Aah, Refreshing! Something not about the Volvo 480 (and not in German!)! What kind of 3000 did you have? A four-seater? A four-cylinder?

It was only a 2 seater. I don't remember much about the engine. There were some *very minimal* seating behind the two front seats, but you had to practically sit sideways. Which actually was ok, it so much fun to ride.

Sheesh! I couldn't resist looking here! My first sporstscar experiences were as a 7 or 8 year old in the back "seat" of one of my uncle's 4 AH 3000's. The gauges! The noises! The lack of a top! The wood steering wheel! I was S-O-L-D! I absorbrd a lot of shade-tree tinkering knowledge messing with the silly SU carbs with the cool-looking "dashpots", and learned that wire wheels are a pain in the ass let alone splined hubs with knock-offs. Thanks Terry, another conference to add!

How about a topic on shade tree mechanicing? So, would you get a Healey now if you could get a good deal on one. There's an ad in the Austin paper for an "imitation" AH 3000, but I want the real thing!

Frank: "Thanks Terry, another conference to add!" Thank you, Frank! Now this conference will start rolling! What's the name of the imitation, Terry? I've heard of Silverstone, but I don't know how good it is. I don't think I've ever had any real sportscar experiences; maybe I got a lift in an MGB once. I remember going to the country with my brother once, and we were passed by a Jensen Interceptor. I've also seen Lotuses and Porsches in Jamaica, and an MGA and either a Ferrari Daytona or a Daytona replica here in Quer�taro, but that's about it. I do, however, subscribe to Road & Track!

Would I buy a Healey? No. They go for 10 grand around here (NY) and for that money I could leave behind the low ground clearance and chancey suspension. But the big Healey had plenty power, eh? MGA's are a pain because they're too easily over-revved and BANG, valve job. Porsches, I don't like a car that looks like a toad. Jags I like. A nice Alfa maybe ( I look at Milanos more than I should). And I too have been an R&T subscriber for years and years.

Frank: "Porsches, I don't like a car that looks like a toad." So why do you have a dune buggy, then? :-} IMO, the Alfa Romeo Spider is likely the most beautiful car in creation. I have FOUR R&T's to look forward to when I get home on Saturday! WHOOO-HAAA!

Yeah, I like getting those magazines, just when I need 'em! I laughed when I saw the (touche) comment about the buggy! Y'know Meyers produced a buggy with the name Tow'd. People tell me it looks like Scooby Doo should own mine. My favorite design's the Dino 246 Ferrari or the 330LM. The Alfa spider does come close though. It's the PininFarina styling

PininFarina has designed some serious duds, too, but I don't remember what they are. The Cadillac Allant� wasn't that inspiring!

Modern equivalents of the Austin-Healey 3000? Maybe the BMW Z3 2.8. If they made a convertible version of the 240SX, maybe that. Gileras & TVRs maybe (n.a./U.S.). A modern Sprite? The Suzuki Capuccino (n.a./U.S.). The Miata's too big, more like an MGB competitor.

Good comparo Sam. What's a Gilera car? Bikes maybe but what car?

How do these stack up against the original Healy 3000?

I think it's Gilera, but I may be wrong. It's an English kit car. I know there was an Italian bike named Gilera, last built by Piaggio, but I don't think there's any relation between the car and the bike. I have no idea how they compare, but they're about the same size and have about the same intent.

Re: Gilera car. I was wrong! It's a Ginetta

Re: Gilera car. I was wrong! It's a Ginetta!

I thought Ginetta was gone? Interesting. I think that's a kitcar Sam, the Ginetta GT. Time to look it up...

Was viable up until about two years ago, hadn't heard anything about it since, including any news about it's demise. Is it really gone? Yes they made kit cars, but they also built some (most?) of them at the works.

How 'bout a "kit" topic?