Austin-Healey rises again
New roadster here by next summer?
 Austin-Healey 100/4  The Austin-Healey 5000? |
Will Austin-Healey rise again? As previewed on PistonHeads in October, a new model, the 5000, could be here in time for the British Motor Show next summer.
It'll be a long-nosed, rear-driven two-seater propelled by a 385bhp 5-litre V8 modded from the Ford Mustang's quad-cam lump, and be based around the underpinnings of the MG SV coupé -- all with the aim of recreating the wonderful 100-4, which made a huge splash at the motor show in 1952.
If it's built, the 5000 will be made by a consortium consisting of the Chinese company Nanjing Automobile and GB Sports Car Company, who are close to signing an agreement to re-start production at the Rover plant at Longbridge. Nanjing, you'll remember, bought the remains of Rover for £53 million in July, while GBSCC is funded from the US but based in the UK, and was set up with the aim of kicking off sports car production at Longbridge.
It's not a done deal though. According to Autocar this week, the two companies still need to ink a binding agreement to start production, and to call it an Austin Healey, a name to which Nanjing holds the rights. So far, all they have a memorandum of understanding and full agreement is reported to be at least six weeks out.
Fingers crossed...
Picture courtesy Ribble Valley Classic Car Hire
scottpm said:
Great to see AH back in the market place. Cool looking car though very much like a Weissman (BMW V8)....speaking of which, didn't Pichetsreider keep the AH name for BMW, as he did Mini?
agreed - I love the Wiessman coupe (not so keen on Roadster) - wnder if the revived AH will look to make a coupe as well?
I want one.
mindgam3 said:
Great to see AH back in the market place. Cool looking car though very much like a Weissman (BMW V8)....speaking of which, didn't Pichetsreider keep the AH name for BMW, as he did Mini?
BMW straight 6....
The Wiesmann GT on the moment has an V8 4.8L from BMW but they talking to BMW to get the V10 M5 engine in it also...yummie
GTRene
scottpm said:
Great to see AH back in the market place. Cool looking car though very much like a Weissman (BMW V8)....speaking of which, didn't Pichetsreider keep the AH name for BMW, as he did Mini?
I think you are right when they bought Rover quite a few old British names came with it...
cymtriks said:
cymtriks said:
LuS1fer said:
Jensen, Reliant, Austin Healey, leave them rest.
And Riley, Hillman, Triumph etc
Why do people keep trying to resurect these names? They mean absolutely nothing to 99% of the car buying public and not much to the tiny number of car enthusiasts who are old enough to even remotely remember them.
Many people actually associate these names with the disaster that was the BL era.
MG probably still has some market value left as a name. The rest really don't.
If I was starting a new car company I'd start with a new name.
Sorry but there's no logic in what you've just said... If the names mean nothing to most people nowadays, then it will be just the same as using new names, won't it?? (doh!). And those that WILL remember the cars will remember them as the upside of BMH/BL in the 60's and 70's. Also, resurrecting new names from those with a tarnished image has worked before - just take Triumph motorcycles for one. Skoda has also been turned around...surely its only a matter of time before the same happens with Vauxhall (or is that a bit too much wishful thinking there? ;-) )
The new car looks way better than a Z4, while still retaining the 'retro chic'.
No, it won't be the same as using new names. You would have to pay for that name. The owners of the name might want some control over your project as well. Using a new name didn't hurt Lexus. (doh!)
True, some ageing enthusiasts remember these names but you can't make a business case for these customers alone. You are also in a catch 22 situation, make a car that clearly identifies with the name and attract a small number of customers who remember it last time around, design a new car and alienate these people but catch customers from the wider market who won't really care about the name.
Yes, marque names can be revitalised like Skoda. But at what cost? How much did VW spend on this? How much would it have cost them, or gained them, to have concentrated on their other brands? I honestly don't know why they did it. One way you sell VWs. The other way you sell VWs badged as Skodas after spending a shed load on the Skoda name that could have been kept in the bank and you did this to... sell VWs.
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff