Austin Healey Restoration Tips

Austin-Healey 2-Seater Sports

Image via Wikipedia

These Austin Healey Restoration Tips will help you to get your car to the point you desire and will help it stay there longer. Just remember you are dealing with an English car and the old joke has some truth to it.

The reason the English drink warm beer is because Lucas makes the refrigeration.

The reason most people have decided to restore this beautiful car, is its looks, performance and low cost. The Austin Healy is the ultimate 2 seater to own and drive if you desire to have fun and look good doing it without spending a bundle.

Luckily for those restoring their old cars there is still a plentiful supply of parts available. The last parts manager of the Austin Healey plant in England is still operating his facility and has for sale any and everything you could need to make your car just like new or customized to fit your needs.

As with all restoration jobs, patience is a virtue that must always be present. If frustration sets in, take a break. It is better not to break off a rusty bolt and let it stay while penetrating oil does its job that to sheer it off and have to drill and tap the hole.

If you have yet to purchase the car for your restoration project, take someone along with you when you are looking. This will help to keep you focused. Many times a person will see a car and fall in love with what it could be and not really what it is. The rust and bents might not be noticed when the car of your dreams is right in front of you. Your friend will help to point out its flaws so you will get a better price.

Electrical problems are nearly always present. Ask the owner what works and does not. If they give you an honest answer, then you know what you will be purchasing. If they claim everything works fine, check it all out with skepticism and do not pay top dollar. Remember to pay the value as the car sits and do not include your desire for it.

Patience, persistence and determination are the best Austin Healey restoration tips you can follow. This project will take time so do not get to anxious. To help the progression of your cars restoration, do something each and every day to progress the project on its path to completion. Even if it is only cleaning one component, the time will be well spent and your Austin Healey will be done quicker than you think.

The tips described above are just a small sample of the types of information that you will get from reading the restoration guide that we offer here: “Restoring Your Collector Car”.

* This book will show you hundreds of tips on classic car restoration.

* Learn how to set up your workspace to keep all parts of your restoration in proper order so you will be able to find everything you need at reassembly time.

* You will learn what to look for to be sure you have the “right car” for your restoration project.

* Learn how to budget for each step of the restoration project.

* You will learn how to make everything “look just like” the original.

* You will learn lots of tips on how to stay organized and keep within your budget.

* Find out what you have to do to “Stop All Rust” in its tracks.

* Read what you must do when replacing body panels in order to make sure that they are in proper alignment.  Wavy body lines that are not supposed to be there stick out like a sore thumb.
restoring-collector-carThis is only a small sample of what’s inside.  Click on the book for instant access: “Restoring Your Collector Car” is a book that you will use over and over.  Anyone that is restoring an Austin Healey or any other type of car as well needs this book.

Still not convinced ?

* You will also find valuable tips on how to save money and still do an excellent job restoring  upholstery, interiors, convertible tops, seating repairs, instruments and engine parts.

* This book also covers wiring and electrical tips.

* Brakes, the driveline compnents, the suspension and how not to have to purchase expensive new stock replacements.

* Chrome and bumpers can be very costly.  You can save a ton of money if you do-it-yourself.

This guide will show you step by step where the most important places are to invest your dollars in and which parts you can save on, and HOW TO DO IT RIGHT AT THE LEAST COST.

CLICK HERE for more information and instant access.

You Could be saving THOUSANDS on your restoration!

You will not find a better book on this subject on the market at this low cost. Please tell your friends and car club members that you found this on Austin Healy Restoration repair tips.

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Austin Healey Restorations

The projects of Austin Healey restorations are a popular hobby in America, along with other places around the globe. This is one of the few cars whose production did not stop due to bad sales or a terrible reputation. The only reason was that the British Motor Company decided to heavily promote the MG Midget line of cars because they did not have to pay Don Healey any royalties.

For those enthusiasts, this fact has become a blessing in disguise. With the MG Midget line of cars a direct copy of the Austin Healy Sprite for years from 1961 to the final year in 1972, parts of both cars are almost entirely interchangeable. This is greatly attributed to the way cars are designed in England. Only the name plates for some models, other than just the bodies, were unique. The motors, suspension, steering and even the interior were all taken from the general BMC parts bins for use.

The Sprite was not the only car in the Austin Healey line up that used parts that were in use from other cars in production at that time. The Austin Healey 100 did the same thing with the Austin A90 Atlantic. While the outwards appearance is not the same, under the skin all the parts came from the same BMC parts bin.

The Austin Healey 3000 or Big Healey did not have a cousin under the skin. This one did use the same parts bin, but no other car was assembled just like it. The 2912 cc motor was not specially built but when combined with the special transmission gears that was not available in any other BMC, the top speed was over 110 mph.

This is just one of the many things to keep in mind when undertaking Austin Healey restorations as a hobby.

How to locate and Austin Healey for restoration.

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Posted in Austin Healey Restoration | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Locating Spare Parts Healey

When you are in need of spare parts, Healey brand can still be found in plentiful supply for your Austin Healey restoration project. This might have been an English sports car, but it was most popular in America. For this reason, there is a greater supply of spare parts for all models of the Austin Healey on this side of the Atlantic.

The difference in its popularity might be best visualized by the number of Austin Healey sports car clubs in each country. With nearly 50 clubs scattered across the states and only about 4 across the UK, the difference is dramatic.

With that said, the largest and oldest Austin Healey spare parts supplier is located in the UK. AH Spares is a company that was created near the end of the production run of the Austin Healey car itself. This is when the last parts manager at the Austin Healey Car Company formed a parts company that will exclusively supply Austin Healey parts to AH enthusiasts.

