Just Cool Cars: A rare '56 Austin Healey
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Just Cool Cars: A very rare '56 Austin Healey
James Smalley talks with Paste BN's Chris Woodyard about his rare '56 Austin Healey 100M
CARMEL VALLEY, Calif. — When weather warms up in chilly Washington state, Jim Smalley dons his goggles and skullcap to go out and get a little fresh air — in his rare open-air 1956 Austin Healey.
Smalley, of Gig Harbor, owns a 1956 Austin Healey 100M, a more high-powered version of the famous roadster. Of the 640 made from late 1955 to July 1956, only 190 survive, Smalley says. The 100 developed 110 horsepower, he says, 20 more than the stock version.
"It's kind of a performance option," Smalley told us when we caught up to him over the summer at the Quail Motorsports Gathering here.