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What does a DAILY driver big healey cost today?
- Thread starter dvu101
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Just to answer my question last fall. I found by accident, a 62 tri carb BT7 that was restored in the late 80s/early 90s and it was only 5 miles from home. The restoration was done well but not great. (The parts available are better today and they made some of them). The car looks very good to the untrained eye with a few dings and misalligned doors (20 footer??). It had only been driven 4x's in the last 4 years. Just to and from the inspection station then parked in a garage. It took about 15 minutes to start and after warming up ran fine. The brakes pull some and squeel till warmed up. I will rebuild them all this winter. I have all the receipts from the restoration. The tune up, oil, grease in the joints all look brand new. It has 72 spoke crome ww that are about 8 years old with little to no milage. It has very little rust if any that I can find. So,,, I purchased it. 700 miles later of driving around the neighborhood in maybe 5 to 20 mile trips, to school, the Safeway etc...has been GREAT. The weather stayed warm till January 10 so we drove it till then. The kids love it when I pick them up from school and we get comments all the time. Both my daughters want it in the future. Only about 4 people guessed or knew what kind of car it is (3 women and 1 man). That's pretty bad. I will do my part in changing it. SO far, except for seatbelts, oil and gas it has been a great trip. I am sure in the coming months I will need so more help with repairs. Thanks for the advise guys. When I figure out how to post a picture I will. The funny thing is I still have my first Healey purchased in 1976 all in boxes now. Same year, model, style, tri carb and color. Vin numbers are 1100 different. GO figure.
Thanks Scott
Thanks Scott
Since your first question was how much would such a car cost, would it be impolite to ask what you did have to pay to get what you were after? For comparison, I paid $9000 for my 66 BJ8 four years ago, that was driveable, but seriously in need of total restoration, which I've been at now for almost three years, with over $20,000 in the parts, outside labor, etc., so far.
Dave Richards
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I don't know how to say this any other way, WWOOOWW! If anybody else sees a deal like that please PM me, I will fly to the location and bring cash, in my opinion, you lucked out.
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I had been ogling BJ8's since I was riding my bike - 40 years ago. Finally picked up a low mileage original in Oregon - stored after cosemetic restoration for 20+ years and driven only about 2.5k in all those years. Took it home early last year for about 42k and have not looked back. 37,000 documented miles with all titles and ownership records from new. Have had the seats rebuilt with new foam while retaining original leather. VIN is about 200 shy of last one that ever rolled off the line. Kids love it - wife hates it. Kids win
Dave Richards
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I bought my BJ8 at 55,000 original, well maintained, one owner miles by a guy who loved and occasionally drove his car.
Had to pay $500 more than the next guy in line to take it home, he was willing to pay $45k, yea, it was allot, but I got the car I wanted. Wife and kids love it.
I figured in the end, I would have spent that much to get it to the level it's at, how many unmolested BJ8's are there in great shape?
Had to pay $500 more than the next guy in line to take it home, he was willing to pay $45k, yea, it was allot, but I got the car I wanted. Wife and kids love it.
I figured in the end, I would have spent that much to get it to the level it's at, how many unmolested BJ8's are there in great shape?
healeynut
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Re: What does a DAILY driver big healey cost today
I have used my BJ8 as a daily driver since 1985 when I bought it in college. This has had the benefit of making the car virtually bullet proof... every time I've had a mechanical problem I've dealt with it with the view of fixing it forever (as I drive it daily). The result is the car has not been towed for any reason in 15 years. Starts every time.
So... the trick is to get a Healey with no rust and good mechanics... and then drive it every day. Eventually you will work out all the kinks and turn it into a daily driver.
So, depending on the model, I would say you can start looking at big healeys in the $15K range which will work (with time and tinkering) as a daily driver. Anything over $25 to $30 K will probably need very little work.
I would stay away from BN1s... they can work as daily drivers but they really need to be driven by enthusiasts... all other healeys are more bullet proof. Of course BJ8s are the best sorted when it comes to reliability.
I have used my BJ8 as a daily driver since 1985 when I bought it in college. This has had the benefit of making the car virtually bullet proof... every time I've had a mechanical problem I've dealt with it with the view of fixing it forever (as I drive it daily). The result is the car has not been towed for any reason in 15 years. Starts every time.
So... the trick is to get a Healey with no rust and good mechanics... and then drive it every day. Eventually you will work out all the kinks and turn it into a daily driver.
So, depending on the model, I would say you can start looking at big healeys in the $15K range which will work (with time and tinkering) as a daily driver. Anything over $25 to $30 K will probably need very little work.
I would stay away from BN1s... they can work as daily drivers but they really need to be driven by enthusiasts... all other healeys are more bullet proof. Of course BJ8s are the best sorted when it comes to reliability.
Re: What does a DAILY driver big healey cost today
I'm with Healeynut on this one. My father-in-laws Healey sat in the garage for about nine years with only me driving it occasionally in the spring or fall. It was always difficult to start and there were a lot of annoying small things wrong that took away from the pleasure of driving it. About 2.5 years ago I quit my job and my company car to start a new business. We took the Healey out, replaced the rusted exhaust, got the brakes checked and the carbs set and I was off and running. I drove the car daily for fifteen months before I got a new truck. I've managed to keep the car at the house (my father-in-law is now using the old garage space) and I drive it weekly, as often as every day when the weather is nice. We've tweaked the car for the last year, including wheel balancing at Hendrix and drive shaft straightening, which took out all of the shake, shocks rebuilt and other items and the car drives great. If you drive it daily, it starts and runs like a modern car. They love to be driven.
Drew
I'm with Healeynut on this one. My father-in-laws Healey sat in the garage for about nine years with only me driving it occasionally in the spring or fall. It was always difficult to start and there were a lot of annoying small things wrong that took away from the pleasure of driving it. About 2.5 years ago I quit my job and my company car to start a new business. We took the Healey out, replaced the rusted exhaust, got the brakes checked and the carbs set and I was off and running. I drove the car daily for fifteen months before I got a new truck. I've managed to keep the car at the house (my father-in-law is now using the old garage space) and I drive it weekly, as often as every day when the weather is nice. We've tweaked the car for the last year, including wheel balancing at Hendrix and drive shaft straightening, which took out all of the shake, shocks rebuilt and other items and the car drives great. If you drive it daily, it starts and runs like a modern car. They love to be driven.
Drew