Another modded Healey for your consideration

Continuing this week's theme of modified Austin-Healeys, here is a car currently available on ebay for the tempting sum of 11 Grand.  This Healey 100 was modified in period to have what appears to be a fiberglass nose complete with egg-crate grill. While I feel this modification was detrimental to the car's appearance over the slick chrome grill that came stock, I would be loathe to restore this car back to factory specification. After all, how many of these weird fiberglass noses exist in the world? As a historical artifact, I think this car is more interesting than a stock one, though less beautiful. I am hoping a Healey owner who already has one or two 100's in his garage might buy this one and keep it relatively as-is. There are also supposedly Abarth mods to the engine that pique my curiosity! All in all a very cool, idiosyncratic car that shouldn't be turned back into just another trailer queen.

If you want to buy it, it does come with a replacement Healey 100 nose and many extras. Bid here!

Hat tip to Bring a Trailer.

Update on Monday, September 27, 2010 at 5:51PM by Bradley Price

In the end, the Egg-crate grill Healey sold for $15,700. Nice price?

Street Sighting: FIAT 500 Abarth replica

I snagged these shots in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I have no idea where the owner was, but I kept hoping he would show up while I was standing there. I sort of doubt this car is a real Abarth, but it does have some fun go-fast details, and was clearly fresh from the restoration shop. Click the pic for more shots.