Ned,
>From looking at the pictures, It would appear you would have a 3000 Mk 1, --
essentially unrestored without knowing the completeness, nor the running
condition of any of the major components. --I would think a minimum of $15K
to make a driver out of it, and much much more, if for concours. --And highly
variable depending on missing parts, and condition of the drive train. The
TIME -if doing most of the work yourself, --is almost incalculable. Not only
wrench turning, but in research, paint, locating and ordering parts and
supplies...and sorting out what does and does not go where.
I think for the same price or less, you could still find a Mk I "driver" for
about the same cost, and without the hassles.. $20-22K
I was at about the same level of knowledge that you are, when I started a
restoration on my Healey 15 years ago. --Information is more readily available
now, than it was then. There are really good references, and on-line support
helps a lot. I at least had the advantage of taking her apart myself,
photographing and taking copious notes and making drawings, --and had a
concours Healey restorer 15 miles away.
A lot of it depends upon why you are buying it. --If you want an involving
hobby, and you are prepared for and can afford the expense... then maybe it
makes sense for you. If you want a Healey, cheap, to drive, --I think you'd be
better off buying one that runs, and is more of a known quantity.
If you are committed, and are aware, going in, the cost, and the immense
amount of time involved, then I have little doubt that you could do it. Quite
a few of us have. --Question is if that's what you want, and the way you want
to go about it.
Can anyone give this gentleman an estimate of the man-hours to bring that car
to life? --And anyone who can either confirm or offer other estimates of
cost?
David W. Jones
'62 Mk II BT7 tricarb
Cumberland, RI USA
----- Original Message -----
From: Ned Smith
To: Austin-Healey List
Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2005 2:17 PM
Subject: AH in Pieces
I am interested in restoring an AH. I have no experience with AH but I was
able to keep an MG TD running when I was a teenager in 1958. I am looking
at
an item on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem
<http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=45758
9
5765&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT>
&rd=1,1&item=4575895765&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT) that was pretty well
stripped down when the professional restoration ended due to the health of
the owner. Is reasonable to expect that a person with the above
qualifications could reassemble this car properly from the parts and a tub
of nuts and bolts. I can read and understand and I take instruction well.
Ned Smith
Creek Hill Vineyard
Chattanooga, TN
N34.98 W85.5
|