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What do I have here?

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2CylindersDown

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Greetings!

I previously introduced myself in this thread: https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcforum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/338701#Post338701 and have been encouraged by the nice welcome. Now come the dumb questions!

As mentioned in my intro post, I have inherited a 3000 BJ8 from my father in-law. As of the holiday weekend, I have managed to get the car home safe and sound. Initial impressions are that it runs fairly well, all things considered, but needs a thorough cosmetic restoration.

My first question is what the heck do I have? I've been reading all sorts of books on Austin Healeys in an attempt to educate myself. One book that my father in-law had was "Original Austin-Healey" by Anders Ditlev Clausager. This book indicates that chassis numbers 34480-39974 were produced in 1966, and 39975-43025 were produced in 1967. Is this generally considered correct? I ask because my chassis number would indicate a 1966, but all paperwork with the car has always referenced it as a 1967. Based on my reading it doesn't sound like it makes a huge difference, but I am curious. I guess it would be good to have the registration and insurance be correct, if nothing else!

I knew when I received the car I was going to have a big learning curve, but little did I realize I would start by questioning the very year of manufacture! Oh what have I got myself in to? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
Hi 2Cyl,

Welcome. I think you'll find that year of registration is not really so important in old British cars. A British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate will list the date(s) that your car was actually built, and the year of its registration probably merely reflects the year that it was sold, which would obviously be sometime later.

There is an unmistakable perception among some that 1967 is "the" year to own (because it represents the last year of manufacture?), and some people have gone out of their way to get their 1965 or 1966 Healey titled and registered as a 1967 (read that as "flirting with fraud"), so don't be surprised if you find, for example, a Healey made in October 1965 that is titled as a 1967.

In those days the British did not change their cars every year to produce the "latest model" like American manufacturers did/do, and so it is not really meaningful to speak of a "1966 model" Healey. We tend to speak first of the model (a "100-Six," a "Mark II tri-carb," or a "Mark III," etc.), and then we might add the year to the description.

So if your Healey was made in 1966, it was made in 1966, and it is a 1966 car for all practical purposes. If it is titled as a 1967, it might increase the value of it in the eyes of those who share the (mis-)perception that it is important that a Healey be a 1967 "model."

If it were me, I'd look at when in 1966 it was made. If it was made late in the year, then by the time it was shipped to the US, found its way to a dealer, and then found a new owner and was titled, it may have actually been 1967, or close enough to it that they were registering cars as 1967s. If it was made in early 1966, I'd seriously consider getting it titled as a 1966.

That said, it isn't really very important, and since some people think that 1967 is "the" year to own, why worry?
 
editor reid, i agree however it might make a difference when it comes time to sell for obvious reasons. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/savewave.gif
 
My BJ8 is #35708, and the Heritage Certificate lists its manufacture and shipping date as being 1966. Do get the certificate, and don't worry about the year. It is what it is.
 
Well since the confusion seems to exist between a 1966 and a 1967 car the differences are easily resolved. If you look on the rear wheel arch where the seat belts connect, if you see two studs the car is a 1966. ONTOH if you see; a plastic plug, an empty hole or a single stud/bolt the car is a 1967. --Fwiw--Keoke
 
Thanks everyone.

No worries here.

I was going through that "what have I gotten myself into" panic. Realizing that less than 24 hours from acquiring the vehicle that I might not even know the proper year with which to reference it might have been the tipping point! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif It's all good now. It'll be a steep learning curve and a lot of work, but we'll get there.

I might order the certificate just out of curiosity. I like knowing the history of things, and there are a number of oddities that I've found with the car so far. Sounds like the cert might help clear some of that up.
 
2cyldown, dont worry that "what have i gotten myself into " felling will be with you for a good while. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif
 
Most of the parts catalogs will list parts by the chassis or vin number that a part fits, not model year, and besides, you have a BJ8 Ph.2--probably the model with the best parts availability, unlike us poor saps with 100 series cars-not that I am complaining
 
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