Project Cars And Finding Rare Austin Healey Parts At The Auction

Step through the doors of our Texas headquarters and you’ll find more than just a few old project cars. You’ll find a fleet of stories in the making, some well underway, others still waiting for us to get a chance to turn some wrenches. On a recent visit to our main building, I figured it was time for an update, a quick check-in from the front lines of our ongoing war against mediocrity in modern motoring.

Let’s start with the one everyone’s been asking about: The Explorers Club Meyers Manxster 2+2. You might remember it from its debut at the SEMA Show, stealing glances and starting conversations with its open-air charm and unapologetically analog approach to adventure. Right now, it’s headed to Richard at Apex Auto Works for a full wiring job. Once that’s done, we’ll be shaking it down off-road…hard. Why? Because this August, the Manxster is taking on a multi-country journey that’ll test both man and machine. Think less Sunday cruise and more overland trial by fire.

Quick Update On The Project Cars

Watch a full walkthrough of the projects on YouTube

Now, tucked nearby is our familiar racer from the Let’s Go Racing series and seveal of our past events, the same one you saw tearing across the screen in Bulova’s commercial for their Racer Chronograph. That car’s earned its stripes in front of the camera, but what I’m really excited about is what just rolled into the shop: the rare front clip made by Thomas Denner.

Beach SV16 Project Car

For the uninitiated, Thomas Denner was a Southern California craftsman who built a handful of fiberglass front ends for cars like the Austin-Healey Sprite and Triumph Spitfires during the golden age of “fantastic plastic.” His designs borrowed inspiration from Ferrari, but in a way that felt more hot rod than high society. I’ve owned the only two Denner bonnets I have ever seen in my life. I found it completely by chance at an online auction here in Texas. Along with the bodywork came an old-school race motor, a period transmission, rear end, carbs, header, and assorted odds and ends. Plus it was a steal.

The plan? Build a 1962 Austin-Healey Sprite race car using the Denner front end and that big box of vintage speed parts we already have in storage. The donor car is already located, and while it is rough around the edges, it is perfect for what we have in mind.

Thomas Denner Front Bodywork

Also joining the party is another Sprite project, this one featuring a Jay Geddes front end. Like Denner, Geddes was another Southern California innovator cranking out wild fiberglass conversions in the ’60s. It’s a love letter to the era when anyone with resin, a dream, and a garage could turn a sports car into something that stopped traffic.

And speaking of projects coming back from the brink, we’ve got signs of life from two long-dormant builds. First up, our 1987 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. After some transmission drama, it’s officially back on the road and will be showing up at future events and shoots. That iconic wood paneling hasn’t lost an ounce of its charm, and we’re excited to get it back into rotation.

Want to follow along? There’s plenty more to come. Catch the latest updates right here and over at TheGentlemanRacer.com. Because in our world, the project is never really done, it just evolves into the next great story.