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Longest Restoration
- Thread starter Money_Pit
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David_K
Jedi Hopeful
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Re: Restoration
The previous owner of my Healey tore the car down to peices in 1990. He had the rust repaired and the body painted, then let it sit under a car cover at his house. The engine and transmission sat at the body shop for 15 years. We picked it up back in March and hopefully we'll have it on the road fully restored by December.
The previous owner of my Healey tore the car down to peices in 1990. He had the rust repaired and the body painted, then let it sit under a car cover at his house. The engine and transmission sat at the body shop for 15 years. We picked it up back in March and hopefully we'll have it on the road fully restored by December.
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Bought 100M in October 1987.
Submitted for restoration in March 1988.
Won Forest Grove Concours d'Elegance in July 2006.
Equals 17 years, 4 months in preparation for its first show.
The dollar figure remains, wisely, uncalculated. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
Submitted for restoration in March 1988.
Won Forest Grove Concours d'Elegance in July 2006.
Equals 17 years, 4 months in preparation for its first show.
The dollar figure remains, wisely, uncalculated. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
anthony7777
Yoda
Offline
gents, id vote for an original owner of the oldest healey, that guys been "restoring" the car since day one! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Randy Forbes
Yoda
Offline
I took BN6L-942 apart in September 1986 and I still haven't "finished" it yet; needs wipers wired in and probably bumpers to be registered in Ohio. Interior is not only still apart, I'm undecided on how I want the finished product to look (AC Cobra seats are cheap...).
Reid: I bought mine in April 1978 from the late Ray Caivano (Austin-Healey West) while living in San Francisco. Ray was one of the earlier officers of the Pacific Centre Chapter and then started the GGC.
Reid: I bought mine in April 1978 from the late Ray Caivano (Austin-Healey West) while living in San Francisco. Ray was one of the earlier officers of the Pacific Centre Chapter and then started the GGC.
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[ QUOTE ]
Reid: I bought mine in April 1978 from the late Ray Caivano (Austin-Healey West) while living in San Francisco. Ray was one of the earlier officers of the Pacific Centre Chapter and then started the GGC.
[/ QUOTE ]
Not to speak ill of the dead, but Ray also has the distinction of being the only member ever formally expelled from the Austin-Healey Club, Pacific Centre.
Reid: I bought mine in April 1978 from the late Ray Caivano (Austin-Healey West) while living in San Francisco. Ray was one of the earlier officers of the Pacific Centre Chapter and then started the GGC.
[/ QUOTE ]
Not to speak ill of the dead, but Ray also has the distinction of being the only member ever formally expelled from the Austin-Healey Club, Pacific Centre.
Randy Forbes
Yoda
Offline
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Reid: I bought mine in April 1978 from the late Ray Caivano (Austin-Healey West) while living in San Francisco. Ray was one of the earlier officers of the Pacific Centre Chapter and then started the GGC.
[/ QUOTE ]
Not to speak ill of the dead, but Ray also has the distinction of being the only member ever formally expelled from the Austin-Healey Club, Pacific Centre.
[/ QUOTE ]
Sad, but true. Then AHCPC president Lou Busch (also now passed?) tried to prevent that from happening, but the onslaught led by a few members had too much momentum.
For the record, Ray was accused of "conflict of interest" when as Membership Chairman he included business cards/flyers from Austin-Healey West (his business) in the packets he sent out. Lou said that Ray had asked his permission to do that, and Lou saw no in doing so. I believe there was also some controversy over parts manual reprints/sales, but as they were largely printed at wife Jo-Anne's expense, they were dropped.
Ray certainly was a character, but I've never regretted buying my Healey from him (I even worked at AHW for a spell in 79-80). I stay in touch with Jo-Anne Caivano to this day.
[ QUOTE ]
Reid: I bought mine in April 1978 from the late Ray Caivano (Austin-Healey West) while living in San Francisco. Ray was one of the earlier officers of the Pacific Centre Chapter and then started the GGC.
[/ QUOTE ]
Not to speak ill of the dead, but Ray also has the distinction of being the only member ever formally expelled from the Austin-Healey Club, Pacific Centre.
[/ QUOTE ]
Sad, but true. Then AHCPC president Lou Busch (also now passed?) tried to prevent that from happening, but the onslaught led by a few members had too much momentum.
