The most dramatic Austin Healeys ever made are to live again on the Bonneville salt flats. After years scouring the world for rare Austin Healey parts, Dutch enthusiast Wiet Huidekoper found many of the actual parts from the famous Austin Healey record cars that set various speed and endurance records in 1954.
The parts from both the endurance car known as “SPL227B” and the more dramatic Streamliner were taken to Steve Pike of Marsh Classic Cars in Victoria, Australia, to be “born again.” During the search, many items from Geoff Healey’s personal records and the design drawings were found. This fantastic information, together with the parts, makes this the most exciting Healey project of recent times.
Work is well advanced on both these famous record breakers incorporating the original parts. The endurance car will be completed first, followed by the Streamliner. After thorough testing, both cars will then return to the Bonneville salt flats to relive the glory days of 1954.
Invaluable input and support has come from many quarters: Roy Jackson-Moore (one of the last survivors of the 1954 Healey team), renown-historian Joe Jarrick, and other Austin Healey personalities from around the world. The endurance car SPL227B will make an appearance at the Third European Healey meeting in Sweden, in July 2008.
By Patrick Quinn
