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I am auctioning this 1958 Austin-Healey at no reserve. Please be informed from the start—it is a major project for a person with the skills to do a complete restoration or a checkbook to pay for having someone do it for them. I will describe the car as fully as I can, and to start with, I was told it has been sitting in a shed without running for nearly thirty years; the car’s last registration was 1979. That should give you an idea of what you’re up against.
I just recently bought this A-H with the thought of restoring it but quickly realized that several factors, such as lack of space, skills, time, and funds, would prevent me from doing it up as it should be done. Therefore, I have just cleaned it up from its as-found condition and I’ll let someone else take over. I am very impressed with the integrity and completeness of the car, and I feel it is a superb candidate for a top-notch frame-up restoration. Really, it should be a very simple and routine build for an experienced restorer, but I know when I’m in over my head!
If you’re still reading and want to know more, here are the details as honestly and completely as I can tell them.
What’s included: I feel this A-H is 95 to 98 percent complete. Missing items I know include a battery, tonneau cover and/or top boot, sun visors (if it had them), carpets (I removed them because they were rotten), radio antenna, LH vent duct, and grill emblem.
Background: The former owner of the car was an elderly fellow who always meant to redo it but recently went to a rest home. The California ‘pink slip’ title is from 1978 and it is unknown where the car was before that, or if he owned it before then. It has the black gold California plates which I checked and found are no longer in the DMV computer system, so apparently it has not been driven since then.
Body: This was an original red car according to all indications above and below, inside and out, and it was repainted sometime in a slightly darker red. The light spots you see are the original paint showing where the 2nd coat has flecked off. The body has only three areas of rust, each of which can be just about covered with a hand—one in the LR fender in front of the wheel, one in the RR fender in front of the wheel, and one in the RF fender in front of the door. That is ALL the rust I have found and I’ve inspected the car very thoroughly. There is no rust in the doors, frame, floor, trunk, LF fender, or rear of the rear fenders. I suspect the rust is from critter nests and moisture over 30 years rather than road use, but that’s just a guess. The rust is very accessible and will be a very simple fix for a skilled bodyman.
The frame is very straight and solid with no evidence of any damage and is well covered with grease and road grime which has protected it. The trunk lid appears to have been replaced because there is silver blue paint under the red. It looks to be in excellent condition, but some paint on it has flaked off and is down to primer in places.
There is minor damage on the inside of both headlight areas and also some damage on the LF fender outside and below the headlight, but it’s all accessible and easily repaired. The headlight buckets and trim rings seem to be undamaged.
I have cleaned up several areas of the inner fender wells and found nice original red paint on fine body panels which means there is no damage or rust there.
Driveline: It is, of course, the 6 cylinder with 4-speed and overdrive, and everything seems to be intact. We have no idea if the engine runs or even turns over, and that’s the way you’re buying it! Expect to do a complete rebuild of each and every mechanical component of the car from the start. The car shows 85,000 on the odometer, so it probably needs work anyway. The exhaust system is present but is rusted junk.
Interior: The seats were recovered years ago over the original red material with a reddish/black vinyl. I peeled back the driver’s seat cover and the original is there but poor. Part of the carpet was redone in black loop and I took it out due to critter and moisture damage—nasty! The dash cover was either dyed black or faded to black and needs a redo, but the door panels along with the rear package area are original red and pretty decent. The steering wheel, interior hardware, gages, radio, and heater are all intact but are dingy, dirty, rusty, or worn and need redoing. All in all, count on a complete interior package—seats, carpets, door panels, etc.
Top, windshield, side curtains: The top is shot and in 2 pieces but the top bows and front header hardware is present. The side curtains are good but would need the rubber seals replaced and the plexiglas polished to be usable. The windshield frame is good to be polished and the glass is not cracked but would need replacement to look as good as the other redone components. Wipers are hard rubber, as are windshield and door gaskets.
Wheels tires: There are 5 silver wire wheels which look fine without a lot of rust or dings. Some spokes are missing but there are several replacements. The tires are pure junk; old, bald, cracked, just good enough to hold up the car. I had 2 new tubes put in. The knock-off spinners are banged up and rusty but ok to be redone. When done to a high standard, you’ll need chrome wires with narrow red-line Michelins, anyway!
Grill, bumpers, trim, lights, etc: The grill is uncrashed and could be rechromed or polished, and its emblem is missing; headlight rims are good but pitted; emblems, door handles, mirrors, trim is mostly all pitted somewhat, but can be redone. Bumpers and guards are nice and good for rechroming. The lights are all intact but some lenses show crazing from exposure; count on new ones. Only one key came with the car; it fits in the ignition but doesn’t readily turn and I haven’t forced it.
Sale Rules: Please don’t bid on the car if you don’t intend to pay for it if you win. Also, please don’t ask us to end the sale early—it’s going to go the full term. If you do win it, we require a non-refundable deposit of $500.00 via PayPal within 24 hours, and we require the car completely paid for within 7 days with a bank money order, bank certified funds, or cash (in person). The car must be removed from here within thirty days from the sale date.
If you wish to personally inspect the car in Murrieta, CA, please call for an appointment. If there are any further questions, please call Mike at (815) 985-2600 (cell) or contact me via email.
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