There are some cars that seem to command a following no matter where they go, and it’s safe to say the Big Healeys fall into that category. This 1962 MK2 example was posted here on craigslist for $14,000 as part of an estate sale and is said to be a stalled project with rust in the typical spots. Normally, I roll my eyes when a seller tells us how much it could be worth when restored, but I don’t think he’s too far off. The MK2 and MK3 cars are desired for their higher power output and increasingly refined interiors, so there could be an upside here if you treat projects as investments. No matter what, this ’62 Healey would be a blast to own once finished. Let us know if you’d pay the asking price or try to negotiate with the seller, who warns that the car will definitely be sold by May.
Another rust bucket. Lots of $$ to restore, but hope somebody does it. By the way, this may be registered as a 62, but 62’s did not have roll up windows. 63 was the first year for the roll ups, and one of my favorite years. 1963 had roll up windows but still had the old style dash and still had the low slung suspension.
The car listed is a 3000 Mk2 BJ7. This model featured the first of the convertible tops while maintaining the traditional Austin-Healey metal dash that had been with the marque since the first was built in 1952. The first BJ7 (chassis BJ7/17551) was built in January 1962 and from then to October 1963 some 6,113 were built. October 1963 saw the release of the 3000 Mk3 BJ8 that apart from other changes featured a timber dash and glovebox.
It’s appreciated that in the US that cars are sold by years, but that does not apply elsewhere in the world including the UK and Australia. The most important date is when something is built, not what is decreed for marketing purposes.
Thank you
Patrick Quinn
Blue Mountains, Australia
Definitely, negotiate. The Craigslist ad says; “All offers considered”. Looks like a great deal of body & metal work. Someone will need to put some love into it!
If you want it I wouldnt suggest negotiating too heavily as someone else will pay the asking price and pick it up from under you while your negotiating. Unfortunately ( unless you own one and bought it long before values climbed) these cars have a large following and command good prices. Yes, the car has rust, yes it will require significant $$$ to restore but if it is done correctly and you plan on keeping it for a long time there will be an upside to the endeavor in the future. I have an original long term two owner “survivor” 1966 BJ8 that i have been considering selling and if i decide to sell it i have myltiple interested parties already. Decisions, decisions..
Looks driven into the ground in Pittsburgh, including probably some winter (salt) driving.
Tub needs lots of work but many of the parts look useable and are probably worth the $14K asking if the drivetrain isn’t terminally damaged inside.
Years ago really good ones were selling for most of $100K or a bit more and they will get there again. Are there any specialists who will take the tub and turn it into something worth attaching components to? If so, it might be worth taking on if you can do mechanical and finishing work. Then use it and after a while its market value will match the money you have into it, as Leo says.
But me…..I would take the $14K plus the cost to have the tub fixed and painted, the interior replaced, engine rebuilt, etc, etc, and just buy a nice driver that I could drive right now. I would make it an early Mk II without windup windows but with the triple SUs and preferably in Steel Blue just like the one I owned decades ago, and then I would proceed to relive my youth.
Greetings All,
Not sure I understand what Dolphin means by “tub”. These cars have a frame not like a Jaguar E-Type at all. There is a vendor out in Canada that makes a full correct frame. His stuff is great quality and painted well. That being said, the cars suffered from scuttle shake due to some pretty heavy structures vibrating pretty well when going over certain road surfaces. Still great cars, but seen far too many poorly restored.
Ross, IIRC these Healeys do have frame members, but there is not a separate, stand alone frame that the body as a separate unit bolts to. I remember the body parts like floors, outriggers, and sills being welded to each other and the frame members on these cars. So I use ‘tub’ to mean that welded-together unit.
And I believe those frame members aren’t as thick and strong as, say, the separate frame of a US car from decades ago. I’ve seen Healey frame members with lots of damage from rust, including perforation. And with the rust in the dog legs, door jambs, and floors of this car I agree with the other commenters who call this a rust bucket, and I think that might include damaged frame members.
Thanks for mentioning the source for Healey chassis in Canada. I looked it up and it’s Jule Enterprises in Rockwood, Ontario, Canada, which is near Toronto. I saw that they can provide various parts and structures to save Healeys that have rusted. Their ‘Jule chassis’ costs $3,250 and there are also lots of other metal parts to replace rusted-out parts like floors.
Probably the Jule chassis and their other parts and services are the best way to go with the car in this listing, but I would still pay up front for a good car that doesn’t need lots of its basic structures replaced.