Topeka, Kansas. Land of flat ground, moronic cult protesting types, the most “special” Hooters waitresses EVER, and Ron Ward, a proud BangShifter who tipped me off to the remains of this 1954 Austin-Healy 100/4 LeMans yesterday. I’ll be honest, he had a hell of a lot of convincing to do for me to think about running this one. Let’s start with the obvious: It’s a SHELL. There isn’t jack squat to the car past a body! And it’s at two grand? I’d be running as far away from this as possible…there’s a project, and then there’s madness.

But he decided to up the insanity with his suggestion for getting it roadworthy: Find a cheap or junkyard Chevy S-10/Blazer and convert it into a trar. I about choked on my lunch when I read that suggestion, but there’s merit to it: finding a cheap, clapped out truck or Blazer would give you the frame, suspension, running gear and wiring. IF you’re lucky, you just find an ugly one nobody wants anymore and you score the 4.3 V6, and bonus points if it’s a manual trans. The one nice thing I can say about the Healy is that a little sanding and paint and you’ve got a good body on your hands.

This one is certainly pushing the $2500/$5000 criteria of a Rough Start to new heights, but if you’re frugal with hunting parts you just might make it. You’d certainly have a one-of-a-kind that you wouldn’t see anywhere else. And you’ll piss off the British Roadster lot. Me, personally…well, if you’re willing to undertake the project, God help you.

You can see the Craigslist ad for the Austin-Healy here.

The perfect fringe edge of lunacy, or too far in the deep end? You decide! Be sure to send in suggestions for locations for the next Rough Start vehicle!