Even with specialty companies like that around, one fact cannot be changed. The Austin Healey line of cars was mostly built from the spare parts bin that was readily available from the British Motor Company. For this reason, if the part you need does not have a distinctive Austin Healey serial number, like the chassis, body and engine, the parts are interchangeable with the MG line of cars.

This is why so many Austin Healey enthusiasts have a spare MG Midget as a supply of cheap and readily available spare parts for their Austin Healey restoration project car. To help in this pursuit is the fact that nearly 4 times as many MG Midgets were sold in the United States than Austin Healey’s.

* For Best Practices for Restoring Your Collector Car Download Our Guide *

These are a few things to consider when looking for spare parts. Healey enthusiasts have multiple paths to follow for their Austin Healey restoration projects.

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Posted in Austin Healey Parts | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Austin Healey at Shows

We bring you information on Healeys big and small that are being discussed in forums and at car shows. From a walk-about at a British motor club display, please forgive the wind noise, to some Austin Healeys that are being offered for sale on other websites.

Check out the very rare gold plated Healey that was factory made for the London car show.

History of Austin Healey Automobiles

In 1952 the Earl’s Court Motor Show served as the birthplace of the Austin-Healey automobile company. It was there that Leonard Lord owner of the Austin Motor Company discovered Donald Healey and the Healey 100. …

Publish Date: 10/05/2010 22:52

http://www.small-businessmarketinginfo.com/automobile/history-of-austin-healey-automobiles/

Classic English Car Show: Austin Mini & Austin Healey Bug Eye Sprite

Austin Mini and Austin Healey Bug Eyed Sprite and a few others.

This is the only gold plated factory made Austin Healey ever made for the 1958 London Motor show.

Austin Healey, 100-Six

“GOLDIE” Unique works-built 1958 Austin-Healey 100-Six Roadster One-off promotional exhibit for the 1958 London Motor Show “The most sumptuously luxurious sports car ever made”-Donald Healey • Entire bright work crafted in 24 carat gold …

Publish Date: 10/02/2010 2:00

http://www.classicrallies.com/view_carforsale/1041

Austin Healey SPRITE LOW MI. RESTORED ORIG. CALIFORNIA “BUGEYE

1959 Austin Healey Bugeye 1959 Bugeye – VIN # AN5L / 13275 Original California 2 Owners Survivor Totally Rust Free & Incredibly Complete. … The undercarriage certainly does not show excessive oil/leaking for an un-restored British vehicle of this vintage and the cleanliness of both the engine and transmission further document the freshening of these units. The Bugeye starts immediately in the morning and during the day regardless of the temperature. …

Publish Date: 09/24/2010 22:52

http://retrocarsale.com/austin-healey-sprite-low-mi-restored-orig-california-bugeye-frogeye

Wonderful 1958 Austin Healey 100/6 « BaT – The best vintage and

Wonderful 1958 Austin Healey 100/6. This 1958 Austin Healey would make Pat Moss proud. Deleted bumpers, hardtop, and fender cut-outs make for a perfect event car. Find it here on eBay in Vista, California for $45k. …. It might not show well on green grass but I bet it’s a ton of fun to spin doughnuts on the lawn with………Yes my neighbors hated me when I was a teenager. Man what a butt I was. Anyways, all I see is me and my honey cruising up PCH to the historics in this …

Publish Date: 09/17/2010 4:48

http://bringatrailer.com/2010/09/17/wonderful-1958-austin-healey-100/

Steve Thomton Wins Ist – British Car Forum

The first image is of the “Big Healeyshow area at the Conclave. Yours truly is on the end nearest the camer. In this pic I’m doing my best to explain my AH EFI system to someone. Hope this works. Cheers, …

Publish Date: 09/22/2010 22:13

http://www.britishcarforum.com/bcforum/ubbthreads.php/topics/710474/Re_Steve_Thomton_Wins_Ist

Whether your taste srun from the little bugeye Sprite to the Big Healeys we suspect you love them all. When you see fine examples of restored sports cars such as these it gives you great ideas on how to get going and complete your own Austin Healey restoration.

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Austin Healey 3000 For Sale: What to Watch Out For

When looking for an Austin Healey 3000 for sale, be sure you know what you are looking at when inspecting the cars you have found. There are still numerous models on the road and in garages for you to choose from that are from the original Austin Healey plant in England, but they are not alone.


For under $45,000 you can have a brand new Austin Healey replica with a V8 powerplant ready to drive. This is from a manufacturer in Port Charlotte Florida called CRD Inc. This replica is from the 1967 model BJ8 Mark III that was a 2+2 car or four seater. The instant give away is the power plant, so do not be fooled when looking under the hood. There are other used versions going for less than $20,000 so if the price is too good to believe, it just might be.

For an original 3000 Austin Healey in show room condition, the price can reach as high as $60,000. On average a fully restored 3000 is slightly lower at $30,000 to $40,000. If you are looking to restore an old Austin Healey 3000 then the beginning price will usually be under $10,000. The condition of the car generally dictates the price along with how bad you really desire to own this particular model.

For those looking at this as a restoration project, there are numerous parts suppliers still manufacturing spare parts at a reasonable price.

Just be careful when shopping. Not all sellers actually know what they have and are advertising MG cars as Austin Healey 3000 for sale. Know what you want and what you are looking at before you write the check.

If you have an Austin Healey for sale in any condition or a stock of Austin Healey parts for sale, you may advertise them here on this site at no charge.

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