Just a kit car

[roverman]

Anyone have personal knowledge of the "Classic Roadsters" version of Healey 3000/Mark III ? SBC 350/auto, and looks clean and it's close. Your skilled comments are welcomed. Thanks, roverman.

[Moderator]

If that's the kit car I'm thinking of, it comes with a seventies-GM style (pull up) door handles and an oddly flat windscreen. The example I saw most recently was horrible, but I suppose that may have been the fault of the guy who assembled it.

SBC 350 / automatic? Doesn't sound like a sports car spec to me.

[roverman]

Curtis and clan,"Doesn't sound like a sports car spec to me", how many of our bretherin are using sbcs ? Automatics ? I know of at least one mountain man, with an automatic MGB, in this group, loves to burn corners, and likely considers his build a sports car. I am more likely to go look at a Jensen GT, that is calling to me. Thanks, roverman.

[HealeyRick]

I don't care for them. My opinion isn't  based on personal experience, never owned one, never drove one. But to anyone who knows Healeys, they just look wrong.  You could probably buy one for short money as their popularity has really diminished with the Factory Five roadster,  I wouldn't drive one with a bag over my head.

[crashbash]

2 bags?

[Dan B]

I think they are really cool.  I almost bought the kit back in 1985.  I don't like the flat windshield or the funky looking top though.  You would have to source actual Healey parts like tail light lenses, etc.  if you want it to really look like a Healey.  Or you could cut a hole in the hood and put a big blower on that SBC and nobody would even look at the rest of the car.

[HealeyRick]

"2 bags?"

Not with a whole grocery store stock of bags, but since they're all plastic now, maybe I would be mercifully suffocated before I drove 3 feet!

"I don't like the flat windshield or the funky looking top though"

That's kind of my point.  There's something about it that ain't right.  I know it isn't very consistent.  Lots of Healey guys would think I butchered my car with the V8 swap, but in my own twisted mind I justify it as a "traditional" hot rod Healey that could have been built in the '60s with the car looking stock externally.  

I'm not criticizing anyone who owns one of the fiberglass ones or wants to, I'm just saying it's not for me.

[ramon]

I consider the Sebrings a very poor effort - it might fool someone unfamiliar with Healeys, who is also nearsighted and views it at night, from a distance. Those fender flares are totally absurd, as are the wheels and the interior. There is a company in South Africa that makes a perfect replica - they have a Youtube video   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=198GLmYC77c  They have vastly improved the Healey suspensions, front a rear using BMW parts and will install BMW E30 or M44 engines or whatever you want I suspect - they seem to operate totally at the beck and call of their buyers.