Healey by Caton

Recently, the new British luxury car brand Caton from Coventry introduced itself to the public by means of a press release. This wasn’t worth a report for us yet, since no premiere of a first car took place at the same time. With the Healey by Caton, the brand is now making up for this in a timely manner and at the same time underlining its own orientation. The brand sees itself as a company that improves classic cars using modern production techniques and equipment. In other words, they create high-quality restomods. With the Austin-Healey 100, they have set their sights on a first model that other companies apparently haven’t had on their list so far. The Healey by Caton will celebrate its world premiere at the Salon Privé in London from April 21 to 23. The car will then be on display at other events in the UK. In the future, the company plans to produce not only cars but also high-quality accessories in British craftmanship.

Austin-Healey 100 as basic vehicle

Caton’s staff delicately tweaked the well-known and popular Austin-Healey. The immediately recognizable basic design was retained, but given more visual dynanism. In doing so, they respected the design principles of Donald Healey, who developed the original vehicle in the early 1950s. In 1952, the first prototype of the Healey 100 was on its wheels and met with a lively response at the Earls Court Motor Show in London. There, Donald Healey and Austin boss Leonard Lord agreed to jointly produce and market the roadster. There were a total of six versions until 1958, with a switch from the initial four-cylinder to a six-cylinder engine in the meantime. Donald Healey preferred the smaller engine because it was lighter and easier to tune. For this reason, Caton now also uses the original four-cylinder Austin-Healey 100 BN1 models as a basis and inspiration.

Fine body modifications

Darryl Scriven was responsible for the body modifications. In doing so, he paid as much tribute to the original design as possible. However, he incorporated a new grille with handmade louvers. The small original bumpers were dropped in favor of a smoother front end with a longer frontend and LED headlights and daytime running lights. All visible beading and seams on the original body are gone on the Healey by Caton. At the front, completely hand-built fenders with a scallop-like indentation around the air outlet behind the wheels are used. This reinforces the visual dive line on the car’s flank. In addition, the hood and rear end have been given more volume by reworking on an English wheel. The trunk hinges, which would otherwise be on the outside, were relocated to the inside and gas pressure shock absorbers were installed to hold the lid open.

Narrower transmission tunnel

Thanks to a 3D scan of the complete vehicle, it was possible to produce new components on a CNC machine with a tolerance of just 0.2 mm. After the body work, each car spends around two weeks in the in-house paint shop to get the best possible paint job. During final assembly, the original logos and those of Caton are added to the car. In the wheel arches sit 72-spoke Borrani rims with Michelin tires. In redesigning the interior, Caton emphasized the highest quality materials and good design. Since a modern five-speed transmission is used, the transmission tunnel could be made narrower. This also allowed the arrangement of a center armrest with integrated storage compartment. There are also new storage compartments in the doors. By means of a new pedal box and a modified rear section, Caton also created more space for taller occupants. Shrink-optimized leather on the dashboard meets natural leather from Bridge of Weir on the seats.

No infotainment system

For this work, as with the body modifications, Caton employees were able to draw on the resources of engineering partner Envisage Group. In addition, craftmanship skills and tools that had already been used in the construction of the first Healey 100 were employed. These include the aforementioned English wheel, on which aluminium sheets are formed into round shapes by hand. The new five-speed gearbox also makes the car much more suitable for everyday use and offers more driving pleasure on narrow country roads compared to the original three-speed transmission. While an infotainment system hasn’t been fitted, two USB sockets can be found under the center armrest for charging devices brought along. A soft top or a persenning are also missing, as is a heater. The exhaust ends laterally in front of the left rear wheel and thus close to the driver’s ear.

More power through classic tuning

Under the hood, a 2.9-liter four-cylinder engine waits for the driver’s throttle commands. The driver has access to 185 hp and a maximum torque of 264 Nm. Based on an original Healey powerplant, this engine is created after complete disassembly, fine-tuning and fine balancing of the moving parts. High-compression pistons, an all-steel crankshaft, a racing camshaft with more aggressive cams, roller rocker arms and improved bearing shells provide the extra power. Also helping are dual H8 carburetors and a sport exhaust system. The work is done at world-renowned Healey specialist J.M.E. Healeys in Warwick. Caton cites a topspeed of over 100 mph. There is no traction or stability control on board. Likewise there is no ABS for the larger dimensioned brake system. In total, Caton is only putting out 25 examples of the modernized Healey.

Images: Caton