[Healeys] Concours

[Peter Svilans]

Barrie hasn't responded, so I'll step in again.

He has explored the question of concours originality vs. modified driver more
completely than most, in very much a hands-on fashion.

While his Best of Show BJ8 was done to a fanatical level of detail, with
screws going back into their original holes after plating,  his next project
was almost a necessary antidote to this obsessiveness.

He decided to build a Grand Tourer which remained firmly British in spirit,
but free from the restrictions of originality.  He studied the various MGB V-8
cars (by Costello, MG, etc.) and engineered a Buick / Rover V-8 conversion for
a left-hand drive MGB GT V-8 (the factory didn't build a LHD one) to his own
plans.  Turned out to be a surprisingly involved project, with many required
modifications, but the result- in its Golden Beige Metallic paint- is one of
the smoothest, reliable, well-balanced touring sports cars one could find.

While his list of cars gives the impression that he employs a staff of
mechanics, he actually does most of the work himself, plugging away at a
project over a long time.

Best
Peter