1963 Austin Healey 3000 ‘Replica’

What do we mean by a replica car? This would cover cars not built by Ken Rudd and his team. These may be very detailed and accurate copies, or have period parts, but they should be listed as a Ruddspeed ‘Replica’.

We recently had an email from Steve Thomton from Colorado in the US. He said he had have built a 1963 Austin-Healey with the theme of "what would Ken Rudd have done with today's technology."  Within that context, his build probes the possibilities of a  modern Ruddspeed Healey.  He admits it’s a stretch but he likes to build to a theme.  He also included the period body modification that were added to the Works cars, i.e. side ducts, front ducts, carb access panel.

He began with a multi-year development and fabrication of the electronic fuel injection (EFI) which he is sure Ken would have found fascinating.  During that time, he made changes and upgrades to the suspension, etc. The entire car was a bare frame rebuild over 6 years.  

He took it to the 2024 Sept. Austin-Healey Conclave in Wisconsin.  There were over 200 Austin-Healeys there.  His efforts were acknowledged with a People's Choice Award.

He mentioned that the "Ruddspeed theme" would not have been possible if he hadn't been able to find the very rare Ruddspeed valve cover.  After a multi-year search, and just about having given up... Steve Norton (Cape Int'l) found one for him in 2020. 

Click on the images below to view at a larger size.