Registration: 319 AOV
Chassis No: HBT7-7432
This well known car has been used in competition since new and its list of owners reads like a who’s who of gentlemen enthusiast racers beginning with its first owner, Martin Brain who kept the car until 1964. He sold it to Ronnie Westbrook who notably entered the car in the ‘Guards International 1000 Miles’ at Brands Hatch over the weekend of 22nd/23rd May 1965. Kirk Rylands had it next and bought the car in 1969 and continued to compete with the car including two rounds of the ‘Cussons Classic GT’ series and the Le Mans 50th Anniversary Race in 1973 where it finished 14th in a field of 40 cars. In his hands it also held the hill climb record at Prescott for the Pre-’60 3 litre class for around 5 years.
The next owner was the much missed racer, Charles Dean, an irrepressible Bugatti stalwart who still had time for this Healey. He sold it in 1998 to the Chairman of Aston Martin, Victor Gauntlett via Nigel Dawes and from him it passed to Dean Butler in 2004. Another old friend bought it in 2012 when Anthony Galliers-Pratt acquired it and he foolishly allowed me to share it with him in a race at Zandvoort. I think I spun it… more than once.
In 2014 another excellent pal bought it, although the term gentleman enthusiast here becomes a bit of a stretch because the next owner was Katarina Kyvalova. She took it racing in Europe notably with an all girl team to the Spa 6 Hours where they placed Third in Class. She sold it to the well known Austin Healey specialist, Jeremy Welch in 2016. The ‘in car’ footage of his opening lap in the 2016 Goodwood Members Meeting is on Youtube and a much viewed and highly recommended white knuckle ride. (Search: “On board six stunning overtakes” its had more than 50k views)
The current owner bought the car in 2024 and has had it meticulously prepared by Blakeney Motorsport and it is offered for sale with a freshly rebuilt engine.
A full description will be posted shortly.
