1964 BJ8 Project Valuation

[suprgnat]

After 10 years of inactivity it's clear to me I have no desire to finish the rebuilding/restoration of my BJ8.

In 2007 my Dad sent me an email: "Why wait 'till I die? I'm giving you the Healey." Well, it had survived for 10 years "covered" in a carport and was pretty rough, but Dad thought we could road trip it from WA to CA. I had new tire shipped up, Dad got them installed and I flew up for the adventure. We got the Healey running and as I backed it out of the garage the clutch slave cylinder blew. We fixed the slave cylinder but decided that maybe it wasn't the best idea to take a 700 mile trip in the Healey and I headed back home to regroup.

Plan B was to fly up again, and we'd trailer the car back to California together. Dad got a hitch installed on the Windstar, and I headed back up. We picked up a trailer from U-Haul and went to load up the Healey only to find the track width was too narrow for the trailer, and with no other rental options at the time I headed home, again.

Eventually a friend of my Dads offered to trailer the car down with his flatbed trailer, but when it showed up I noticed oil pumping out the head gasket. Getting some time in my own garage I started seeing that I was not going to just slap on a head gasket and drive off into the sunset.

OCD me started digging in, and now I have a bare chassis sitting on a home-made rotisserie with boxes of parts stored around the house. New wiring harness. I replaced the trunk floor, door sills, and a few supporting bits with Kilmartin. The chassis is stripped. I did a phosphoric acid etch, so there's no rust on it from sitting. Lots of other new and refurbished parts. A Mike Lempert Derington style wheel. New dash and glove compartment. Hundreds of disassembly photos, tons of literature. Lost of replating.

So, How much is it worth and how do I go about selling it? My Dad passed away November 9th and I never had the heart to tell him I had no interest in restoring cars. I'd like the proceeds of the sale to go to the White Salmon-Bingen Rotary Club Foundation, earmarked for the Rotary Youth Exchange Program in my Dad's honor. Is there someone on the forum that I could turn to for guidance? I'm in the SF Bay /East Bay area.

Thanks in advance.

 

[BobHaskell]

Someone from the local Golden Gate Austin-Healey club - John Turney is a member here. Businesses that restore - David Nock @ British Car Specialists and Eric Grunden at Absolutely British are two in California that come to mind.

 

[suprgnat]

Someone from the local Golden Gate Austin-Healey club - John Turney is a member here. Businesses that restore - David Nock @ British Car Specialists and Eric Grunden at Absolutely British are two in California that come to mind.

Thanks. I let my membership lapse but maybe I'll re-up for the cause. I was pretty gung-ho back in the day. Picked "Tech Talk" up directly from Norman on a pilgrimage to BCS.

 

[John Turney]

David Nock at BCS should be able to tell you what it's worth. The Club has a market page in the newsletter. > the Golden Gate Austin Healey Club <

 

[vette]

Beverly Hills Car Club buys and sells anything they think they can make a buck on. Which means they probably won’t pay much.

Classic Cars For Sale | Beverly Hills Car Club

Looking to buy or sell Classic Cars? Learn more at Beverly Hills Car Club, a top vintage and classic vehicles dealer.

www.beverlyhillscarclub.com

 

[AN6-TX]

@BJ8Healeys may know someone that's looking for a project.

 

[BJ8Healeys]

Someone has been contacting me (BJ8Healeys) recently, looking for a project, but so far I haven't heard from suprgnat.

 

[LAW75]

Refer to Healey Marque Mag. "Cars Wanted" p.36. Value will be in the eyes of the purchaser. Good luck. Please let us know what were your results.

 

[suprgnat]

I'm still out here and still interested in getting rid of the Healey. I reached out to David Nock via email on 11 January and didn't here anything back. I haven't gotten arounds to following up with a phone call.

 

[suprgnat]

I'll give it a shot. Thanks.

 

[vette]

Classic Motorsport magazine also has a fairly large classified section. The mag has a large subscription base. They are based in Florida but also has quite a readership in California.

 

[AN6-TX]

@suprgnat - see above, send @BJ8Healeys a PM as he knows someone that is looking.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

.... getting rid of the Healey ...

