Restoring Austin Healeys

In a steaming hot open-air garage in the wilds of Cobb County, George Pope is surrounded by a flock of middle-aged guys who see him as an artist on a par with Picasso --- not to mention as a guru or magician. When it comes to cars that were popular in the '60s, he's known nationwide as the automotive equivalent of a chef who can whip up chicken salad out of chicken feet. His stock in trade: transforming hulks and wrecks of '50s and '60s British sports cars, mostly Austin Healey 3000s, into masterpieces worth $80,000 or more.

West Cobb resident Edward Varner is shown in a Tuesday 7/31/07 photo as he does some detail work on a section of a vintage Austin Healey auto being restored by his uncle, Powder Springs resident George Pope. Varner, a Georgia Tech student who graduated from Harrison High School, is working with his uncle over the summer months.

The engine compartment of a vintage 1963 Austin Healey 3000 automobile that was restored to pristine condition by Powder Springs resident George Pope.

The body of a ready-for-restoration 1962 Austin Healey automobile inside the garage of Powder Springs resident George Pope.

Powder Springs resident George Pope is shown in a Tuesday 7/31/07 photo as he poses with a vintage 1961 Austin Healey automobile that he plans to restore. Pope is among the increasing numbers of people who collect these classic British autos that have not been manufactured since 1967. Even in this condition, its estimated value is around $8,000, says Pope. At his west Cobb home, Pope lovingly restores these old cars with great care.

West Cobb resident Alan Taylor is shown in a Tuesday 7/31/07 photo as he holds onto the very light aluminum shroud that goes on the hood of an old 1961 Austin Healey automobile that will soon be restored by his friend and fellow car enthusiast George Pope. This photo is taken at Pope's residence in Powder Springs. Taylor currently doesn't own an Austin Healey, although has before. Right now, he's got vintage cars that include several MG's and Jag

We see the pristine front end area of a 1963 Austin Healey 3000 automobile that was restored to pristine condition by Powder Springs resident George Pope.

The rusty front end area of a 1961 Austin Healey automobile that will soon be restored by Powder Springs resident George Pope. The car has been sitting under a tree in Pope's backyard for some time.

George Pope of Powder Springs is a master at repairing very old cars and is considered an artist by members of the Atlanta Austin Healey Club. He is closing the trunk on this Big Healey, which he just finished.

This is a hulk of an old Austin Healey owned by George Pope, who plans to restore it. It has been siting near his garage in Powder Springs for 30 years. He paid $1,000 for this one and two others in similar condition. Standing at left is a Georgia Tech student who is helping him this summer, Edward Varner, 20. The man on the right is Doug Raines, 54, of Acworth, who owns a car recently renovated that has been appraised at $80,000.

Powder Springs resident George Pope is shown in a Tuesday 7/31/07 photo as he does restoration work on a 1960 Austin Healey automobile. Pope is among the increasing numbers of people who collect these classic British autos that have not been manufactured since 1967. At his west Cobb home, Pope lovingly restores these old cars with great care. It generally takes about a year to get one back in road-readiness.

Lots of nostalgic Americans are buying cars they had in college or later, Austin Healeys. These cars haven't been manufactured in nearly 30 years. Clubs are spouting across the country. In the Atlanta area, people in Cobb and elsewhere fix up old cars, which are snapped up for between $20,000 and $100,000. The cars were outlawed in the U.S. in the late '60s. The picture of the three cars together was taken at a recent meeting of the Atlanta club.

Acworth resident Doug Raines is shown in a Tuesday 7/31/07 photo as he proudly poses with his vintage 1963 Austin Healey 3000 automobile that was restored to pristine condition by Powder Springs resident George Pope. The car and Raines are shown photographed in a garage at Pope's residence. Raines and Pope are among the increasing numbers of people who collect these classic British autos that have not been manufactured since 1967.

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West Cobb resident Edward Varner is shown in a Tuesday 7/31/07 photo as he does some detail work on a section of a vintage Austin Healey auto being restored by his uncle, Powder Springs resident George Pope. Varner, a Georgia Tech student who graduated from Harrison High School, is working with his uncle over the summer months.

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