For the record, Ray was accused of "conflict of interest" when as Membership Chairman he included business cards/flyers from Austin-Healey West (his business) in the packets he sent out. Lou said that Ray had asked his permission to do that, and Lou saw no in doing so. I believe there was also some controversy over parts manual reprints/sales, but as they were largely printed at wife Jo-Anne's expense, they were dropped.
Ray certainly was a character, but I've never regretted buying my Healey from him (I even worked at AHW for a spell in 79-80). I stay in touch with Jo-Anne Caivano to this day.
bighealeysource
Luke Skywalker
Offline
Hello all,
Well, I probably should not admit this but prior to my
recent Healey purchase, I restored a 1949 MG TC. Bought
it in 1982, took apart in 1985 and finshed last Spring
in April 2006. Of course, moved from Atlanta to Savannah
Ga and back, lost interest, found it again, ran out of money
and then found some of that again, well, y''all know how
that works. After finishing it in April, drove for a month
and ended up selling it on eBay in May. Got a good price
but if I factored in my labor costs by the hour, well, I
don't ever want to know that figure ! Went back to my true
love of big Healey's after a 20 year MG separation and now
up to my you know what in working on my 100-6 and loving
every minute of it now. This may not be the longest restoration project but sure shows my devotion to the gods
of British sports cars !!!!
Regards,
Mike - Big Healey Source
Well, I probably should not admit this but prior to my
recent Healey purchase, I restored a 1949 MG TC. Bought
it in 1982, took apart in 1985 and finshed last Spring
in April 2006. Of course, moved from Atlanta to Savannah
Ga and back, lost interest, found it again, ran out of money
and then found some of that again, well, y''all know how
that works. After finishing it in April, drove for a month
and ended up selling it on eBay in May. Got a good price
but if I factored in my labor costs by the hour, well, I
don't ever want to know that figure ! Went back to my true
love of big Healey's after a 20 year MG separation and now
up to my you know what in working on my 100-6 and loving
every minute of it now. This may not be the longest restoration project but sure shows my devotion to the gods
of British sports cars !!!!
Regards,
Mike - Big Healey Source
I purchased my Abington built Longbridge BN4 100-6 in January 1974. Started restoration then stopped a couple of years later when I couldn't get the doors to shut after putting new inner and outer rockers on along with shut face posts. Started again in mid 80's same problem. Started again (baxk to scratch) 3 years ago. Car painted this week. 32 years, 1 house,1 wife (barely) 3 daughters. 1 63 Corvette coupe, 1 59TR3A dore during the years.
I'm currently working on a '54 BN1 whose original owner broke some gears in the gearbox early in it's life with 31500 miles showing. It came off the road and years later, (about 1973) the 2nd owner completely dismantled the entire car and carefully labelled and stored everything. 3rd and 4th owners simply moved and continued to store the project. It is now beginning what plans to be a 3 year restoration back to exactly original specs. So I'd say the "restoration" began with the dismantling in '73.
That's 33 years so far!
That's 33 years so far!
Randy Forbes
Yoda
Offline
[ QUOTE ]
I'm currently working on a '54 BN1 whose original owner broke some gears in the gearbox early in it's life with 31500 miles showing. It came off the road and years later, (about 1973) the 2nd owner completely dismantled the entire car and carefully labelled and stored everything. 3rd and 4th owners simply moved and continued to store the project. It is now beginning what plans to be a 3 year restoration back to exactly original specs. So I'd say the "restoration" began with the dismantling in '73.
That's 33 years so far!
[/ QUOTE ]
I hope we don't get any outside visitors to this thread; we're pathetic! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
I'm currently working on a '54 BN1 whose original owner broke some gears in the gearbox early in it's life with 31500 miles showing. It came off the road and years later, (about 1973) the 2nd owner completely dismantled the entire car and carefully labelled and stored everything. 3rd and 4th owners simply moved and continued to store the project. It is now beginning what plans to be a 3 year restoration back to exactly original specs. So I'd say the "restoration" began with the dismantling in '73.
That's 33 years so far!
[/ QUOTE ]
I hope we don't get any outside visitors to this thread; we're pathetic! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif