Big Healeys

Just working on next issue's auction section. Anyone notice big Healey prices lately? They have broken the six-figure barrier. Crazy money or a smart buy?

Crazy (but I'd say different if I owned one).

Some of that is auction fever.

We have a local boutique shop here in Morristown (NJ) and they had two very specacular ones a while back for $49K each. And I think in the UK, you could still a pretty good one for $35K

I was offered a reasonable and running 100/4 in the 70s for $200. Ugh! How come I can remember that but can't remember The Boss's birthday?

I remember when they broke 50k, thinking you'd have to be nuts to pay that much for a Big Healey. They're awesome, but there's a whole lot of awesome out there for that kind of money.

I've always wanted one but I fear the price of entry (beyond my reach now) will be WAY beyond my reach by the time I'm ready to own one.

A couple months ago I was sitting around with my uncle discussing some of my family's car antics and he told me about a 3000 they had picked up dirt cheap in the 70's with the intention of swapping in a small block ford, but Hurricane Agnes beat them to it and the Healey met its maker in the Occoquan river.

I have been very surprised to see the numbers still climbing. When you look closer at the cars bringing six figures you'll find these are newly restored cars usually by one of a few premier marque specialist. When I bought my restored 1965 BJ8 16 years ago $25K almost seem crazy, but they were under valued then, I think we may be near the ceiling now.

Dougie<a href="">

They still sell for well below that around these parts. I have seen a couple in local classifieds between low $20K range for a nice restoration candidate to under $40K for a driver.

Auction prices always seem hyper inflated to me, but I have no interest in cars that are too nice to drive (or even keep in a normal garage).

David S. Wallens wrote: Crazy money or a smart buy?

I'm seeing certain ones asking that kind of money around here, I'm not seeing them sold for that kind of money.

Don't think it's smart money, yet. But I also don't think it's crazy high. Just some attempting to lead the pack.

I worked in a bike shop in junior high and high school, and the owner had one. I remember that it was two-tone primer. Wonder where that car is today.

The big healeys are selling for what they cost to restore.

While I can do it for a lot less, I dont see any problem spending 60k on buying and restoring a Healey 3000.

The same time and money could be spent on an MGB and it would be worh 15k on the block.

So I would have to say it is a smart investment if you like that particuar genre of sportscar that feels like many parts travelling in close formation. Compare it to a Mercedes sl of comparable vintage and you have to wonder about those of us who pursue the LBCs.

I would have to say I feel they are a bit high but there have been a few now over the 100k mark. I think this years Monterey auction will be very telling for values of top cars. My guess is that really rare cars, think Jaguar D-types, vintage Ferrari's and anything pre-war is likely to stay expensive and that the lower end cars will be pretty stable. I think the mid range cars, Big Healey's and the like will possibly drop a bit but who knows. I have driven a few big Healey cars and feel that the ones that should be worth more are the 100/4 and 100/6 cars. For 100k I would rather have a 250GTE 2+2 Ferrari or a Jaguar XK. But hey tat is why there are so many different cars out there to choose from.

I own one and I think that's way too much. Of course I got mine for free. But still, the 100K+ cars are all just show cars. You can get a very nice car for under 40K. Just look on ebay.

parked healey gets wrecked in video http://www.youtube.com/user/TangerineRacing#play/uploads/1/t3r5tV9q4Jw

I think they are too common to be passing 6 figures. I'm far from a Healy expert although I do like them. Seems like some 45,000 or so were manufactured. I was at a Brit car show on the 26th and there were as many Healy 3000's as MG's and TR6's.

Steve

It seems the later cars (BJ8) are the most valuable, as they are the most usable for long distance touring. Like Andy, I've always been a fan of the 100-4 with the folding windshield....that car is dead sexy to me.

I'd still have a hard time paying more for a Big Healey than I would for a pristine Series I Jag XKE though. But that's just me.

In reply to Sownman: Too Common ? Have you ever looked at the build figures for the "muscle cars" the big 3 produced. The same logic applies with Healeys as with any collector car. If you have more buyers wanting to enter the market and acquire a #1 car than there is inventor the price will increase. Once these new owners are satisfied and the restoration shops have caught up with the demand the prices will flatten out and start to recede. There is however, not an unlimited supply of restorable cars, and the total build numbers are much smaller then MG and Triumph. This should soften the free fall the muscle car market is experiencing now.

In reply to dougie: I don't see the point of comparison to the muscle car. The comparison as to rarity or lack of rarity and prices is more appropriate to other British Sports cars. How does the Healy build number compare to the AC Bristol ? The Cobra ? The XKE ? The Tiger ?

At a build of 45,000 they are pretty common. Too common to be higher priced than 3 of the cars I mentioned. Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

Steve

Steve - If you compare the Big Healey with one if it's period contemporaries, which the Cobra, XKE, and Tiger are not, its total build number for 2 different body styles is a bit low. Though not anywhere near rare. BMC produced over 100,000 MGA's in 7 years with a single body style and power plant. BMC produced 45,000 Big Healeys with 2 body styles and power plants in 15 years. When new they were sold at similar price points. BTY were can I buy a #1 real Cobra for $100,000.......check in hand.

Dougie

dougie wrote: BTY were can I buy a #1 real Cobra for $100,000.......check in hand. Dougie

That was part of the point, you can't because in addition to several other factors the real Cobra is rare unlike the big Healy.

Steve

Joe Gearin wrote: I'd still have a hard time paying more for a Big Healey than I would for a pristine Series I Jag XKE though. But that's just me.

Me too. Lorry engine and big Austin suspension that made the same mistake as Triumph at the rear (frame under axle until the last series) don't add up to a great specification, at least compared to the XKE. The Healeys sell on looks and established following.

I've owned a few, but IMHO no Healeys is worth as much as, for instance, a reallly nice MGA Twin Cam, yet the prices are generally even higher.

Don't get me wrong, they make very nice touring cars. I have an MGC that uses the same driveline, but (once sorted) better suspension with torsion bar front end. Way rarer than the Healeys, yet not the same following and nowhere near the silly prices.

Sorry to bring up a 7 month old thread, but I don't get over to this part of the website too often.

I just found this thread, and its kinda making me sad. When dad was hanging on to bachelorhood by the skin of his teeth, he bought a 1957-59ish 100-6. He sold it about 14 years later in 1996 after a ring and three boys. Literally my earliest memory is standing in the drivers seat of that car and barely being able to look out over the steering wheel. I've always thought that someday I would like to try and find that car, or at least purchase a similar one, but it is looking like I will not have the chance to with these prices.

And man did he sell that 10-13 years too soon. His was a relatively rust free survivor with a hardtop, and it was sweet. I can't remember the price he sold it for, but I want to say I remember a sign in the window for 10,000.
Actually, the background on my computer has been 66healey's blue one in the snow. I'm obviously quite biased, but I consider it to be one of the best designs of all time, and in my personal top five.

Yes, I am very bias but I agree Gerry Coker penned one of best automobile designs of all time. Here's a picture of my son back in 1996 at the age of 10 when he navigated for me during a classic rally in central Oregon. Good memories.......

Dougie

dougie wrote: Yes, I am very bias but I agree Gerry Coker penned one of best automobile designs of all time. Here's a picture of my son back in 1996 at the age of 10 when he navigated for me during a classic rally in central Oregon. Good memories.......

As mundane as the mechanicals were (like all BMC sports cars they had to be taken from something else in the line up), the Healey was certainly a classic and it is all because of the styling. Coker did a bang up job on that car and it sells because of that alone, while the more mundane looking MGC does not nor do others that are so-so looking like the Jensen Healey.

Some may disagree about cars like the MGC and JH, but I think that few would be able to honestly say that the big Healey shape was anything but a home run.