1966 Austin Healey Hill Climb Spec, over $500K Invested!
The base for this car is a custom fabricated, chrome-moly chassis, which is built to factory dimensions. The car incorporates a full chrome-moly roll cage to comply with the competition rules of the Pikes Peak event and other hill climbs. The suspension is factory but with Koni tubular shocks (vintage with modern insides) a larger sway bar in the front and both a custom sway bar and Panhard rod in the rear. It is married to an all-aluminum factory works style body, which was fabricated from a factory shroud and modified by Mastercraft Body Works to make the front clip removable. The car has continued to evolve since 2008 and now includes an aluminum block (3 liters) with BME forged pistons and custom aluminum connecting rods, aluminum head with Ferrea valves, roller rockers and a custom Cammotion, forced induction (turbo) camshaft. The drive train is set up using a carbon/carbon, Tilton multi-disc clutch, very light flywheel, and Tilton annular release bearing, which is connected to a Tremec T-5 gearbox, incorporating custom ratios set up by Modern Driveline. Engine management is handled by a Motec M800 computer.
The engine is fuel injected, turbo charged and runs on e85 fuel. The fuel system is flex-fuel so that the engine can run on high-test gasoline as well as alcohol (e85). The injectors are by Injector Dynamics while the turbo is a TIAL GT3071R, which is water cooled and has oil feed bearings. The engine has not been dyno tested but based on performance figures running 10 pounds of boost (0-60 under 4 seconds), horsepower and torque are in the range of 400 at the flywheel.
The interior has a full instrument package, including electronic tach and speedometer, water temp/oil pressure safety gauge, gas level, oil temp, twin AFR gauges and twin exhaust temp gauges. The set includes an electric clock and rare, vintage Heuer rally instruments (Monte Carlo and Autavia). The tank in the rear seat is for water that is sprayed on the radiator at high altitude during hill climbs to enhance cooling. Gurney bubbles have been added to the roof of the car recently to provide more helmet room inside of the cockpit. The car remains in excellent condition subject to patina from its racing experience. About 5K miles since full instrument package was installed.
The title is lien free. The car is located in the Galveston, Texas area and is available for inspection. Over $500K USD invested. The exterior is BRG Green 25 with factory Ferrari Fly Yellow stripes and bullets.
UPDATE: The engine and clutch were completely rebuilt in January 2023, including cylinder honing with new pistons and rings. All gaskets refreshed. Fresh rebuild of clutch with new pressure plate (orange spring). Gearbox mountings refreshed with new gaskets. No races on rebuilt engine.