[Healeys] The Future of Healey Ownership

Tue Feb 18 04:33:23 MST 2025

Electric Healeys are a sacrilege. Also a really bad investment as funds for charging stations are cut (finally!)  and car  manufacturers pull back to cut their losses. E-cars may make sense for China, which simply builds more coal plants to recharge them as a way to reduce dependence on Russian oil, polluting the planet in the process. But not for the US. Drill baby drill!  

Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

On Monday, February 17, 2025, 9:35 PM, sbyers--- via Healeys <healeys at autox.team.net> wrote:

<!--#yiv8654460234 filtered {}#yiv8654460234 filtered {}#yiv8654460234 filtered {}#yiv8654460234 filtered {}#yiv8654460234 filtered {}#yiv8654460234 filtered {}#yiv8654460234 filtered {}#yiv8654460234 p.yiv8654460234MsoNormal, #yiv8654460234 li.yiv8654460234MsoNormal, #yiv8654460234 div.yiv8654460234MsoNormal {margin:0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman", serif;}#yiv8654460234 a:link, #yiv8654460234 span.yiv8654460234MsoHyperlink {color:blue;text-decoration:underline;}#yiv8654460234 a:visited, #yiv8654460234 span.yiv8654460234MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple;text-decoration:underline;}#yiv8654460234 p.yiv8654460234msonormal0, #yiv8654460234 li.yiv8654460234msonormal0, #yiv8654460234 div.yiv8654460234msonormal0 {margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos", sans-serif;}#yiv8654460234 span.yiv8654460234EmailStyle18 {font-family:"Aptos", sans-serif;color:windowtext;}#yiv8654460234 span.yiv8654460234EmailStyle21 {font-family:"Aptos", sans-serif;color:windowtext;}#yiv8654460234 .yiv8654460234MsoChpDefault {font-size:10.0pt;}#yiv8654460234 filtered {}#yiv8654460234 div.yiv8654460234WordSection1 {}-->
Conversion of Healeys to electric power is already happening.   I know of three BJ8s that were sold individually to England and a company in London called “Revival Autos” was doing that conversion.  They were also offering the original engine from one of the cars on eBay.  They also have an address in Naples, FL  and San Francisco

https://revivalautos

Steve Byers

 BJ8 Registry

AHCA Delegate at Large

From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of alfuller194 at gmail.com
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2025 6:52 PM
To: 'James Frey' <rcw414 at icloud.com>; 'Michael Salter' <michaelsalter at gmail.com>
Cc: 'Healey List' <healeys at autox.team.net>
Subject: [Healeys] The Future of Healey Ownership

Michael, Jim and All:

Your comments below have me thinking about what I have valued in my Austin-Healeys, and by extension what others do, will, or might value in them – as balanced against the costs of buying, restoring, upgrading or maintaining the cars.

The Healey was never the fastest car I owned, and it was never the absolute best handling (though, the last BJ-8 with a new frame and gas shocks does handle pretty well). Obviously the Healey never had the most up-to-date safety features, and its exterior and dash lighting needed LED upgrades to perform even adequately. The list of things the cars were not is endless I compared to modern cars…

BUT: driving a Healey usually put a smile on my face, and it appeared to put smiles on a lot of other people’s faces when out and about. As you all know, you cannot drive one of these cars without getting smiles, waves, thumbs-up, casual nods, etc – all acknowledging the wonderful looks the Healeys have!  If you park one, you will undoubtedly find your self in a conversation with someone who either had one and sold it, wished he had bought one way back when, wished he could buy one now, had an uncle who had one, or a cousin, or a friend’s dad, or, or, or… - you know how it goes!  

As much fun as it has been to drive my Healeys all over the US and Canada, as well as Norway, Denmark and Sweden – I can say that maintaining the cars has been the sore spot for me, and I’m now at an age and physical condition where it’s somewhere between really-not-fun, really-not-practical and really-not-possible anymore. As such, this conversation hits home for me.

SO – what do I think about the future of Healey ownership? I suspect there will always be a small cadre of serious collectors who want and value cars that are as original as possible (whether “concours” level, or just plain nice cars!). The pool of cars that survive in such condition is shrinking gradually, but then so is the pool of such people! 

