Category Archives: Uncategorized

Spectacular 100M from VanDuesen

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Among three Healey 100s that came from the Island for the VanDuesen show was this spectacular, restoration debut, 100M from owner Chris Yarrow.

This is what you could call a factory 100M which was shipped with competition features directly from the factory.

After subsequent purchase from the Daniel Doucette collection alongside a very original XK120, this 100M was restored by Rudi & Company with paint and body work by Coachwerks Automotive Restoration, chrome by Electroshine Metal Refinshers Ltd and upholstery by Tom Steger and Style’s Auto Upholstery.

Devil is in the details and Chris has gone to great lengths to get this car period correct.

In the Shop: 1955 Citroën Traction Avant Familiale

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This week we serviced a French car! That being the this 1955 Citroën Traction Avant with the 9-window Familiale body.

The Traction Avant dates back to 1934 and was notable for using a front-wheel drive system combined with a steel monocoque chassis.

This particular car was purchased from Chicago, but appears to have spent much time in Europe.

In the shop: Supercharged MG TC

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Today Hamish Crawford stopped by in his new monochrome MG TC speedster.

It has a distinctive checkerboard pattern in the radiator that was original to the car and was typical mod from the 1960s. Long gone are the sweeping fenders, replaced by simple cycle fenders. This config is seriously waxing nostalgia, as Hamish did up a similar car when he was a teenager.

Under the hood is a the full monte; that being a blown supercharger that eschews the obligatory twin SUs for a setup more akin to a Blower Bentley!

In The Shop: German BJ8

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We have had quite a few BJ8 Austin Healeys in the shop, but this on is distinctly different as it was delivered new to Germany.

It has numerous detail differences, the most notable being small behive signal lights where the North American federalized cars got the large plastic lights. This is possible with BJ7 fenders and a completely different front shroud with small light beds that would be very difficult to replace.

Other detail differences include rear BJ7 fenders with behives where the reflectors normally are, fitted steering lock, hexagonal wheel nuts and a slightly revised chassis tag that lists the weights.

In the shop: Bugeye Sprite

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Just recently this Austin-Healey ‘Bugeye’ Sprite surfaced from the deep Cowichan and into our shop. It has recently passed on to a new owner with almost enough pieces to make another car!

Anyhow, it has been outfitted with a roll-bar the stronger 1098cc engine from a Sprite MkI or Midget MkII. This probably indicates some sort of motorsports use, so if anyone has images or knows of a white Bugeye, with red interior and a Brookland Race Windscreen that use to race back in the day please let us know.

The absolute easiest way to distinguish this car is the Fred Deeley badge on the back. Sometime in the 1970s it appears the car was refitted for road use. The original Moto-Lita wheel is a real treat.