Best of the Brits roll into garden
Austin Healey featured marque
The Greatest Show on British Wheels, the All-British Field Meet (ABFM), returns to Vancouver’s spectacular VanDusen Botanical Garden on Saturday.
This year’s event will pay special tribute to 100 years of Aston Martin, a century of Morris Motors Ltd., featuring the record selling Morris Minor and larger models the Isis, Cowley and Oxford.
The two-wheeled class celebration features 85 years of Vincent motorcycles. In 1948, the Vincent Black Shadow was the fastest motorcycle in the world.
Among serious collectors, including Jay Leno, Vincent motorcycles are regarded as one of the world’s most desirable collector classics, commanding prices well in excess of $100,000.
The motorcycle display is always a great feature at the ABFM and brings back a lot of memories for many that attend. It is organized by the British Motorcycle Owners Club (BMOC) and should not be missed.
The largest display on the great lawn will be the 40-plus Austin Healeys celebrating 60 years of the marquee, ranging from the 1953 Model 100 up to the 1968 3000 MKIII.
Aston Martin values have sky rocketed and are out of reach for most collectors and enthusiasts.
E-Type Jaguars values have levelled off somewhat with the Austin Healey placing third as the most sought after British Sports Car of a bygone era.
Donald Healey had gained a reputation as a consultant engineer and was appointed general manager of the Triumph Motor Company in 1931. In 1945, he formed the Donald Healey Motor Company Ltd, based in an old RAF hangar in Warwick.
The company developed the Austin-Healey and Austin-Healey Sprite motor cars in a licensing contract with the British Motor Corporation (BMC) when production of the Austin Healey ceased in 1968 due to the end of the BMC and the formation of British Leyland The new executives focus was to promote sales of the popular MG brand.
Donald Healey moved on and became the chairman of Jensen Motors, where he helped design the Lotus-engined Jensen-Healey.
Expect to see one or two of these on display at the show, and with a bit of luck, perhaps one of the 500 plus Jensen GTs ever built.
