Bob Hill’s BJ8 Restoration Part 3

Posted: Tuesday, 27 January 2026 @ 11:34

Bare cockpit of Bob Hill’s Austin-Healey 3000 BJ8 during restoration at JME Healeys, Cape Works

When a Healey Comes Full Circle

There’s something special about bringing an Austin-Healey back to life in the very place where so many of them once took shape. As the restoration of Bob Hill’s Austin-Healey BJ8 continues, the car has now reached a hugely significant milestone at JME Healeys, located at the former Cape Works — a fitting home for this next chapter in its story.

Hill family with their red Austin-Healey 3000 BJ8, linking the restoration story back to its family history

For those new to the journey, you can catch up on the earlier chapters here

Story 1: Restoring Bob Hill’s Austin-Healey BJ8 with JME Healeys
Story 2: Bob Hill’s Austin-Healey BJ8 – Restoration Update at JME Healeys

Austin-Healey BJ8 cockpit with steering wheel fitted, prepared for workshop test drive at JME Healeys

A Healthy Engine and a Workshop Test Drive

One of the most exciting updates is that HMO has now been out for a test drive around the JME workshop, and we’re delighted to report that everything is working exactly as it should. Hearing and feeling a BJ8 move under its own power again is always a moment to savour, and it’s a real testament to the quality and care being taken by the team at JME Healeys.

Open engine bay on Bob Hill’s Austin-Healey BJ8 during body fit checks before paint at JME Healeys

Body Fit Complete – Ready for Paint

Before any paint is applied, JME completed a full body fit, ensuring that all panels align perfectly. This crucial stage means that when the panels are removed for painting and later re-fitted, everything will sit exactly as intended — a detail that makes all the difference on a car of this calibre.

With the panels now prepared, the car will soon head into the paint stage, and this is where the story becomes truly special.

Front air intake and radiator area of Bob Hill’s Austin-Healey BJ8 during preparation for paint at Cape Works

A Painter with History

The paintwork will be carried out by Paul at JME Healeys, and remarkably, he originally painted HMO back in 1979. In fact, it was the first car Paul ever painted at JME. To have the same hands finishing the car more than four decades later brings the restoration full circle — a rare and deeply meaningful connection to the BJ8’s past.

Austin-Healey BJ8 brightwork close-up showing chrome parts assessment during restoration at JME Healeys

Brightwork: Restore Where It Matters, Replace Where It Counts

As the restoration progresses, attention is turning to the brightwork. Some original components will be re-chromed to preserve their authenticity, while other items will be replaced with high-quality new parts to ensure longevity and usability.

Parts being replaced include:

Boot hinges (BOT101 & BOT102)
Boot handle (BOT105)
Boot lock (BOT107 + BOT126)
Front Wing Flashes (WNG101P & WNG102P)

The windscreen frame will be stripped and re-chromed, and the glass itself will be replaced with our Triplex branded windscreen, (WSN105P), and UK manufactured glazing seals (WSN113) ensuring a perfect finish while maintaining originality.

More to Come...

This BJ8 restoration is shaping up to be something truly exceptional — not just because of the car itself, but because of the people, places, and history intertwined with it. From Cape Works to a painter reunited with his very first Healey, every stage adds another layer to the story.

Watch this space for more upcoming news as paint, reassembly, and final detailing bring Bob Hill’s BJ8 ever closer to the road once again.

Restoring Bob Hill’s Austin-Healey BJ8 – Story 3: A Return to Cape Works

When a Healey Comes Full Circle

For those new to the journey, you can catch up on the earlier chapters here

A Healthy Engine and a Workshop Test Drive

Body Fit Complete – Ready for Paint

A Painter with History

Brightwork: Restore Where It Matters, Replace Where It Counts

More to Come...

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