Another project just for Roger [AUSMHLY]

[Lin]

Rear Seat Parcel Shelf for a BT7

I will be making a coast-to-coast trip in “The Bloody Beast” in the summer of 2009. It will require that I carry along with me everything I will need for a month. Of course, space is at a premium in a Healey so I have looked for every opportunity to expand storage space. I recently thought about how I might obtain more usable space in the interior of the car.


The occasional rear seats in the BT7 may make for lovely seating for small children, but they do not provide a level platform to store items you might wish to transport with you on longer trips. Later models of the Big Healey have a fold down parcel shelf behind the front seats, so I thought why not in a BT7?

What I came up with does not fold and frankly you must commit to having it in place, or not, when you start a journey. However, it is easy to add or remove from the vehicle. You will note it has some small rear "legs" and there is also a support in the back of the shelf at the midpoint. These supports keep the shelf from actually contacting the leather seats.


A pdf file of the project (measurements and materials) as well as high resolution images may be seen at:

https://web.me.com/linwoodrose/My_AH_3000...aintenance.html

As always, Cheers!

Lin

 

[Cottontop]

Good Job, Lin.

I have a couple of friends who travel far and stay long: one and his wife in a Miata and the other, an iron-butt, on a motorcycle.

If they have a known destination and a friend or family there, they will often pack a box of clothing or other items that they might need on the trip home and for $10-$15, UPS it there.

When they start back, they take the unneeded/soiled stuff and UPS it home or to the office to be there when they get back.

Tim

 

[Randy Forbes]

We too have done the ship clothes ahead routine, usually to the destination hotel. But even better still, is to plan to do laundry about once a week/ten days. Almost all hotels/motels have a laundry facility, sometimes both valet & DIY.

Soft luggage is the key, if you didn't already know. Truth is, black plastic garbage bags probably make the best use of available space, and while not particularly elegant, you'd be surprised to see how many BMW Z3/M Rdstr owners show up at events with their trunks packed with garbage bags! Fortunately, we bought some fitted soft luggage almost as soon as we bought the first M Rdstr, as it has long since been unavailable.

As for the shelf you constructed, I think it looks a lot better than the phony seats, and I'd be inclined to leave it in permanately. Good job!

 

[AUSMHLY]

Hey Lin,

Looks like I'm third in line here to say, great job! I'm impressed with your design and how you share in detail, how to make it.

Cheers,
Roger

 

[Keoke]

:thumbsup:

Weill Lin, I guess it looks OL and will work OK ifin you don't have no BJ8 N never mind the laundry take lots ah Hly spares that way you won"t need em..---Keoke-- --- :laugh:

 

[Lin]

Keoke,
As usual, I like the way you think! I will have a bunch of those "likely suspect" parts along.

Lin

 

[HealeyPassion]

Lin, very nice it deed!!! It looks integral to the original design.

I agree with the soft luggage conversation. My wife and I have done 2+ weeks in a two seater with plenty of space. A month would take a bit more planning but very doable.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Cottontop]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but when I rebuilt my 100-6, rather than spend big bucks for new rear seat buckets and have them upholstered and then never use them, I opted to built a huge Healey "Glovebox", complete with a hidden hinge.

Now, I can carry LOTS of "gloves" and other junk. It is Invaluable !

Tim