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cigar lighter

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anthony7777

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i think they were called 'cigar'lighters back then,im talking 1963,several guestions,on a bj7 where they located? in a hole in the dash?on a bracket under the dash?installed as factory options?or dealer installed?thanks anthony7777 1963 bj7 M.K.II
 
Anthony, The only ones I have seen that I would consider an original installation were located in BJ8s.The ones I saw were located in the console adjacent to the ashtray [ALA-JAG]. No specific location for the cigar lighter has ever been assigned to my knowledge. However, as an aside there is not an under dash type bracket called out for them. Consequently, mine is located in the lower left hand corner of the dash adjacent to the chubby box door---Fwiw---Keoke
 
My BJ8 came missing its dashboard. The used replacement I acquired came with a cigar lighter installed in the center panel at the lower right. I asked the seller and then the Healey list about this. I understand that these were dealer installed options and could have been put 1.) anyplace the owner wished or 2.) where the dealer wanted, typically someplace easy. The consensus (as I found it, based on a mere handful of replies) was that not very many were seen and that their position wasn't consistent. I hope this helps- it seems you may put it where you want, if these later cars are any guide, FWIW....
 
Anthony,

I've attached a photo showing the location of the cigar lighter in my BJ8. It is just up and to the right of the headlight switch. I believe this to be an original dealer-installed item as the interior of my car has never been redone as far as I know.

Wana
 

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thanks,keoke,i also coulnt find a call out for a bracket, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gifthanks james wilson,from the photo of your cool looking car im not able to disearn what side your steering wheel is on [you being from glasgo]so when you say 'center lower right?just kidding, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gifand wana thanks nice lookin dash!i hope ya didnt armoral it just fa me! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif p.s theres a healey for sale on ebay,got white walls!i godda stop smokin anyway /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonono.gif
 
Looking at the picture Wana supplied, the one I have is positioned down two inches more-or-less, consider a clock face- theirs is at 1 o'clock mine would be at 5 o'clock relative to the switch... in the center panel, at the lower right. I hope that's clear now.
 
keoke,'chubby box'?im not the person to be correcting anyones spellin,but isnt it 'cubby'box? 'chubby' puts a whole new 'light' on the subject,parden the pun. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif OH My Gosh No! Anthony, the "cubby" box was located at the back of the arm rest in the early cars and were subsequently deleted in the later versions. On the otherhand, since the Yanks were known to be overweight the chubby boxes remain to this day. Of course we don't put too much emphasis on them anyway---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
My 65 BJ8 has it exactly as Wana's photo. According to what I have been told, mine was delivered new in the UK as a left hand drive and then later flown to the US. If it was installed by the dealer, he was in the UK. While on this subject, let me ask about the UK license plate that came with my car. It doesn't have the border around it like the one that Moss sells. It is just plain letters/numbers on black background and made from Aluminum. DGP-537C Is this authentic ? Or did a PO install an aftermarket plate? Is MOSS's plate not correct as issued in the UK in 1965 because of the border ?
 
HI ED, I think if you find the lighter installed on a metal panel it was probably dealer installed or a previous owner.I doubt that the either would go to the extra trouble it takes to install one in the wooden part of the dash. Regarding the license plate's configuration it would depend upon where the registration number was assigned. Generally the plates were separate from the cars mounting which was in most cases just flat sheet metal.If the entire plate is stamped aluminum they were used at some period in time.On the otherhand, some are made using separate raised letters riveted to a flat metal plate. The equivalent of our DMV in the UK for a fee can assert the correctness of the plate I think.---Keoke
 
[ QUOTE ]
While on this subject, let me ask about the UK license plate that came with my car. It doesn't have the border around it like the one that Moss sells. It is just plain letters/numbers on black background and made from Aluminum. DGP-537C Is this authentic?

[/ QUOTE ]


The relevant UK regulations are covered:

https://www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/regmarks/reg_marks_current_requirements.htm#traditionalplates

Your plain black with white or silver lettering plate is correct and entirely proper for the car. As you'll see from the website, there is no requirement for a border on the plate and they are not often seen in the UK (edited to add) on older cars. I just stroled thorugh the car park and noted that currently about 1/3 of the cars have borders- but there's no constency in width, spacing, etc. Moss can sell whatever it likes without regard to UK law for these are purely decorative in the USA. That said, it isn't unusual (particularly for the boy racers) for UK cars to display plates that deviate from the standard.

The registration number seems authentic with the right number and mix of numeric and alphabetic characters and the correct year "C" designator for 1966.
 
James, Thanks for that information. I thought mine was original UK issue, but since I had seen borders on some UK plates in photos, I wanted to know. Since you confirmed it is probably original, I am putting it back on the front of the car. In NC we are not required to install any front number plate.
Keoke,
My Cigar lighter is through the center metal plate of the dashboard, ( covered with vinyl) in the same location as in Wana's photo. This is not wood but the
vinyl covered metal piece that makes up the center of the dashboard. The Wooden pieces screw onto either end of this center metal piece.
I suspect that in my and Wana's BJ8, these Cigar lighters were installed at the factory. It is unlikely someone at the dealership drilled a 3/4-1' hole through the vinyl and metal dashboard section.
 
Yes ED, In the metal panels agrees with my earlier thoughts. However, obtaining a Heritage Certificate for the car will resolve the issue as to where the lighter was installed.In my case the lighter definitly was not installed at the factory as it did not appear in the included factory options listed on the Heritage Certificate. Consequently, mine had to be a dealer or a PO that installed it.--- Regarding putting holes in the metal dash panel it is very simply done using what is known as a Chassis Punch. These punches prduced by "Greenlee" have been around for ages and only reguire drilling a small pilot hole to install them.They use a crunching shear action to cut perfectly round holes varying in size from 1/2"-to-1 1/4" in diameter using a standard spanner wrench.---Keoke
 
It's strange you suggested the Heritage Certificate. I just got done ordering one online. I guess if I am this far into it, I should go all the way and spend the money.
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif Yes ED,I use to think they were a worthless piece of paper /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif until all the experts told me the factory never installed "Talbot Racing Mirrors" on the cars, when the certificate came there they were in the options list.-I don't get any of those nevers anymore. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonod.gif---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
ed k,as a former .G.M."makeready" mechanic i would not be the least bit surprized that the dealer of any automobile would take the liberty to punch a hole in 'anything' especialy at a customers request!if a person added a cigar lighter as an option[obviously many did]and it wasnt installed at time of manufacture,the simplest thing would have been for the dealer to just send someone out to the shed for the hole punch,and do thier best to replicate the install as per manufacturer,believe me to make a sale he would have mounted it in the exhaust pipe if thats were the customer wanted lt!dealer installs are commonly neater in appearance and show a bit more concern for placement,ive seen some very,very bad addons over the years,im actualy still trying to find out were the lighter was installed in the dash of a 1963 bj7,of infact they where? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif
 
Hi Anthony, I think the consensus of opinion regarding the placement of the lighter if dealer installed, would have been in a metal part of the cars interior. This being the most expedient method to use.However, I still feel that no exact position was ever established but was simply left up to the mood of the installer.---Fwiw---Keoke
 
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