Sick of Stretch Limos? Rolls Owner Offers a Classic Ride
Jana Healy still gushes when she recalls Christmas Day, 1984.
On that day the Del Mar woman’s husband gave her the car she now calls her “baby,” a Rolls-Royce Barker Sports Saloon. The custom version of one of the world’s most expensive cars is one of only eight built in 1933.
“I cried all the way home,” recalls Healy, 30, of her first time behind the wheel of the car, which she says is worth $35,000.
About a week later, Healy decided to “do something different” and opened her own business, offering the Rolls as a limousine with herself as the chauffeur for $45 an hour. Her white and gray sedan has become a familiar sight in the North Coast area of the county, where Healy delivers guests to weddings, proms and other special events.
Pedestrians smile and wave when Healy drives by.
Healy likes her work as president, chief executive officer and sole employee of Jake’s Classic Ride, the company she started. The only minor annoyance has come from other Rolls-Royce owners, who have said classic cars should be kept in showrooms and not used for commercial purposes.
Healy said she does not need the money, but “I just decided I wanted to share the car with other people. I didn’t want to keep it locked up in the garage.”
Healy does not use her name in the company’s title “because I didn’t want to have a lot of comments like, ‘If you have enough money to buy a car like this, then why are you working?’ ”
Jake is Healy’s nickname.
“I’m projecting a certain type of image,” Healy said. “You know what I tell people? I don’t want to sound conceited, but anyone can ride in a stretch limousine. Not everyone can ride in a 1933 Rolls-Royce.”
As for the critics, Dan Veale, chairman of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club of San Diego, said he has not heard any complaints about Healy.
“But in general, we don’t approve of the use (of a classic Rolls-Royce) for such purposes,” Veale said. “Personally I wouldn’t do that with my own car because I have seen so much abuse (by passengers).”
Healy can “use her car any way that she wants,” as far as he is concerned, Veale added.
But after learning that Healy drives a Barker Sports Saloon, Veale added, “It wasn’t meant to be used as a limousine. It only holds four people, including the driver. A sports saloon is equivalent to our sedans . . . It’s not a proper limousine.”
Healy said she ignores such comments. “All I offer is a classic ride,” she said. “People say, ‘This is great,’ and that makes me feel really good because it makes me feel like a real business and not just some housewife out doing something.”
Jake’s Classic Ride is breaking even despite the large expenses such as hiring a private mechanic and flying in parts from England, Healy said.
A photographer snapped pictures recently as Healy stood by her car, looking at her own reflection in the shining grill.
“Well, lady,” Healy said, patting the cars hood, “you’ve never had so much attention. Have you?”
