Coker’s Lines
Dear Editor,
Your story about the recreated 1953 Austin-Healey 100S Record Car was interesting. The caption notes how “sleek and slippery” the 100’s lines are. The image of the 1954 “Streamliner” also demonstrates the beauty of the design of this Austin-Healey.
The story might have included credit for the timeless body design of the Healey Hundred, later renamed the Austin-Healey 100, and the ’54 Streamliner. That credit goes to Gerry Coker, who joined the Donald Healey Motor Company in 1950 as Healey’s body engineer. In 1957, Gerry and his wife Marion, left England for America. Now retired, yet still active at Austin-Healey events, the Cokers reside in Florida.
Sincerely,
Baird Foster
Austin-Healey Club of America
Dear Baird,
Many thanks for your email.
My story, “Record Recreation,” is about the extraordinary set of circumstances that took the man, Donald Healey, from an obscure fishing village in a remote part of England to the Midlands, several hundred miles away and at that time the epicenter of the motor industry. How through injury his fascination with aeroplanes transferred to automobiles. It explores the frustrations the war years had upon Donald’s ultimate dream but, due to war, fortuitously meeting Ben Bowden and A. C. “Sammy” Sampietro. Finally, the dream is realized with the formation of the Healey works. It also explores the fine line of success and failure, and how they ultimately won through with the Austin-Healey. The second part of the story is of a Healey enthusiast, Martin Corfield, and his exacting recreation of a record car that ultimately won records in its own right.
I do take your point about Gerry Coker, incidentally born just a handful of miles from where I live. Indeed, Gerry has deservedly earned many accolades for his work, principally for Austin-Healey. You are correct, I should have made mention of him in my piece for which I can only apologize.
All best,
Mike Jiggle, European Editor
Dear Mr. Jiggle,
Thanks for your response.
I never knew DMH but have researched him and his contributions to the motor car and rally worlds. He was an amazing person as you are well aware.
Gerry Coker, at 93 years of age, is still active at Austin-Healey events here in the colonies. I believe that his body design/styling of the original Healey Hundred had much to do with the success of this sports car which, as you noted, led to Austin’s agreement with DMH for the manufacture and ultimate sales volume of the Austin-Healey marque. It is also this beauty that keeps this marque so popular today.
The recreation car’s records are a tribute to all those who contributed to the concept and design—mechanical and body—of the original Healey Hundred. Well done to them, and to you for chronicling their efforts.
Sincerely,
Baird Foster
Scarabs
Dear Editor,
As a follow-up to the squib on page 11 of the October issue regarding the auction of the Orosco Scarabs, this is what happened.
The F1 car, the first chassis, was sold to the LeMay Collection. This is a real car and it is nice to see it remain in the U.S.
The second F1 car sold is a replica, a fact recognized by the auction house. It went for a fraction of the price paid for the original. Despite claims having been made (not by Bonhams) that it was a real car, it was in fact a replica. It was sold to a buyer in the UK, who apparently intends to run it in events where total legitimacy is not a requirement.
The front-engine sports racer sold at auction also is a replica. It was sold to a fellow in Germany. Orosco did at one time have an original front-engine sports racer, the first, left-hand-drive example, but he sold that a good many years ago to Rob Walton. At that time, he had a replica made and that is the car that was just sold.
Regards,
Tom Schultz
High Praise
Dear Editor,
You weave a fine thread through the other journals reporting on the same game. However, the weaving in the latest issue was particularly fine. An exceptional issue.
Best Regards,
Bill Hollingsworth
Vintage Racers Group (VRG)
