A Question of Color

[Bruce Bowker]

Is driving a Healey "ordinary"?

Bruce

 

[big6]

The color that BMC labeled "grey" was actually a very close match to the "putty" color of much computer equipment. It is exceptionally rare, and not tan at all.

--------------------
Reid Trummel
Editor, Austin-Healey Magazine
Editor-Designate, Healey Marque

AS stated earlier, my BJ7 came from the factory as Florida green. It also came with gray interior. Reid, just how rare is the gray interior? Maybe the rare factor will help me better like the Florida green color...

 

[JamesWilson]

[ QUOTE ]
If it were possible to actually go to a showroom and buy a new Austin Healey (or any new modern sports car for that matter), I wonder how many would opt for a dealer-customized car with nonstandard paint and trim...even if it happened to be an attractive color combination? My guess is that most of us would choose a car that was consistent with factory standards. So, why not apply the same logic to a restoration?

[/ QUOTE ]

Because restoring/rebuilding is worlds away from simply buying- the personal involvement is considerable and the attachment much greater in most cases. It'll be 5 years (if I'm lucky- 6 is more likely) from the time I purchased my car until it hits the road- rather longer than some people keep the new cars they're happy to buy "stock". And I have regularly been involved in getting odd bits and pieces for the car and doing jobs on it along the way. Far more work and personal than simply chosing "X" from a menu- dealer defined or not.

I've been fortunate enough to have bought two brand new cars to "order" and I used only the factory options. It was hard enough getting just what we wanted from the dealers in the first instance, trying to specify different paint or interiors would be ludicrously expensive if at all posssible. In these cases I kept (and will keep) the cars for long times (10+ years) so there's no lack of incentive to get something I'm comfortable with and happy to use. I further suspect non-standard choices would also void warranties, a real kiss of death to the consumer choice you propose.

I've spent more time and effort on the Healey than I or anyone else would give any new or contemporary car and I have rather different interests and wants for it.

That's why the logic differs- I'm the one doing the work and the car's not "off-the-shelf" or "out-of-the-book" as a new one could be.

After multiple years, hundreds of hours of their own work and thousands of $dollars/£pounds invested, people can quite logically take a different perspective with their Healeys....

 

[Editor_Reid]

[ QUOTE ]
AS stated earlier, my BJ7 came from the factory as Florida green. It also came with gray interior. Reid, just how rare is the gray interior? Maybe the rare factor will help me better like the Florida green color...

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't have any stats to quote, but speaking from experience of looking at lots and lots of Healeys over decades or attending large Healey meets, I can tell you that it is about the rarest factory color -- I can easily count on the fingers of one hand the number I have seen and only heard about, combined.

By the way, I for one think that Florida Green with a Grey interior is an absolutely smashing combo. Stylish, "very period," and of course rare -- wouldn't change it for the world. Could you send some photos?

 

[nevets]

James, I understand your logic. Perhaps the new car analogy was not a good one? A car is very much an expression of one's self, and as such it is only natural for some to want it to be unique. There certainly are no rules here; my viewpoint is obviously in contrast to yours and a number of others. I guess I consider myself a bit of a preservationist. I like to think that when someone sees an Austin Healey; the car they see is an Austin Healey - as it was originally intended (more or less - modern finishes, materials, etc. notwithstanding). I will not touch this touchy subject any further, promise. And to all whose sensibilities I have offended...my sincere apologies.

 

[Keoke]

So Nevets !What color "U" gonna paint it??---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Cutlass]

No one should take offense. Most of us are just in this for the fun of it, and part of the fun is hearing what other folks' opinions are. In the end, it's all a matter of taste.

 

[nevets]

my car already has paint on it. OEW w/red trim

 

[Keoke]

[ QUOTE ]
my car already has paint on it. OEW w/red trim

[/ QUOTE ]

I knew it! I knew it!---Keoke--- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif---Car looks OK to me too Nevets. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif

 

[Jerry]

Ok, Here is a Midnight Blue over White car. I like the color in the sun, but indoors or in shade the Midnight Blue is too dark. It also shows dirt like a Black car.

Jerry

 

[Keoke]

Well Jerry, that is a uniqe shade of blue, but if you happen to have "John Heilig's"
book; "Sports Car Color History" turn to page 113 and I think your appreciation for dark blue over white will be restored. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif--Keoke

 

[BlueRidge1]

I recently seen a dark blue over ivory Healey on the cover of a magazie and it looked fabulous!! I personaly am going to paint my car back in the original old english white but the fact that I already had the red leather for the interior made the choice an easy one. But if it hadn't been for the fact that I had the leather ... Who knows that blue your talking about looked awful sweet. Now I am wrestling with the idea of Red side coves or just plain old white. Either way I think it will look good and i know that red coves were not an option but Ive seen a few around. Please post a picture when you get it done... Dark blue and ivory would look great ecspecially with a nice leather interior to compliment it ,,

 

[anthony7777]

remember the beatles rolls royce in the sixtys?well next time i paint my healey thats exactly how im a gonna paint mine,my humble opinion is that if a color strikes your fancy go for it,my very good friend took months planning the color of his car,had to be original,factory color,same type,etc,etc,and he realy hated that light green,he trully prefured the blue,well it got painted the orig.green[i think thats a great color]he died of cancer,never even got to see that car,what the heck dif.does it make?pick the color you like,your wife will get it as part of the divorce settlement anyway.resale?just dont sell it to a purist. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif

 

[vette]

These are all great arguements for going either way, original or otherwise. I think Anthony's point is the best, if the wife gets it after the divource who cares if she gets top dollor for it and your not building it for her or her new boy friend.
Seriously, I just wanted to mention that during one of my trips to Watkins Glenn I came across a beautifly restored Healey that was said to be Healey blue. but it wasn't the Healey Blue that I was familiar with. I've always believed that Healey Blue was very much like the appearance of the sky on a very bright clear day. And also with a relatively fine metalic. Well this car at the Glen was much grayer looking. It looked like they started with the shade of the sky that I mentioned then just added a drop of gray to it. The owner swore it was what original Healey blue looked like. anyway I just thought maybe you might want to look into this colour to see if you like it. It is darker than what I think we usually expect and if this fellow was correct it would also be arguably original. By the way as you can see my BJ7 has some non-standard colours. I have sprayed the cove just to brighten it up to test some ideas.
My car is originally Healey Blue, and after alot of thought I think I will make it Healey blue again when I restore it. One discussion was about blue car, blue interior, and blue top. That was a classic combination that I think is beautiful. There is a BMW Z-3 (you know, one of those Healey Wanna Bees) running around my town
that is in the colour of sky blue exterior, sky blue interior, and sky blue hard top. Some day when I get my car finished as a true Healey Blue BJ7 should be with matching hard top, I want to pull next to that guy somewhere tell him mine is the real McCoy not some hi-tech retro symbolic clone. Good luck on your choice, it is a challenging delema, one worth the ponderouse thought. In the end, make yourself happy. By the way, anyone know where i can get a hardtop for a bj7. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

 

[Editor_Reid]

Well, Cutlass. There you have it. Everyone agreed with every word I wrote. Yes, we all agree that your Healey should be painted.

Another tough question sorted out with unannimous agreement. The British Car Forum comes through again!

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No, but seriously... you've received a good cross-section of thoughts on the subject, and you should now be armed with adequate opinions to make your decision. Please just be sure to send us a pic or five of which original color you choose. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Cutlass]

You're right Editor-wan. In the end, as it the beginning, it comes down to personal preference. All of the opinions are helpful, even influential. My thoughts now center around what makes these cars, and any vintage cars for that matter, memorable and desireable. There are millions of cars built in 1966 that are gone, and no one really mourns thier passing. But the loss of even one example of a great car is cause for grief. Why is the Healey one of the latter? Naturally, it's because a combination of factors that make a car a subject of lasting desire came together with this car. One of those factors is the color. And especially the two-tone colors available, which by 1966 were going out of style with other makes. The first Healey I admired was Healey Blue over white. That combination has stood the test of time for automotive enthusiasts in general, and for me in particular. (Not to mention She Who Must Be Obeyed) So I'll go with the Healey Blue over white, not for monetary value reasons, but because I know I will like it. Yes, when Healeys gather, it will be yet another of the same stripe, but that's not very often. More often, it will be the only Healey around, sporting the colors that enduringly have and will proclaim that this is a special car. Not a bad choice.

 

[Editor_Reid]

Bravo!

 

[healey106]

Excellent Choice - You will Never Regret It!!!
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif

 

[anthony7777]

vette,i also have a bj7 and was thikin bout a hard top as well,you know youll have to remove the convertable top to fit the hard one right?i recently found one thats a bit banged up,meaning i might be able to get it on the cheap, and i think ill use it to figure out how i can get it to fit on my car without having to remove the conv.i missed a couple on ebay that looked as if they could have been revitalized but didnt want to spend the bucks on a good one and cut it up in the experiment,hay wadda ya think about a 'landow' healey top?whats that ?no?ya think i went what?-if i can get hold of it ill let ya know if it can be done or not. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gifim actually going with my father to your neck of the woods sat 11/12/05 a place called marshalls creek to visit the frank frazettea [artist]museum ,my dad knows him from when they were kids. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif

 

[big6]

[quote/]I don't have any stats to quote, but speaking from experience of looking at lots and lots of Healeys over decades or attending large Healey meets, I can tell you that it is about the rarest factory color -- I can easily count on the fingers of one hand the number I have seen and only heard about, combined.

By the way, I for one think that Florida Green with a Grey interior is an absolutely smashing combo. Stylish, "very period," and of course rare -- wouldn't change it for the world. Could you send some photos?

[/ QUOTE ]

Reid,

My BJ7 is presently in mostly primer getting ready for color. The frame and most of the sheet metal is new. I purchased a Jule frame and began welding the sections to the frame. I am attaching my Heritage Trust Certificate. I believe the color of the hood (top) is incorrect. I believe the original hood (top) color was black. The vinyl covered wood blocks appear to be original and covered with black vinyl. The hood (top) frame is also painted black that appears to be original. I found pieces of the original gray interior under the dash and the underside of the panels and fenders were Florida green. This project started by a friend about 6 – 7 years before I purchased the BJ7 in boxes. It was disassembled after a tree fell on it during hurricane Hugo in Charleston, SC. I started the project in 02 attempting to salvage the rusted frame and finally opted for a Jule frame.