2026-02-26 18:12:41 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 3/26

www.brightwells.com/timed-sale/5881/lot/871754

Auction description:

Registration Number KWD335D

Engine Size 2912cc

Engine Number 9931

Chassis Number HBJ835556

Gearbox Manual

VAT Status No VAT

Documents

V5C, 27 old MOT's, 7 Service Stamps, Hand Book, Catalogue, Restoration Photographs, Invoices.

Tax and MOT status

Tax and MOT exempt

While the vast majority of Big Healeys were made in LHD for the booming American market, this particular BJ8 Phase 2 is one of the few that stayed at home. The Heritage Cerificate shows that it left the works in March 1966 and was originally Ivory White with optional black leather seats (many were vinyl), overdrive, wire wheels, laminated windscreen and a cabin heater.

The original BMC Service Book shows that it was supplied new via RJ Evans of Birmingham to a Mr A Plackett of Oxford who clearly used it regularly and maintained it meticulously, with no fewer than nine stamps in the book up to September 1967 by which time it had covered 21,634 miles. 

The second owner isn’t recorded but they replaced the original registration number, FON 626D, with a private plate, 960 KC, presumably their initials. The third owner was a Mr J Pugh of Stratford-upon-Avon who acquired the car in 1986 by which time it had covered 85,000 miles. He had it re-registered as KWD 335D and was to keep it for the next 23 years.

Early in his ownership he treated it to a total nut-and-bolt restoration, as detailed in an album of photos on file (a couple of which are reproduced here). It was clearly a top quality job and included a repaint in Colorado Red and a full engine rebuild with what appear to be a few upgrades including a ‘road rally’ camshaft supplied by Autosprint Racing Engines of Birmingham. The engine is original to the car, making this a 'matching numbers' example.

Finally finished and back on the road in 1991, judging sheets on file show that it then won several awards later that year, including Best Standard Healey at the International Austin-Healey Club Concours, a class win at the Benson and Hedges Classics Concours and Best Sixties Sports Car at The Evening Telegraph Motoring Festival Concours at Stoneleigh.

Some 27 old MOTs show that Mr Pugh covered around 15,000 miles in the car over the next 18 years before selling it to our vendor in August 2009. He immediately sent it to marque specialists JME Healeys of Warwick for a thorough check-over and spruce-up which included some localised corrosion repairs to the bulkhead and wings and a bare metal repaint in Colorado Red (including inner wings and inner wheelarches).

During his 17-year ownership, our vendor has also used the car regularly, adding some 25,000 fine-weather miles to the clock and continuing to have it regularly serviced JME Healeys, the last service being in April 2022 which included fresh gearbox and axle oils. There are many invoices for upkeep and new parts fitted, highlights include:

2010 – uprated rear main crank oil seal kit

2011 – full brake system overhaul, new fuel pump and Dynalite alternator

2012 – new chrome wire wheels

2017 – reconditioned gearbox and new clutch kit

2018 – distributor rebuilt

2019 – steering box overhauled

2020 – new chrome wheel spinners

2021 – uprated aluminium radiator and electric five-blade cooling fan, new water pump, competition steel head gasket and Kevlar coolant hoses, new front shock absorbers, overdrive overhauled

2023 – new high capacity oil pump and new Varta battery

In April 2023 it was treated to new rear wings and sills plus another top quality repaint and waxoil treatment, all by Hillwood Auto Engineers of Tamworth (well-known in Healey circles) at a cost of £6,300. You get the picture – this car has been maintained regardless of cost and kept in tip-top running order.

Supplied with an extensive history file from new, it also comes with a hood cover and tonneau cover, tool kit, wheel changing kit and sundry useful spares. One of the nicest Big Healeys we have seen, with excellent bodywork and an inviting black leather interior, it has been starting promptly and running sweetly as we have moved it around on site, with healthy oil pressure.

Beautifully restored and expertly maintained, it is only reluctantly for sale due to the advancing years of the owner and is ready for a proud fifth owner to enjoy right away.