[Healeys] BJ8 at RM Hershey auction

[Curtis Arndt]

FWIW...

Obviously, there are some issues with this car.

Regarding the seats, I agree, the fit is terrible and that also brings up
another issue in that the vast majority of US delivered convertibles came
with vinyl interiors, and it was a very rare option to have leather seats.
I don't know the percentage off the top of my head, but it may have been
less than 5%.  I will check.

<Leather on BJ8’s was an option on home market cars (England). Very few
original American LHD BJ8 have been observed with leather seats -- “Leather
trim for seats, armrest and rear folding squabs” was listed as an available
option for BJ8's.>

For me the biggest potential issue is that this car is supposedly a 1965
(chassis no. *30659*), and as such it would have had the single plastic
side lights up front and also in the rear, with reflectors instead of the
second set of amber plastic turn signal lights?

>From the 2018 Guidelines...

<BJ8s from Car No. 26705 have a single front parking/turn flasher unit with
a white plastic lens that is larger and flatter in profile (Lucas type
692), up through Phase II BJ8 (C) *31337* (B) 76137.

Rear combination tail/turn signal/brake lights with a single beehive-shaped
red lens, on the fender just above the bumper, were used on all Healeys up
to Phase II BJ8 Car No. *31336* (B) 76138 (type 594 on 100-6 and 3000s to
c. 26704).  With that car, the upper reflectors were replaced with separate
turn-signal lights (with a larger body fairing) and amber plastic lenses
and the lower lights were replaced  with tail/brake lights with red plastic
lenses. Both upper and lower lights on these later cars were Lucas type 692
through the end of production.>

Did anyone else notice in the very first photo the right front wing wheel
opening?  The metal work looks a bit inconsistent and the opening is not
consistently round? Compare to the right rear wheel opening.  Maybe it's
the angle of the photo, I don't know?  The left front opening looks much
better.

All this said, it's easy to pick a car apart and overall, any criticisms
can be repaired, albeit at a cost, but then the high bid of $67.5K may
reflect these observations. It is an overall good looking car none the
less, even with its flaws.

Cheers,

Curt

On Mon, Oct 15, 2018 at 8:45 AM Charlie Baldwin <mgcharlie at comcast.net>
wrote:

> Steve, I'm glad you have it in the registry.
> Someone told me on Saturday at the Hershey car show that it was restored
> there, but I didn't know for sure, so didn't want to credit/blame them.
> It appears that leather seat covers were installed, but not very well as
> someone else mentioned.
>
>
> > On October 15, 2018 at 9:11 AM BJ8Healeys <sbyers at ec.rr.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Charlie Baldwin:  strange that I never received your original message
> via the list (yet).
> >
> > Yes, I have the car in the registry.  One previous owner recorded in New
> Hampshire (AHCA member 1990 - 1999), then restoration by Knut Holzer's BMC
> Classics in April 2008.
> >
> > Steve Byers
> > HBJ8L/36666
> > BJ8 Registry
> > AHCA Delegate at Large
> > Havelock, NC
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Healeys [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Bob
> Spidell
> > Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2018 12:44 PM
> > To: healeys at autox.team.net
> > Subject: Re: [Healeys] BJ8 at RM Hershey auction
> >
> > Not MGB, but 'champagne.'  Was that an original color?  This one came
> > from the factory in white; maybe that's why it didn't sell?
> >
> > Not the best seat upholstery I've seen, and is the shift lever bent, or
> > is it an illusion?  And the fluid reservoir spoils an otherwise nice
> > engine bay presentation.  Nice car, nonetheless.
> >
> > Bob
> >
> >
> > On 10/14/2018 8:17 AM, Charlie Baldwin wrote:
> > > Here is a Metallic Golden Beige BJ8 that was in the auction, but
> > > apparently didn't make reserve.  I think the hammer price was
> > > $67,500.  Comments anyone?  Steve Byers, is this one in your register?
> > >
> > >
> https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/hf18/hershey/lots/r0137-1965-austin-healey-3000-mk-iii-bj8/721386
> > >
> > >
> >
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