That kinda hurts.

 

[Jan R]

After 10 years of inactivity it's clear to me I have no desire to finish the rebuilding/restoration of my BJ8.

In 2007 my Dad sent me an email: "Why wait 'till I die? I'm giving you the Healey." Well, it had survived for 10 years "covered" in a carport and was pretty rough, but Dad thought we could road trip it from WA to CA. I had new tire shipped up, Dad got them installed and I flew up for the adventure. We got the Healey running and as I backed it out of the garage the clutch slave cylinder blew. We fixed the slave cylinder but decided that maybe it wasn't the best idea to take a 700 mile trip in the Healey and I headed back home to regroup.

Plan B was to fly up again, and we'd trailer the car back to California together. Dad got a hitch installed on the Windstar, and I headed back up. We picked up a trailer from U-Haul and went to load up the Healey only to find the track width was too narrow for the trailer, and with no other rental options at the time I headed home, again.

Eventually a friend of my Dads offered to trailer the car down with his flatbed trailer, but when it showed up I noticed oil pumping out the head gasket. Getting some time in my own garage I started seeing that I was not going to just slap on a head gasket and drive off into the sunset.

OCD me started digging in, and now I have a bare chassis sitting on a home-made rotisserie with boxes of parts stored around the house. New wiring harness. I replaced the trunk floor, door sills, and a few supporting bits with Kilmartin. The chassis is stripped. I did a phosphoric acid etch, so there's no rust on it from sitting. Lots of other new and refurbished parts. A Mike Lempert Derington style wheel. New dash and glove compartment. Hundreds of disassembly photos, tons of literature. Lost of replating.

So, How much is it worth and how do I go about selling it? My Dad passed away November 9th and I never had the heart to tell him I had no interest in restoring cars. I'd like the proceeds of the sale to go to the White Salmon-Bingen Rotary Club Foundation, earmarked for the Rotary Youth Exchange Program in my Dad's honor. Is there someone on the forum that I could turn to for guidance? I'm in the SF Bay /East Bay area.

Thanks in advance.

Hello from the Netherlands.i own exact the same car over here mk3 fase 1 also red my chassis nummer is 26602 please let me know yours.

 

[suprgnat]

It hurts me, too, but it's reality. I've put hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars into it and it's a great car, just not my thing. I think my Dad kind of conflated building cars with restoring cars and thought I'd have a good time. Had Dad truly loved the car I'd have second thoughts, but he bailed on the Healey as soon as their Miata arrived.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

Fair 'nuff. My dad loved his T-Bird and Mustang, but they weren't a passion for me so I found good homes for them.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

I've seen some outrageous selling prices for mundane cars on Bring-A-Trailer lately ($71K for a '66 Mustang convertible, not even a GT? I sold my dad's for $18K a couple years ago). I don't know if they take projects, but if you're willing to commit the time and effort you might net a bundle for your charity.

 

[HealeyPassion]

It's my observation that the success of a BaT auction has a lot to do with the presentation of the car.... lots of pictures, lots of documentation and best if a few videos (a simple cold start one) and a decent driving video. An incomplete project, i.e. not running, is more of an unknown. Also, be prepared to spend days monitoring your BaT auction and answering questions regarding the car... BaT gets a lot of visibility but it's not for the casual sale.... IMHO.

 

[suprgnat]

Chassis HBJ8L25800

 

[LAW75]

First go to Hagerty Price Guide book. depending on condition, that runs, can range between 23K "drivers" with flaws, to 117K, "best in the world" (generally a solid Concours level car. If you car does not run and many major functions do not work, you are talking anywhere from about 10K to 20K (on a good day).
After you exercise with the Hagerty Price Guide, go to BAT and look up previous sales of a "64 BJ8", see the sales below 20K and click on same to examine pictures of a car comparable to yours.
Next, go to Hemmings and get their previous sales of same and try to see pictures of and compare to your car to see prices.
After all that, contact some of the known restorers (members can easily supply), call them, ask if they have any interest, send some pictures.
All the above will give you an approximate range of value...still subjective and the "need" of the potential purchaser.
Any questions, pl feel free to contact.
Good luck.