Phil’s interest and love in restoration started when he was 13, his first car was a1964 Mini Cooper which he stripped and fully restored.
In 1977 he started his apprenticeship as a panel beater at a BMC (Austin) Garage. He completed a four year apprenticeship working on Austin Healey’s, MGs, and Mini etc.
His interest in mechanics led Phil to carry out tuning work using BMC Special Tuning Parts.
The Franchise sponsored two rally Coopers and an auto test Sprite on which Phil carried out all of the repair work.
After Phil’s apprenticeship he worked at a Vauxhall Main Dealer’s and was heavily involved in their rally success.
Phil’s first Healey was a 1957 BN4 100/6 which he fully restored and entered at the International Healey Weekend at Nostell Priory. He won best car in class and the Donald Healey shield 1983/84. The following year he entered and won the Masters’ Class.
At the same time, he was restoring an Austin Healey 1959 3000 Mk1 BT7, A Replica Rally Car with:
- Full alloy Body
- Full Race engine
- Tulip gear box etc
- Triple 45 DCOE Weber’s
Since then, Phil has worked on many Healey’s, from servicing to full restorations of all models of Big Healey, accident repair and rectification work.
