VENTURA : British-Car Fans Triumph With Restored Autos

C. Darryl Struth sells Fords five days a week.

But on weekends, the fleet manager from Ventura drives one of his 10 personal vehicles--most of which are fully restored Austin-Healeys, Triumphs or MG Midgets.

“I drive my cars all the time,” said Struth, a co-founder of the Central Coast Triumphs automobile club. “I’ve got a six-car garage I’ve got to keep filled up.”

More than 120 vintage all-British automobiles--some for sale, others merely to be appreciated--filled the playground at Will Rogers School in Ventura on Sunday as the Central Coast Triumphs held its fourth annual car show.

“You have to be something of an eccentric to drive a British car,” said Don Greene of Ventura, Struth’s friend and the other founder of the British-only auto club, which boasts about 90 members.

“They’re unpredictable at times,” Greene said. “But the biggest thrill I get out of them is driving them. To me, they’re art in motion.”

Bob Cote of Santa Barbara had his white 1963 Austin-Healey on display at the show. He said he drives it everywhere.

“This thing’s a riot,” he said, sitting in a lawn chair and greeting admirers of his restoration work. “It’s a kick in the pants to drive. Nothing sounds like an Austin-Healey.”

Steve Bristing of Pasadena said he spent two years restoring his candy-apple red Sunbeam Tiger. Sunday, he was willing to part with it for $15,000.

“It costs you a lot more to restore one yourself than to buy one already restored,” said the electrical technician, who has rebuilt and sold a dozen British classics. “You only do it because you love to.”

Pat Hulce of Ventura said he spent more than 300 hours rebuilding his forest green 1968 Triumph GT6, on sale Sunday afternoon for $4,950 or best offer.

“I’m not going to make any outrageous profit on it,” he said, showing off his work under the hood and confessing that he may accept as little as $4,000 for the coupe. “It’s not a convertible, so they’re not as popular.”

Driving a GT6 is like going back in time, he said.

“It’s 1968 technology, so you’ll feel every little pebble on the ground,” Hulce said. “But it’s a great car to go up to Ojai in on Sundays and have breakfast. That’s what we use it for.”

But it is the craftsmanship and style that has enthralled Triumph fans for decades, Hulce said.

“The longer you keep it, the more the price will go up,” he said. “I haven’t seen many of these in Ventura County.”