I also suspect that there is a substantial and growing group who would love the opportunity to have a car with the classic styling of an Austin-Healey, but the reliability and drivability of a modern car. “Modern” in this context may well be a very plastic term – meaning different things to different generations.  For today’s purposes I ask you all whether the future might be electric? An Austin-Healey that has good acceleration and brakes, good handling, no fluid leaks (!!) and far fewer to no 60 year-old parts to go bad – all combined with the classic lines of the Healey.

What do you say?

-----------------------------------

All the best,

Al Fuller

From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of James Frey via Healeys
Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2025 3:10 PM
To: Michael Salter <michaelsalter at gmail.com>
Cc: Healey List <healeys at autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Hello

The costs you cite below are inexorably linked to the “What to Do with our Healeys” question that was also raised.  Over the last several years, I have restored/built 3 cars with most of the work done by a local shop (one of which was a Bugeye).  I needed to have most work performed by my shop.  Although my skills are moderate and I enjoy turning wrenches, my time available to do so has lessened in recent years.  

Given the above circumstances, I have easily spent 2-3 times market value on the purchase price, work performed, parts, etc.  I consider myself lucky to have a trusted local shop, but depending on where you live (even assuming you are willing to spend the money), it can be extraordinarily difficult to get the cars serviced, let alone have significant restoration work done.  I also don’t see the value of most Healeys going up much, and it might go down given the (arguably) shrinking market/demographics for these cars.  

So given my recent experience, as much as I might love to own a BJ8 and would consider myself “a trusted steward”, paying significant dollars (even for a beautifully restored car) in a declining market might not be the best idea.  As for a car that “needs work”, I’m starting to feel like I’ve been there and done that a little too often.  Also, there are fun (more modern) cars out there for similar dollars that don’t present the same financial risk and difficulties in selling.  

Lastly, I’m 61 (so not “young”) and I think those that are younger than me are an even tougher sell.  I have 2 adult sons that have a moderate interest in cars and the “old cars” they might have an interest in are probably from 2000-2010.  

The market is undeniably softer than previously, but I actually think current values are a sellers market, even in the US.  With the potential for declining demand, it’s hard for me to see an improving Healey market over the next 10+ years.  

Jim

On Feb 16, 2025, at 2:16 PM, Michael Salter <michaelsalter at gmail.com> wrote:

Very good question. 

All the work that you describe requires an individual with significant skill(s). These tasks are not something that your "run of the mill" parts changer can undertake.  In our part of the world (Canada) those "parts changers", without breaking a sweat can easily pull in 6 figures which equates to $50/hr. $50/hr paid to the tradesman will typically be charged out at an hourly rate of at least $100.

In my book a full restoration takes 1200 hours at least, usually a lot more to produce concours standards.

So labour ONLY $120K.

Parts and materials usually at least 50% of labour. $60K.

Incidentals at least another $20K

It's getting up there 😳😳

M

On Sun., Feb. 16, 2025, 1:40 p.m. warthodson--- via Healeys, <healeys at autox.team.net> wrote:

The list has been very quiet for a long time.

How about a discussion about the cost of restoring a BN1? 

The metal work is About 90% done. The remaining work includes final fitting all body panels, preparing for paint & final painting.

Wiring, plumbing including rebuilding the brakes, interior, fitting the windscreen, convertible top, side curtains including providing all material where necessary. 

Rebuild the engine including all the machining. I have all the necessary components.

Gary Hodson

On Sunday, February 16, 2025 at 10:46:32 AM CST, Mike Sinclair via Healeys <healeys at autox.team.net> wrote: 

Is it me, or is the list quiet?  I haven't seen anything for quite a while?

Mik

_______________________________________________
Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html
Suggested annual donation  $12.75

Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys

Healeys at autox.team.net
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys

Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/warthodson@aol.com

_______________________________________________
Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html
Suggested annual donation  $12.75

Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys

Healeys at autox.team.net
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys

Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/michaelsalter@gmail.com

_______________________________________________
Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html
Suggested annual donation  $12.75

Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys

Healeys at autox.team.net
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys

Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/rcw414@icloud.com

_______________________________________________
Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html
Suggested annual donation  $12.75

Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys

Healeys at autox.team.net
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys

Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/rmarkovich@aol.com

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://autox.team.net/pipermail/healeys/attachments/20250218/7b365ccd/attachment.htm>