If you’ve been in French Lick or West Baden Springs this week,
you’ve surely seen them. Those little vintage sports cars that look like they
zipped into town straight out of a scene in Mad Men or a Bond flick.
Those cars, they’ve been everywhere. But what are those, exactly?
“When the cars drive by, people are trying to see a badge on
the front and trying to figure out what it is. Most people say, ‘Wow what a
cool car…but what is it?’ They’re gawking, because there’s no name badge until
you get to the front of the back trunk to see it’s an Austin-Healey,” explains
Gary Feldman, president of the Austin-Healey Club of America.
The club is at French Lick Resort this week for its annual
conclave, and if you want a close-up view of these tiny, distinctive British
sports cars, you’ve still got time. If you’re in town or staying at the resort,
stop by the lower level of the parking garage of the event center and peruse
the range of Austin-Healeys in all sorts of colors and models. On Thursday
morning starting at 9 a.m., several of the Austin-Healey owners will be
embarking from French Lick Springs Hotel on an 80-mile road rally which will
tour some of the neighboring communities over the course of a few hours.
Under the hood of a 1962 MKII 3000. Some of the Austin-Healeys require tune-ups while they're here, as owners drove in from as far away as Washington state and Canada.
About 180 of the Austin-Healey cars are in town, in a range of styles, models and colors. The conclave includes concours judging of cars restored true to every little detail from when they came out of the factory in the 1950s and '60s.
The "Sprite" cars like this one with the racing stripe were among the last of the Austin-Healey line to be produced up until 1972. Most of the British-made cars were exported as about 80 to 90 percent of the market was in North America.
The Sprite roadsters like this red one were also known as "Bugeyes" and "Frogeyes" because of their protruding headlights.
And, hey, if you're in the market to buy, you might find something for sale! The Austin-Healey group is in town until Friday morning and cars will be displayed in the parking garage for the public to view free of charge. (Look, but please don't touch!)
