100 Side curtains

[aero3113]

We're side curtains an option or did they come when you purchased the car new? I've seen cars that seem to be original without the socket holes in the doors. There's this original door for sale on eBay without the holes drilled for the curtains (link below). My 100 doesn't have the holes but has the wood blocks underneath which leads me to believe the holes were filled in? Was wondering if I should drill the holes and put the sockets in or just leave it as is. I don't have a top or curtains, is this how it's supposed to be??

https://www.ebay.com/itm/282330511427

 

[roscoe]

I would assume that the side curtains may or may not have been optional when purchasing new but I'd guess that the sockets and therefore the holes and wood blocks would be standard. I have to say that when I got my car on the road I had a couple of sets of side curtain frames and some NOS material to cover one set. I made the effort to apply the covering and polish up the metal decorative strips and had a fairly decent looking pair when done. When I fit the soft top, which came out way better than it should have considering my never having done one before, I found that the side curtains didn't really fit very well (more like not even close). I suspect that was the case when new from the factory at least for the BN1 BN2 years. Regardless I have not once driven with them installed and haven't missed them. I would never intentionally drive my Healey in significant rain. I do have them on the list to make them fit properly but they will not end up looking like the factory jobs. I think the vinyl /leather covering looked great with the flip-up panel but what a pain to use. The sliding panel type of all clear acrylic on the 100-6s didn't look as cool but they seemed to fit better and were at least functional. You can also use the forward socket to fit a mirror.

With regard to the mirror, I have one mounted just at maximum arm reach (at least for me) on the wing ahead of the windshield. I have lost no more than 2 hats on the freeway thinking I could reach out and tweak the mirror while driving at 65. If I had the mirror in the door socket I'd still have my hats. Lose one hat and shame on me; lose a second had and shame on me a bunch more. I will still tweak the mirror while driving if below about 30 or if I turn my baseball cap around. The latter is a look I do not favor, especially in the Healey. Reference my post on the look of a Healey driver.....

 

[blueskies]

A look at the heritage certificates may confirm whether side curtains always were included or optional. My guess is that they were included and not optional, but I have been wrong before -at least once.

Edit: Interesting - my 400th post, and I now graduated from Jedi Trainee to Jedi Warrior; was wondering when that would happen.

 

[aero3113]

I just find it strange that there are doors out there that don't have the socket holes drilled in them?

 

[aero3113]

I just had a thought, they are probably 100S doors. Bumpers and top/side curtains were deleted to save weight.

 

[MikeAH100M]

I checked the Heritage certificate for my 56 100M that has side curtains. The side curtains are not listed as an option on the certificate.

 

[blueskies]

I checked the Heritage certificate for my 56 100M that has side curtains. The side curtains are not listed as an option on the certificate.

Since they are not listed on the certificate, that suggests that side curtains were standard.

 

[CraigC]

I just had a thought, they are probably 100S doors. Bumpers and top/side curtains were deleted to save weight.

The doors on e-bay are steel. 100S doors were aluminum.

Perhaps, if the early cars were available without side curtains and therefore had no holes, a "service replacement" door may have been supplied minus the holes so it could cover both applications.

The hinges also appear to be the early style.