[Healeys] FW: Ah, the rivet...and the Assumptions Within

[BJ8 Healeys]

My BJ8 (36666) was built 6 June 1966 and has the riveted headlamp rims.
They were on the car when I bought it in 1984, and since the car has not
suffered any accidents, I have no reason to believe they are not original.
They appear original to me.
 
The BMC parts manual for BJ7 and BJ8 specifies Rim Assembly P/N 57H 5018 for
all North American cars, while all other cars got P/N 37H 5530.   There is
no definition of what makes one part number different from the other.  It
seems sort of odd that a supplier would delete the riveted attachment to
save production costs, then add the dimple which would certainly add some of
the cost back in for no real benefit.
 
These kinds of configuration questions remind me of the issue with the
dash-mounted rear view mirror.  According to the parts manual, BJ7s and
Phase 1 BJ8s got the all-stainless/chrome rectangular mirror, while all
Phase 2 BJ8s got the more oval-shaped mirror with the black plastic back.
My car has always had the earlier style mirror (photos from 1969 show it
installed as early as that), and in the BJ8 registry I have a record of 160
Phase 2 BJ8s with the earlier mirror.  I only record the dash mirror type
when I see it personally on a car or in photos.  Some of those might be
replacements, but I think it very unlikely that all of them are.  Anyway, it
seems more probable to me that a replacement would be the same type as the
one that was there before if both are available.  On the other hand, I bet
there have been a lot of original early mirrors on Phase 2 BJ8s replaced
with the later style because the parts manual said the originals were
"incorrect".
 
Steve Byers
HBJ8L/36666           
BJ8 Registry
Havelock, NC  USA