Ruminations on the Phase 1 BJ8

[MadRiver]

Howdy Healey people:

My girlfriend and I ecently visited her parents, and I had the pleasure of seeing his 1964 BJ8. I was quite surprised to discover that the car is a Phase 1 -- the first I had ever seen. Nice low tail end like my BT7, small glass trafficators front and rear. Very pleasing, especially since I've come to love my BT7 a bit more than the Phase 2 BJ8s that I or other family members have owned in the past. No flame intended -- I had always fancied myself a BJ8 guy. I liked the extra power, the refinement, and not having to worry about dragging the muffler about. But as I've come to know and love my BT7, I've learned (or at least tried to learn) how to avoid scraping the muffler, and I do like the looks of the lower rear end.

Anyway, I have found my girlfriend's dad's BJ8 to be quite a lovely car, and I like the way that the tail end doesn't look like it's standing on its tip-toes.

Over the years, I've read a lot of negative things written about the few Phase 1 cars that were built, all of course focused on how the rear end was not as user-friendly or as effective as the Phase 2 cars. But time has past, BJ8 prices are going up, and it seems that even the BJ7 is starting to get the respect it is due.

So here's my question -- is a Phase 1 car still perceived as less desirable than a Phase 2?

Just curious!

 

[shorn]

Not in my book, but then I own a 1964 phase 1. I especially like the cubby box in the center console.

 

[tahoe healey]

Me too. I love the centered wheels and glass lights front and rear. (I'm also a phase one owner). At the Conclave last week the seperated the BJ8 as one light or two. There were only two of us with the single glass lenses and eight total with one lens. I'm not sure if the others were raised or not. If not are they considered a true phase one?

 

[AUSMHLY]

The early phase 2 cars have a single plastic lens. The size is larger than the phase one.