Great stories by all, here's a short version of mine:
In the late '60's I was in college and had a "poor little rich kid"
roommate. For his birthday, his parents presented him with a brand new
black '67 BJ8. That was my first ride in and experience with a Healey,
or any British sports car for that matter. I was fascinated with the
electric overdrive having only seen the old Ford "pull off the road,
stop and pull the lever" type O/D's. Captivated by that, the
performance and styling, I knew that someday.........
After marriage and living in "not car friendly" San Francisco, I moved
to So. Cal. in 1972. We bought a new 240-Z which became my (now ex)
wife's car. That same year a work mate was divorcing and needed to sell
his '61 BT7. I had to have it! Selling my '68 SS-396 Chevelle, I paid
way too much for the Healey with a mediocre repaint and very tired
engine. But how was I to know? I bought a spare motor for $100,
rebuilt it with several tweaks, swapped it in and commuted in it for
over 10 years.
During the next 30+ years, I acquired another 8 big Healeys and 2
Frogs. However, with age does come some semblance of sanity! All are
gone now except for the '53 BN1 with M kit which I purchased in 1978
from the original owner. That car was 1st in class at the inaugural
Road America at Elkhart Lake in 1954.
And BTW, 5 years after the divorce, I got the Z back :-)
Bill Barnett
Santa Ana, CA
'53 BN1 #663 two-owner
'72 240-Z one-owner
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