>From the point of view of someone who is interested in identifying the current
>status (existing or not) of all the BJ8s originally built, I have no basic
>problem with anyone returning a car to use that would otherwise be just a
>rusted-out yard sculpture. However, using the plates from one car on another
>car can mask the status of both of them. As long as the buyer of the car is
>made aware of what was done, that's fine with me.
However, I know that one of the "professional restorers" sold a car that made
its way to a buyer who was very upset when he learned from the registry that
the VIN plate, while it appeared to be a valid number actually wasn't (it said
HBJ8U/42505G, which is a number for an American-spec car, whereas the original
42505 was German-spec and was HBJ8L/42505G). The body plate was from
HBJ8L/34404, the engine from HBJ8L/38063, and the number found on the shock
tower was from another car. The buyer was so upset that he had that car up for
sale a few days later (not mentioning any of the discrepancies, of course).
Another well-known restorer, when the owner learned from the registry that the
numbers weren't compatible and complained to him, removed the original VIN from
the shock tower without any direction from the owner to do so. Fortunately, it
was recorded in the registry before he removed it.
When it comes to reusing plates and changing identities, a lot of things have
been done in the past and are still going on that new owners don't know up
front. Prospective owners would best be served by checking with the BJ8
Registry before deciding to buy a BJ8. There are simply an incredible number
of cars that no longer have the identities that they left the factory with.
Steve Byers
HBJ8L/36666
BJ8 Registry
AHCA Delegate at Large
Havelock, NC
From: Healeys [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Larry
Varley
Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2017 7:41 AM
To: healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] RE vin plates on ebay
Absolutely agree with you Mike, this string of carrying on about ID plates is
probably one of the most stupid performances I have seen on the list for quite
some time. For goodness sake get over it. Apparently most of the Professional
Healey restorers should be in jail for their misdemeanors. As Patrick Quinn put
it quite correctly, if no one is attempting to misrepresent the car for gain
there is no problem. What you are doing is saving a car that would be lost. Go
for it Mike!
Cheers
Larry Varley
On 25/06/2017 8:41 AM, Michael MacLean wrote:
What I am doing is taking a chassis ID plate from a car that was cut up,
cannibalized and no longer exists due to rust and other damage and just
replacing everything behind that plate. I am in effect, restoring the car with
the number on the chassis ID plate I acquired. Otherwise maybe you think the
chassis ID plate should have been destroyed with the rusted out car. The parts
are coming from many BN1s and BN2s. The donor, almost rolling bare chassis
(the rear end was held in with a come-a-long) had virtually no chassis ID
plate, (see picture below) body numbers anywhere on the car. We were only sure
it was a BN2 body due to the rear trans mount. So what is wrong with using
this ID plate to restore a car with a new frame and sheet metal, a new drive
train, a new rebuilt suspension, etc.? Don't some people buy Jule frames for
their restoration when rust or accident damage destroys the old frame? Maybe
the sheet metal had to be replaced along with a new inner frame too. Is that
now fraud because the original owner replaced most of the car behind the
chassis ID plate? These days when you can replace almost any part of a Healey
with a reproduction or original part and just about build a car from parts
available I don't see what is wrong with what I am doing. When I sell the car,
I will be happy to tell the prospective buyer exactly how the car was built. I
am sure the new buyer would rather have an original Healey chassis ID plate on
the firewall rather than some digits stamped into the frame by the state.
Mike MacLean
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