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tony barnhill

tony barnhill

Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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So, here's what she looked like when I covered her up tonight....flying to St Simon's Island off the Georgia coast early tomorrow morning for Jerri's niece's wedding....be back Sunday afternoon....until then, enjoy <span style="font-style: italic">(Oh, I know the grille has to come back off to install the radiator - its on for the show I hope to take it to next week if I can get a few more things done.)</span>:
 

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Travel safe, Tony.

My my, that's a stellar little car. I am officially in awe.
 
:thumbsup:
 
Looks better than new.
 
Funny you say that Jack. Most of the time when we get our hands on these cars and the attack of th' Might-as-Wells sets in, we go to all lengths to put 'em into a condition FAR in excess to what BMC/BL/BLMC consider'd "acceptable". Our doors FIT properly, our finish is usually fussed over to be made better than original, suspensions massaged with "modern" improvements... all-in-all a far better car than was originally rolled off the line. Much more respect is paid them now than when they were ten-year-olds used as college kids' beaters. Now the ones left will be handed down to another group who will likely keep them safe and in good nick.
 
Sweet! Wish I could be at LoO to drool over it in person!! I will be there with you guys in spirit!!
 
Adding to what DrEntropy said, with a small amount of personal history. I was lucky enough to be at quite a few events Donald Healey attended years ago. Of all the stories, when asked what he thought about “his cars” being restored after all these years, his response was interesting. He couldn’t believe how nice the cars were. He said cost was a big factor, that they made things “fit” because time is money.
He said we were over restoring the cars, went on to say he never planned on them surviving. We (he) made new cars! He was also expressive about personal “choices” made to his cars. I remember more than one person asking how he felt about people putting in 1275 engines in MKI’s, I loved his answer of “hey” if we would have had them and the cost could be ok’d they would have had them to begin with.
When you hear it from someone that had to see it as a business as well, it was well said. Tony’s midget is very, very nice indeed. Is it nicer than new? Yes! but why not! Everybody that sees it will be attracted to it for attention to detail. I for one am thankful he chooses to do it just as he is. A high degree of respect to its ancestry.
Dug
 
I'd be willing to bet that if there was a "Factory Original" class, the people walking by would say something to the effect of "When are you going you to finish it?". Overspray, runs, drips, misfitting panels, etc. were more in order then than not. The fact as previously stated that car building IS a business seems to get forgotten. We human beings are too amused by shiny pretty things! LoL
 
Very, very nice.

You know it's funny...I've had a number of street Spridgets and all of mine have had some sort of modification, but basically, a stock, standard car (like Tony's) is really a nice car.

If I was building a street Spridget these day and had lots of money and time, I run a stock "A" series engine and mostly all else would be stock too.
The only thing I'd do is somehow lengthen the doors, moving the hinges forward. Spridgets (and Cobras) have such short doors that they can be pretty hard to get into (for me, anyway).
 
Rik - I topok last week off from the garage & worked around the house & the farm up in Tennessee....after I finish the yard today, I'm ready to go back in the garage.

Starting on it again tomorrow.
 
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