|
|
Posted: Sep 10th, 2009 at 02:28 pm
|
|
|
I have heard a rumour that a Healey Sportsmobile was the first car ever to go round the Silverstone race track in 1948.
Is this true and are there any pictures or details of the car.
How much would a Sportsmobile cost today?
« Last Edited by
sportsmobilenut
Sep 10th, 2009 at 03:54 pm »
|
|
 Logged |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sep 11th, 2009 at 02:05 am
|
|
|
I can't recall anything about Sportsmobile being the first round Silverstone - woodworm might know that?
It's very hard to say what one would cost because there are so few about - I think it's aboout 6 left out of 24 so it's only rarely that they come up for sale. They don't go for the sort of prices you would expect for a rare car becasue Healeys in general are cheaper than they should be and Sportsmobile is the leaast desirable to most people of the lot.
The only 2 I can recall, one was advertised about 7 years ago for £10000 in reasonable running order but didn't sell and another from a dealer 2 years ago which was advertised for around £25000 and did sell (to Germany) but what it actually sold for I don't know.
If you do want one you need to join the AOHO and be patient  . It is possible that you'd find one for restoration but very unlikely.
Have a look at http://www.healey-classic.de// and click on Sportsmobile Register for details of the cars.
|
|
Logged |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sep 11th, 2009 at 03:47 am
|
|
|
Wikipedia says this
Silverstone was first used for motorsport by an ad hoc group of friends who set up an impromptu race in September 1947. One of their number, Maurice Geoghegan, lived in nearby Silverstone village and was aware that the airfield was deserted. He and eleven other drivers raced over a two mile circuit, during the course of which Geoghegan himself was unfortunate enough to run over an errant sheep that had wandered onto the airfield. Both car and sheep were written off, and in the aftermath of this event the informal race became known as the Mutton Grand Prix.[2]
The next year the Royal Automobile Club took a lease on the airfield and set out a more formal racing circuit. Their first two races were held on the runways themselves, with long straights separated by tight hairpin corners, the track demarcated by hay bales.
|
|
Logged |
|
Chevy Healey BN1 100/8 - 426 Bhp
|
|
|
woodworm
Junior Member  Member is offline
Posts: 34
|
|
Posted: Sep 13th, 2009 at 02:51 pm
|
|
|
John Cobb opened the circuit in 1948 driving the new Sportsmobile escorted by the TT winning motorcycles ridden by race marshals.
There is a photo in the Motor of that year, can't remember which month at the moment.
Only 25 were made, very few are known by the Association of Healey Owners. They had the sturdy Healey Chassis with aluminium bodywork on a steel frame. There must be more out there unless they have been caniballised to make "Silverstones" Price will as always depend on condition and how much you really want one as there is not a lot of choice!
I am not sure if this will link to a scan of the photo.
« Last Edited by
Admin
Sep 14th, 2009 at 02:08 am »
|
|
Logged |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sep 18th, 2009 at 04:31 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Oct 13th, 2009 at 03:23 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nearly all a BJ8, just not all bolted together.
|
|
|
Was the Sportsmobile the first car round Silverstone? - (Read 430 Times)
