I've made mention several times over the years on this forum of the lovely old Healey 3000 I used to own back in the sixties and seventies. This was the car that my wife Lyn and I rode away from our wedding in, took our very young kids on interstate trips to attend Healey Club rallies, and even left parked in a dirt car park (Fish Lane for you old Brisbaneites) while we walked over the old Victoria Bridge to work in the CBD.
Here's a shot of it out the back of Wolston House, taken in 1977.
In 1976, with the arrival of our third child, family outings in the Healey came to an end. A fourth bedroom was needed so a heart-wrenching decision was made to sell the Healey to finance house extensions and install a swimming pool so as to provide entertainment for the family at home. On a very sad day just after Christmas 1979 I saw the Healey loaded onto the back of a truck and disappear down the road bound for its new home in Nowra, leaving me with a horrible sick feeling that I'd never see her again. Nothing was heard of the car for years and years. Not even the sharpest-eyed NSW Healey guys ever spotted it.
I'll let Craig take up the story ...
It is difficult to convey the depth of feeling that the return of a much loved and greatly missed car after half a lifetime's absence can bring about. They're inanimate objects after all but we who love our cars understand that this bald statement misses the point entirely. I'm so grateful to have the old girl back in my care once again and I can't thank Craig enough for planning the whole secretive business of buying the car, having it recommissioned by a Healey restoration firm in Sydney with everything that could rot perish corrode or leak being replaced or rebuilt, trucking it to Brisbane and then spending three weeks finalising the work, attending to those million and one things required to finish awakening an old car from thirty-six years of slumber in a shed, having it registered with the original rego number, and then getting us out of the house so he could slip it into the garage in readiness to lay the greatest stunning surprise on me that I will ever receive.
I was too shaken to drive the car on its "welcome home" whiz around the block. I truly felt a little out of touch with reality so I was content to let Craig do the honours.
That was yesterday. Today I renewed acquaintance with this lovely old Healey with a gentle drive around our suburb. Past memories of my time with her long ago when we were both much younger came rushing back. I'm so happy to have custody of her once again and we'll have more good fun together until at some time in the future when she'll pass safely into Craig's care.
I do not know what the actual odds would be, but they wold be slim. That is to find the actual family car which was sold 35 years ago and never seen since.
Fact that this car was never registered, never further driven (maybe a little), never resurfaced, and never someone's else's 'barn find'. Let alone the remaining logistical details in resurrecting the dead and bringing back home.
This is a family heirloom now, a story worth telling and sharing because of the absolute rarity of this occurring.
Amazing what emotions cars bring out of us and the connection which can be made with family through generations.
Regardless of these words, Towey said it best above.
What an absolutely wonderful story. This is the sort of thing that really makes the world go 'round. You guys are so lucky to have one another and to be able to share experiences like this.
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Tropical Buzz
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the strength to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. -(wasn't me)
You're a "Star" Craig........a little bit of magic." Yesterdays car today"....well done.
I bet you have made a lot of nostalgic petrol heads wonder where their favorite old car went ? ........ all those years ago.
I can certainly recall one or two I would have back in a heartbeat!!
Good for You Don. Hope to see it soon. Muz
Fantastic story. I've taken the liberty of posting it on our US Healey forum: A Great Healey Reunion Story (Please feel free to join us there) I don't need to tell you that you have a great Healey and an even greater son.
Don, over the last 10 years its hard not to remember a conversation where you haven't mentioned the word "Healey" and now look... Wow Craig great effort. Its even bigger than the car, its about love and family. In the world in which we live, with so much negative stuff around us it really is nice to wake up and read such a great story of love and friendship with his Dad and the joy a car and its memories can bring.
I have been busy since reading this story writing down all last known addresses of previous cars I have owned and loved. I plan on passing these on to my daughter on her 21st Birthday. When she reaches this milestone and says "Dad I can't thank you enough?" I say oh actually you can....
When I was a senior in college I bought an Austin Healey 3000 set up for a Chevy 327. Great car...and the gateway to a Cobra! Looking back on it, I think that was the only car deal I ever lost money on...I traded it and a flipped '70 MG to a local jeweler for a wedding ring in 1989. First wife...you all know the drill. Glad you got yours back!
It was a fun weekend! There's no point preaching to the converted and explaining what a car means to a group of car guys here. It's also no new concept for family to always come first.
I'm just happy to have been able to play a part in this unique chance for Dad to be reunited with his old car. The fact that it's been driven on three consecutive days now has probably doubled the mileage that it's seen in the last couple of decades...!
There was never much legroom for me in the back seat, but at least I get to sit in the front seats now.
Here's the family on a Healey Club run down to Coffs Back in the day. Jeez I'd crush Mum's knee if we tried to re-create that photo now!
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the strength to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. -(wasn't me)
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Long lost Healey returns.
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