This was going to be a steep learning curve as Alan had not restored a Big Healey before. However, being a time served vehicle coach builder Alan was taught that nothing is impossible. The task began, the Healey was collected and the strip down started. The car was stripped, sandblasted, all rot was replaced with new steel, it was then primed & painted Colorado Red over Old English White. All the mechanicals were rebuilt, the car was rewired, copper brake pipes fitted, and the engine and gearbox restored and painted Healey Green. The car was then reassembled. The restoration was finally finished for the 1983 lakes weekend, where it won its class in the concours and went on to win a further two concours awards.

Alan’s own Austin Healey MkII Tri-Carb has one of our new chassis, which we manufactured in 2005. Photos of the chassis can be seen on the Austin Healey MkII Tri-Carb race car page, where you can also find the full writeup & further pictures of the project. When Alan bought his MkII Tri-Carb in the 90’s, the chassis was beyond restoring, the only salvageable items from the body/chassis unit being the front bulkhead, both front & rear shrouds and the dash. We hand made the doors and hardtop in 18’s gauge aluminium. The hardtop has a tubular steel space frame under the alloy skin to help with strength and to secure the hand wheeled & shaped alloy in place. The bonnet louvres have been cut out by hand and are hand planished into the bonnet. The engine has been balanced and blueprinted by ourselves, and is now fitted with triple 45 webers. The gearbox has straight cut gears and a race overdrive fitted. The car has a full roll cage, high backed GRP seats, 5 point seat belts and fire extinguishers fitted. The brakes have a bias bar fitted so the front and rear brakes are two separate systems for safety. Alan achieved a 2nd place at the 2006 national concours in the specials class with the Healey. Alan has also won the Liverpool and Chester Sprint Championship for over 2 litre cars for 5 years and came 2nd in the Austin Healey Sprint Championship in 2006, only losing by a 2nd place podium finish.