I was searching Hemmings when I saw this listing for a 1959 100-6, which the seller claimed was wrecked in a front-end collision in 1969 and sat outside for 30 years:

http://www.hemmings.com/.../883756.html

The car was actually my 1957 100-6 BN4, garage-kept for 15 years, and wrecked when automotive shippers didn't tie it down to the truck. It was given to me by my father when I graduated high school in 2004, and my uncle and I fixed it up.

Here's what it looks like today, from the listing on Hemmings:

Pretty sorry, eh?

Here's my father and I driving around in 2004. The car wasn't perfect (note the duct taped door and worried-the-bonnet-will-never-open-again towel), but it looked pretty good.


After it was wrecked in shipping, we went to see the car and took some photos. Here's a side by side comparison, showing it's the same Healey. It's amazing what three years outside did to it:
side by side 1
side by side 2

I thought it might turn up some day. Is the story of this Healey almost at an end?

Noticed left fender spear is backwards on wrecked car, was yours also? cheers Genos2

Ha, I never noticed that. At least they're consistent on both fenders. If you look closely at the photo of me in the car, you'll see the spear on backwards there, too.

This car is actually listed twice on Hemmings; once for $3,000, and once for $8,000! Here's the second:
http://www.hemmings.com/.../896577.html

Look at the photos of the engine bays in both of those to see they're the same. I put those labels on the high tension leads just before the car was wrecked.

Wow! You should really report that to Hammings.

Hi

I think for $3000 I would want it back.

Cheers

Mark

I don't know what I'd do with it. The body looks so far gone, and the frame was bent when it was damaged. The engine in that car was pretty good--had good compression and not too many miles, also it had overdrive IIRC, but I never found out if it worked. The fact that the fender spears are on backwards is pretty typical for that car.

All these problems can be fixed. New frame used fenders and rebuild.

Trust me 10 years from now you will wish you had it back.

Cheers

Mark

For $3,000 I would get it back too. It would not surprise me to see a dealer (who shall remain nameless) in New York snap it up and put it in inventory for $8,000 or so.

Hm, in 10 years would I want it back for nostalgia's sake, or because it'll be worth 10x its current value?

Either or BOTH ! Take it from one who was born before the BIG war (the one with numbers), when you get older, you would give nearly anything to have it back.

I bought my Healey in 1975 and still have it (34 years). There are a couple of cars that I have owned that I'd give a LOT of money to have back.

BUY IT ! If you find that you made a mistake, you can undoubtedly resell it for more than you have in it.

Tim

Heh, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that LBC fans are telling me to buy an LBC! I need more garage space, especially as I want to get another cheap MGB and take it to pieces. Hmmmm indeed.

$3K well spent - just the story alone is worth it.....

If I could buy it for US 3000,- I didn't have to think one nanno second about it.

As it was given to you by your father when you graduated high school in 2004, and you and your uncle fixed it up it has all the ingredients to keep the memories alive.

You could part it out if and make a handsome profit but it should be restored if it has matching numbers.

In 1970, I bought my '63 BJ7(black&ran great for $1100.)(this was my 2nd Healey, 1st was a '60 BT7) '71 bought my 53 BN1(no engine,great body)for $1000. '79 bought my '67 BJ8 from original owner who had been in Navy& took delivery of her in late '67 in England(had octagon knock-offs& under 95K miles)for $5700. Still have all three, also thoroughly enjoyed another dozen Healeys, V-12 XJS convert& numerous MG's.Kept my girls through thick& thin, will be retiring before too long& shall be driving all three.Something bout the exhaust sound& wind in my hair(still have-except its white,hair) Not to bad an investment, considering the hours of fun(girls,etc)an the fact they are still worth a fair sum of dollars. cheers Genos2

Well, too late. It has shown up at that dealer in NY for "only $7,950."

In 1977 whilee in college I bought an MG Midget off the back lot of the MG dealer for $350. I let a buddy borrow it and he smashed the front end. His insurance company said it was TOTALED. I said I wanted the car back and cash. THey offered $650 plus the car.

Had the car back on the road after a weekend and kept it for 6 years.

Wonder what the insurance company would have settled for if you would have told them you want the car too????


Pete

100dashsix, sorry about the shipping damage,"gullwing motors" seems to have alot of cars in similar or even worse condition, i was talked into going there to look at some cars with a friend, never again!

Yeah, unfortunately the dealer in NY had it the whole time. Hemmings just didn't remove the 3k listing. Realistically, I don't have the garage space, and would have to kick either my MG or my Healey out into the driveway. It's a good story to tell, but I've moved on from that car; it was in a sorry state before the collision, but it ran and was fun to tinker with.

Ah, btw, the settlement the company offered was quite large. I got the white Healey in my signature with it. It's an all original, one-previous-owner car, garage kept and driven on weekends. Not a spot of rust on the chassis, and with the factory hardtop.

100dash6, thats good news!, then you did very well in the end.

Now IMOP you really have a good deal. However, back in the70's that other pile of junk might have been economically restortable but it is a different story to day even if you have the capability to do all the work yourself.

I like the stripes on your white Healey. Is it paint or one of those sticker kits?

Thanks, 66healey. They stripes are paint, put on by the original owner. Apparently his son took the car to a racetrack back when it was new, and they had them put on.