If youve been thinking about adding an Austin-Healey to your classic car collection but want to experience the thrill and excitement of restoring an Austin-Healey yourself, youve come to the right place to learn the classic Austin-Healey restoration tips you need to be successful. While this is just a short list of basic tips and tricks, the Beverly Hills Car Club has worked with countless Austin-Healey restorers over the years and is always happy to share their knowledge and expertise with clients and friends. Whether youre thinking about taking on a top to bottom restoration of a 1950s Austin-Healey 100 or want to tackle a full restoration of the illustrious Austin-Healey 3000 of the 1960s, the restoration tips below should come in handy. Lets take a look.
Begin by having a good understanding of the Austin-Healey brand before purchasing a potential classic for restoration, as well as the model that will work best for your restoration goals. The Austin-Healey models include the Austin-Healey 100 models, which were built in the early to mid-1950s and the Austin-Healey 3000, which were built throughout the 1960s. The 3000 was known for winning many European rallies and is still used in competition today. A low-cost Austin-Healey Sprite was also available.
Understand that Austin-Healey models were built in an era prior to computers, when assembly, and in some cases fabrication, was done by hand. This can make an Austin-Healey restoration pose a few technical problems, as components may be slightly different from car to car, particularly in the earliest models. However, even though production stopped in 1967 and dealer stock is long gone, there are many suppliers of parts and you should be able to find almost everything you will need.
When restoring an Austin-Healey, or any classic for that matter, be sure to document as much of the process as possible. This will not only help you during the restoration process, it will give potential buyers a great record should you choose to sell the classic down the road. Quite simply, drawing diagrams and taking notes of the order in which items were taken off the car can make your life a lot easier, too!
Austin-Healey wiring should be of particular note when taking on a restoration, as these cars used Lucas electrical systems that were known to be quite finicky. One of the most important pieces of information you can purchase is a Lucas color code.
Lastly, always prepare your garage for the restoration. Have a clean and manageable working space with room to move around and to store parts and components. This will make your life easier in the long run and will make your restoration more enjoyable.
In the business of selling classic Austin-Healey models of all models and conditions, as well as other classic European and American sports cars, the Beverly Hills Car Club would be delighted to help you find the Austin-Healey model youve been looking for. They encourage you to browse their online inventory to view the models current located at their showroom in Los Angeles, and welcome you to contact them with any questions you may have. Backed by years of experience in the industry, their team looks forward to being your go-to source for everything related to classic Austin-Healeys. Connect with them today to learn more!