Gary and Nancy Bauer

 The Journey to Gold: 

 

A Story of History, Friendship, and a 1966 BJ8 

I have been a member of the Southeast Michigan Austin-Healey Club for six years, but my journey with my 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 BJ8 truly began in 2020 when my wife gave it to me as a birthday present.

The car currently has 48,915 original miles, a fact I can confidently verify because I remain in regular contact with its original owner, Felice B. In a beautiful twist of fate, the car was manufactured on November 2, 1965—just one day after my 18th birthday. Felice received the car from her father for her own 18th birthday in 1966. She cherished it, taking it with her to Europe where it served as her daily driver through the roads of Italy and France for three years.

In 1999, Felice sold the Healey to John S., who rebuilt the engine and drivetrain before keeping it safely stored until 2019. John then sent the car to Frank Whicker in Indiana for a meticulous, nut-and-bolt restoration. When it came into my possession, it had only been driven 7 miles since that restoration. Since then, I have spent significant time and effort sorting it out.

Recognizing the exceptional quality of the restoration, I sought out the advice and expertise of fellow club members Bruce Gearn and Jamie Coobatis. Bruce and Jamie generously dedicated endless hours, working alongside me to consult the Concours standards and perfect every detail to prepare the car for judging.

All that hard work culminated at the recent Conclave in Galena, Illinois, where the car was officially awarded Gold status and entered into the Concours Registry.

While achieving Gold is an incredible honor, the real “Gold” of this experience has been the community. The unwavering support from my wife—who patiently endured being a “Healey widow” for most of the summer—and the tireless efforts of Bruce and Jamie made this milestone possible. As Bruce and Jamie so perfectly put it, “That is what this club is about, supporting its members.”

Please enjoy the photos below, including a special historical shot of Felice sitting in this exact car on her 18th birthday back in 1966. Some photos were taken before modifications made for Concours.