[Healeys] What's your Healey, and what Healeys have you owned?

[Gary R. Brierton]

I'm sure some of you have heard this before, so excuse the repeat:

My first car was a new BJ8, purchased in Rockford, Illinois on April 4th 
1965, from Forest City Imported Cars, Ltd., 315 So. Church.  HBJ8L/30107 
(British Racing Green, Black interior), $3704 out the door.  Equipped with 
tonneau, wire wheels, overdrive, white sidewall tires (!), windscreen 
washer, heater & seat belts.   I stupidly let her go during grad school in 
Utah, 1966.
Managed to get #2 in the summer of 1967 (Red/Black interior) in Rockford 
(same dealer) while "negotiating" with the government regarding how I should 
serve our country.  Don't have that number, wish I did.  It was one of the 
last new Healeys in U.S.  I entered the U. S. Navy in late '67, lost that 
Healey to a family sedan in 1970, was "without" until February 1977 when I 
got HBJ8L/39981 (BRG/BLK).  Lost her in a winter storm in Chicago 
(Overnight, parked on the street, ice, crunched by means of an Olds).
A brief fling with a Bugeye (AN5L/11488) from Rich Chrysler, Canada, soothed 
my move to North Carolina in 1979.  Then, nothing.
Until 1996, when I acquired my lovely wife, wonderful Wanda and we got 
HBJ8L/40045 (orig. Old English White/BLK, then Silver !?) It was built on 
Dec. 15, 1967, sold new in Raleigh, NC for $3,600.  I paid $16,000 to the 
second owner, put a couple grand in it and starting with Park City, we have 
gone all over the States.  Our license tag = R'S AT LAST.  We are happy.
GaryB