Restoration Case Study:
AHX 11 provides Cape with unique restoration opportunity

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AHX 11 was the sixth pre-production Austin Healey 100 completed and it was displayed on the Austin Healey stand at the Turin Motor Show in 1953.

Here we are 55 years later, with this unique car in our workshops undergoing a professional, ground-up restoration, quite possibly the first since it was assembled at Healey’s Warwick factory.

This has been a fantastic opportunity for Cape to work on a traditional and correct original. Being one of the 19 ‘Warwick’ Healeys, it was essential that the car was restored accurately and sympathetically, which unfortunately was not respected by those responsible for the car prior to its arrival at Cape.

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Our initial brief was to re-commission the car and whilst doing this we discovered some of the worst workmanship we have ever seen. So stage one of our work concentrated on stripping off the poor/ incorrect work and reconstructing the chassis, the rear bulk head and boot area where most of the damage had been done.

As you can see from the more recent photos, the inner body assembly has now been reconstructed with all the detailing unique to this car. The original aluminium outer panels have been repaired and all the external body fittings and brightwork have been trialed and fitted. The car is currently being painted – watch this space for its return.

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We would like to extend our sincere thanks to other Warwick car owners who have helped with advice and photographs which have proved invaluable in the restoration of this car.

After the Turin Show the car was exported to the United States and there are some gaps in its history that we would love to fill. If you have any information concerning this significant Austin Healey, please get in touch.