Austin Healey 100 reimagined by Caton

No matter what you want to simply call it, bringing common autos up to modern day requirements of overall performance and dependability appears to be probable to stay popular. Since who wouldn’t wish a thing that brings together the finest bits of common and present-day motoring?

Here is the most up-to-date, the Healey by Caton. Caton is a new model, a single founded “to direct the sector in design and development of ultra-exceptional, really aspirational luxurious products in automotive and beyond” it can be aspect of the Envisage Group. As for the Healey, properly that is a reincarnation of the Austin Healey 100 that was built from 1953 to 1958, and it is really going to be developed in Coventry – not many miles from the unique manufacturing facility. Caton will make just 25 of these autos.

As is so frequently the way with the restomod model, the spec is effectively exciting. The Caton is constructed close to an all new chassis fairly than being created from an primary automobile. The make by itself is explained as nothing at all fewer than one “of purification, modernisation, and ultimately reincarnation”, which begins with the layout. Type of like when previous films are remastered a long time on, this is plainly a Healey 100 to appear at – only type of superior. In all places. Key particulars include a redesigned grille, the removal of bumpers, LED lights, the elimination of all seams, new wings, a resculpted bonnet (completed on an English wheel!) and the deletion of hinges and handles the place the identical job can now be done by a key. It can be a smoother, cleaner seem, but an right away recognisable one. The press release talks of a far more material, a lot more volume and “a bigger sense of dynamism”.

While the 100 was made available with a six-cylinder engine in time, the Caton automobile sticks with 4-cylinder electricity that proved so well-known. It is really a 2,954cc motor, making just about 190hp and 195lb ft nevertheless centered on an unique Austin Healey block, Caton strips and refurbishes the engine – introducing some awesome small upgrades like even bigger cams, a race cam and high-comp pistons alongside the way – to make certain it is really as near to factory contemporary as possible. Electric power reaches the rear wheels through a new 5 speed gearbox with the lever in the regular area (originally a 100 made use of a column-mounted three-velocity) and strengthened driveshafts, though a facet-exit exhaust “adds further more to the car’s appreciable aural enchantment. The motor function has been done by J.M.E. Healeys, dependent in Warwick at the primary property of Healey. Who improved to do the job?

Beneath, the Caton Healey sticks intently to what underpinned people 50s’ cars and trucks, with double wishbones at the front and semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear of. It can be no mere tribute automobile, however, with more enhancement by J.M.E. such as bespoke, rose-jointed anti-roll bars. Nevertheless the steering lacks guidance and the brakes do without having Abdominal muscles, upgraded discs and calipers really should aid continue to keep a test on the upgraded engine’s efficiency.

Arguably the most important modify inside of for the Healy by Caton, at minimum for all those of us not developed like a stocky lad of the 50s, is that a reprofiled inside suggests six-foot drivers can be accommodated. The pedal box has been moved ahead as properly. The rest of the interior capabilities the abundant supplies we’ve appear to hope from the restomod style, with Bridge of Weir leather-based throughout, albeit not lots of of the mod-drawbacks some might be used to. There is no heater or hood, and whilst USB ports are there for charging, there is no actual audio output. All portion of the purist driving sense, you see. Door pockets have been enlarged to have the bits and bobs we all have with us presently.

You can find a good deal extra to be fired up by with the Caton, much too. The vehicle spends two months in the paint store to get the finish location on, the 72-spoke aluminium alloy wheels are from Borrani and a CNC device made use of by the fabricators signifies panel gaps can be exact to a fifth of a millimetre. Which isn’t really much. The Caton staff pitch this car or truck as the 100 Austin would have built if they’d experienced the tools of today at their disposal 60 decades back. Arguably the conclusion final result looks even better than the promise.

Tim Strafford, CEO of Envisage Team, said: “The Healey by Caton is a auto for all those who appreciate lovely objects and exquisite functions of artwork. It is also for people who enjoy the odor of petrol and the sound of a significant-efficiency engine working on carburettors. The Healey intentionally exposes its occupants to the elements and destinations them suitable at the coronary heart of a special, remarkably visceral, lifestyle-affirming driving working experience – none a lot more so than the audio of the facet-exit exhaust under the driver’s ear. Which appears rather damn very good to us. The Healey by Caton will be demonstrated for the very first time at Salon Prive later this month, ahead of the Bicester Scramble on April 24th and a host of other meets through 2022.