2007-03-28 17:27:06 | Lofty writes:

From the original austinhealey.com. Owner Brad Weldon:

"The Lazarus Project

Back in the summer of '65, Lee, a successful businessman who made land investments on the side, accepted a sportscar as down payment for a piece of land. The car was only 10 years old at the time, and seened to be in quite good condition.

The family enjoyed driving the car, two at a time of course, and shared its charm of top down touring in and around the beautiful vineyards of central California. Sue, Lee's wife, believed the car to be her's, as the convertibles in the family usually went to her. Yet the eldest daughter, MarJean, needed a vehicle to transport her back and forth to college, so the keys exchanged hands.

During summer breaks, and on warm evenings, brother Richard would steal away some precious time with the Healey, now that he was old enough to drive. Often he would use the excuse that little sister Karen wanted to go for a drive, so off brother and sister would go, enjoying the warm summer evenings, thinking life was grand.

Alas, our story does not fair so well. For through mishap and misfortune, the Healey experienced a blown engine and later, a losing battle with Detroit Iron.

Repairs were started, and were never completed, for unknown reasons. The Healey lived under a tarp while in California, later moved to Oregon and stored in the garage. Years later, transported to Saskatchewan, Canada, to reside in a barn, and then the corner of an auto shop. One last major move would entail getting the Healey to Alberta, Canada, to live in a shop, and then a home garage.

All in all, the car has been in need of a serious rebuild for 21 years. And now because of age, a restoration is in order.

During the summer of '80, I met a pretty, young gal named Karen. At the time, I was living with my sister's family, going to college, working part time, needing (read wanting) a convertible. I told Karen I was looking at an Austin Healey Sprite (which I eventually purchased), and she told me of her father's Healey, and he might be interested in selling it to me. Wow,a big Healey. Little did I know of the history and love this family had for this car. After being introduced to the father, he politely declined any thought of parting with the car, yet all the time with a smile, or maybe more of a grin. I think he knew his daughter better than I did, for later did I find out that she knew all along he would not part with the Healey. She just wanted an excuse to have this boy meet her father!

I swallowed hook, line, and sinker. And now I was caught. Over the course of the next 2 months, I fell in love with this gal. We married the following year.

That was 15 years ago. Now Lee, her father (I can call him "dad" now), after years of hearing everything from sly remarks to straight requests, has passed the Healey baton to me.

The week before Labor Day '96, my friend Dan and I drove to Alberta, Canada, rented a trailer on the way, picked up the Healey (plus parts) and brought it back to Oregon. It now sits in MY shop as I read all I can get my hands on about Healeys, awaiting the day the "Lazarus Project" begins.

Manufacturer: Austin Healey
Year: 1955
Model: 100-4 / BN1
Car Number: BN1L 226796
Engine Number: 1B223399M
Body Number: 5314 9453
Body Color: currently blue, someday RED!"

2015-02-03 12:48:37 | Austin writes:

purchased from Brad Weldon and intend to restore it back to original. Would love to find the original numbers matching motor if possible! And of course a Bn2 gearbox.