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BJ8 Front Emblem

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The official BMC parts manual for the BJ7 and BJ8 is no help, because it shows only one part number for the BJ8 nose badge, beginning with the first BJ8 chassis number (25315) and up. BMC was not always scrupulous in updating the manuals with such detailed changes.
However, the earlier nose badges have a red enameled center (technical term: champlevé. Sometimes called, incorrectly, cloisonné) that shows the dots underneath. The later badge did not have the enameled center, but was painted red and also did not have the dots.
I have seen original badges where the enamel had cracked and partially fallen out and some where some owner had removed it all, leaving just the chrome. I've seen painted badges where the red paint has flaked or faded away, leaving a smooth chromed badge with no color. As Hans mentions, the painted badges have different edges on the lettering.
Some people have told me that their completely chrome badges were original to their car, but I have no real evidence to say whether the all-chrome badges were installed on any cars that left the factory. I rather believe (until better evidence surfaces) that the all-chrome badge is one where the red paint has been completely removed. I have never seen an alumin(i)um badge.
 
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I totally agree with Steve, my car is original 67 BJ8 39,000 mile car unrestored. Check out the attached photo of my badge, It's just as Steve describes.
 

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BJ8Healeys said:
The official BMC parts manual for the BJ7 and BJ8 is no help, because it shows only one part number for the BJ8 nose badge, beginning with the first BJ8 chassis number (25315) and up. BMC was not always scrupulous in updating the manuals with such detailed changes.
However, the earlier nose badges have a red enameled center (technical term: champlevé. Sometimes called, incorrectly, cloisonné) that shows the dots underneath. The later badge did not have the enameled center, but was painted red and also did not have the dots.
I have seen original badges where the enamel had cracked and partially fallen out and some where some owner had removed it all, leaving just the chrome. I've seen painted badges where the red paint has flaked or faded away, leaving a smooth chromed badge with no color. As Hans mentions, the painted badges have different edges on the lettering.
Some people have told me that their completely chrome badges were original to their car, but I have no real evidence to say whether the all-chrome badges were installed on any cars that left the factory. I rather believe (until better evidence surfaces) that the all-chrome badge is one where the red paint has been completely removed. I have never seen an alumin(i)um badge.
Click to expand...
I've seen a lot of BJ8 badges since being around Healeys since 1971 and there was only two types that I ever saw and none of them was plain chrome. Painted was late BJ8's and champlevé was all the others. I have both kinds of the badges. A painted one which came off of car #40928 and a champleve from 37693.
 
Patrick67BJ8 said:
I've seen a lot of BJ8 badges since being around Healeys since 1971 and there was only two types that I ever saw and none of them was plain chrome. Painted was late BJ8's and champlevé was all the others. I have both kinds of the badges. A painted one which came off of car #40928 and a champleve from 37693.
Click to expand...

The picture is the badge off my late 67 BJ8 . When I restored it I used enamel/cloisinne/chapleve whatever term you want to call it ...its the nicest looking .
Anyways . I tried a magnet on this badge as its super lightweight .I doubt its a reproduction due to the aged patina it has . The badge has almost zero magnetizm . The studs as expected have good magnetic pull .
I can only assume its made of some alloy which because of the plating process has minimal magnetic pull due to the plating materials not the parent metal .
 
I inspected a reproduction front badge at the AH Spares stand at the NEC classic car show last week and was very impressed with the quality.

My expectations were'nt very high but I was surprised to see that it was pretty much as the originals.
 
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