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Harrington
- Thread starter belmateo
- Start date
ernestovumbles
Gold Level Sponsor
Personally.. I am a fin fan.
bulldurham
Platinum Level Sponsor
I like them all; but when it gets down and dirty, I would go w/ the fin car.
belmateo
Donation Time
My bad, I will let you start that conversation Eric. Myself, I think all three have something to offer that is so unique that's makes them cool.
alpine_64
Donation Time
For me the original HA has the best proportions , it doesn't make the bodywork over the rear wheels look to tall and heavy and the guard like continuing allows the eye to follow front to back.
This styling is similar to make other of the desirable coupes of the era .. though the larger cut back fins make it unique.
The roofline is also slightly lower and the top finishes earlier. This also helps the proportions...but. the practicality suffers as they used a small version of the stock boot that gives little access and the car has a rear scuttle still making the loading area compromised.
The costs/effort of making the HA was also the worst as you have to modify in fiddly ways the rear bodywork
The LM resolves the practicality but adding the hatch and removing the rear scuttle.. creating a large easily accessible area .. proper GT. It adds more headroom above the rear jump seats... But that's where the positives end .. the removal of the rear fins and the downwood slope of the guards accetentaue the amount of body over the rear wheels... Making the rear arch look very small.. the added height makes it also look more ungainly along with the extended profile of the roofline to the rear and it's more pronounced final slope .. it ends up looking a bit like a dog taking a ....
Think Chrysler crossfire coupe or the very first od the VW group Bentley Continental GT.
The C/D have a lot of the better styling of the original HA.. but the added practicality of the LM with a rear hatch.
Keeping the fins helped the proportions.. but it's still the higher profile of an HLM .. making the roof recess down into the cutout for the original boot lid is a good move for production ease.. it how it protrudes and the seal also make it look at those areas like an aftermarket top...think astro fastback
The reversed roof scoop is way over scaled and it's a pity they didn't keep the HLM C pillar vents. But again . Probably cost and efficiency.
This styling is similar to make other of the desirable coupes of the era .. though the larger cut back fins make it unique.
The roofline is also slightly lower and the top finishes earlier. This also helps the proportions...but. the practicality suffers as they used a small version of the stock boot that gives little access and the car has a rear scuttle still making the loading area compromised.
The costs/effort of making the HA was also the worst as you have to modify in fiddly ways the rear bodywork
The LM resolves the practicality but adding the hatch and removing the rear scuttle.. creating a large easily accessible area .. proper GT. It adds more headroom above the rear jump seats... But that's where the positives end .. the removal of the rear fins and the downwood slope of the guards accetentaue the amount of body over the rear wheels... Making the rear arch look very small.. the added height makes it also look more ungainly along with the extended profile of the roofline to the rear and it's more pronounced final slope .. it ends up looking a bit like a dog taking a ....
Think Chrysler crossfire coupe or the very first od the VW group Bentley Continental GT.
The C/D have a lot of the better styling of the original HA.. but the added practicality of the LM with a rear hatch.
Keeping the fins helped the proportions.. but it's still the higher profile of an HLM .. making the roof recess down into the cutout for the original boot lid is a good move for production ease.. it how it protrudes and the seal also make it look at those areas like an aftermarket top...think astro fastback
The reversed roof scoop is way over scaled and it's a pity they didn't keep the HLM C pillar vents. But again . Probably cost and efficiency.
SoCal'beaming
Gold Level Sponsor
It's kinda' like picking a favorite child ... I Love them ALL! .... just in different ways for their individual personalities and unique qualities.
.... David
.... David
alpine_64
Donation Time
Instant by my HLM have way too much body over the rear arch and the more radiused arc rear profile than fastback gives it the dog sqaut look...
Hats worse is i think the higher arc is to provide headroom in the rear...which nobody ever uses..
jdoclogan
Platinum Level Sponsor
I agree Bernd, Jan, and SoCal.
At every show, with thousands of views over the past 16 years, my Moonstone White Promotional HLM has gotten hundreds of compliments. And several top awards.
I suspect when I get the numbers matching rebuilt engine back into my Black production HLM (previously John Prittie's HLM) and begin showing it. I will receive the same level of accolades.
The ultimate, in Gulf colors and race car configuration, will be my newly acquired John Horseman V8 HLM (https://www.sunbeamalpineowners.club/Harrington/society_features_horsemanV8.html). Representing the rich provenance of this HLM with Horseman's engineering tenure (assistant to John Wyer) at the Carol Shelby's Ford Advance Vehicles GT40 program (think Ford VS Ferrari). It should provide many the pleasure of of viewing a Harrington Le Mans.
At every show, with thousands of views over the past 16 years, my Moonstone White Promotional HLM has gotten hundreds of compliments. And several top awards.
I suspect when I get the numbers matching rebuilt engine back into my Black production HLM (previously John Prittie's HLM) and begin showing it. I will receive the same level of accolades.
The ultimate, in Gulf colors and race car configuration, will be my newly acquired John Horseman V8 HLM (https://www.sunbeamalpineowners.club/Harrington/society_features_horsemanV8.html). Representing the rich provenance of this HLM with Horseman's engineering tenure (assistant to John Wyer) at the Carol Shelby's Ford Advance Vehicles GT40 program (think Ford VS Ferrari). It should provide many the pleasure of of viewing a Harrington Le Mans.
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bernd_st
Bronze Level Sponsor
Even though I do love the 4 cylinder Sunbeam engines - all of them - the Ford V8 in a Harrington body appears like the ultimate evolution and the ideal driving machine to me. 2 things provided however: Rear axle/shock conversion plus extensive heat isolation. Think the latter topic or better to say getting the engine/gearbox heat out from a Harrington body will be really challenging on hot summer days...
alpine_64
Donation Time
Well if it's a C or D... The rear suspension is already sorted... And you have the better interior and steering setup... Also better styling.
bernd_st
Bronze Level Sponsor
However the C/D types have even less interior space than the HLM which doesn't help the heat dissipation. Not to talk about the rarity of C-types with only 12 cars or so built. D- types with only 5 cars built are even less significant. Despite both are nice , they are rather neglectable. Don't forget that the HLM's were introduced to celebrate the Rootes Racing success @ LeMans back in 62 therefore they are the only factory authorized conversions with original racing intent 
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