Healey Specialists John Chatham Cars celebrated 50 years in business last weekend with a garden party and open day at their Bristol based workshops after the Castle Combe Autumn Classic event.

The Chatham family threw their doors open to racers, customers and friends on Sunday to celebrate 50 years of business restoring, servicing and preparing racing Healeys.  The Workshops were tidied, cars and trophies were displayed as dozens of Healey enthusiasts came to celebrate the Chatham Golden anniversary and enjoy a great party with live music and a pig roast.

John Chatham famous for having raced Healeys successfully around the world is shown standing next to his first ever Healey ‘SAL 75’ which he has recently been reunited with. The car is fitted with the converted diesel block John used in La Carrera Panamericana, now converted back to petrol.

When asked about the highlights of his illustrious racing career, he said “There are so many races and rallies, but Bathhurst in Australia, the North American Race Challenge in 1990 and the London to Mexico in 1995 stick out as being real adventures.”

Guests included Healey racers from the US, Sweden and Holland who stayed on after the 25th Anniversary Healey Driver International race at Castle Combe the day before. Fellow Bristolians and Healey enthusiasts Julian Bronson and Joe Cox both made speeches paying tribute to John’s career.