HMC Healey & Sebring Healey: are they the same company?

[Jukebag]

Came across an old VHS tape recently which had an old Top Gear episode on it from around the late 90s. In it, Quentin Wilson test drives and compares a new Austin Healey 3000 replica called an HMC to that of an original 3000. The replica had flared wheel arches and some other modern designs and features added to it. The thing is though, prior to this, I had never heard of an HMC Healey before. The only other kit car company I know of were Sebring and Haldene; Haldene I believe had been bought out some years ago.

The Healey kit on the Top Gear episode looked pretty much the same as the Sebring kit range they offer in their various forms like the SX, MX, etc. It's just strange that I have never seen any HMC Healey advertised for sale or featured in any kit car/classic car magazine. Does anyone know if they are still making them?

Screen shot from said Top Gear episode:

Edited by Jukebag on Tuesday 22 October 12:09

[Auntieroll]

NO, HMC were built in Stroud, Sebring IIRC were in the fens, Peterborough springs to mind but absolutely NOT the same company.

HMC ceased trading some time ago, don't know about Sebring.

[rdodger]

http://www.sebringinternational.co.uk/

Still going. I'm sure I read recently that the company is for sale.

[Jukebag]

Thanks for that. I've since found out that HMC had indeed ceased trading in 2001. With regards to price with the other (probably now obsolete) replicas, HMC tops the list for being the most expensive, beside the original of course, even though there is little difference to the Sebring kit. In the Top Gear episode, Quentin Wilson states that, for £50,000 for the new HMC you could buy a couple of new Mazda MX's and an original Healey 3000 for the same money. There was an HMC for sale recently going for around £34,000; I think they are way over priced for a replica, you can find more affordable replicas than that. Just a pity Haldene doesn't exist anymore and I very rarely see them come up for sale; unless Haldene became Sebring. One thing about the HMC I don't like is the added flaring of the wheel arches, I think that just defeats the object of the original car's design and one that isn't necessary in my opinion with regards to modern improvements. The other, is this 'trend' for having a V8 engine; the Healey 3000 was always meant for the gentleman sports car owner in mind to be driven on a leisurely pace on Sunday afternoons in the country not for doing corners at 150mph. But each to their own I suppose.

[Frankthered]

Sebring do several models, one of which is the SX which is quite true to the original shape and can be fitted with a straight 6. I'm not sure (can't remember - senior moment) what suspension they use (Jag maybe?) but their chassis is a farily robust ladder/backbone style.

The Haldane was a completely separate entity. It was fairly faithful to the original shape and had a spaceframe chassis that was Sierra based. The project was bought by Den Tanner, became the Pilgrim 3000 and gradually faded away - I guess mainly because Pilgrim were too busy concentrating on their more successful models (Sumo, Speedster etc?).

Pilgrim's website actually states that the moulds are for sale and, as I actually love the Healeys, I would love to buy them. If only I had the money, somewhere to put them, knew what to do with them, could design a chassis to suit etc, etc.

Maybe if I win the lottery ...

I must admit though, that I thought I had heard somewhere that Den had scrapped the moulds as there had been very little interest in the car for so long. (Maybe it was the chassis jig(s) that he scrapped??)