killing exploits in the baby Austin Healey, notching up the Sprite’s first major success on the 1958 Coupe des Alpes and becoming British Rally Champion the following year in the same car, PMO 200. Both men delighted their audience with their very British humor and driving cliff-hangers. No one left those meetings without having learned more than they knew when they walked through the doors.

Thank you, Austin Healey Club of San Diego for hosting such a perfect meet!

Now, on to new events, new adventures and new journeys.

David Coyote
Austin Healey Club of San Diego
Austin Healey Club of America
San Diego MG Club
NAMGAR