Got a Dan Dare hardtop today for my Sprite

[bugimike]

I can hardly believe that someone would put holes in it just to add a 3rd brake light!!!

At the time the discussions about the effectiveness of a 3rd brake light, Joan Claybrook (at the time the head of the office in charge of such things) swore that it would prevent thousands (I can't remember the exact figures cited) of accidents and thus--lives--would be saved if only the manufacturers were REQUIRED to install said third brake light in all automobiles, at "minimal" cost to the manufacturers. Statistics proved her WRONG. the actual figure was closer to 600. Hundreds of thousands of cars with these things and 600 accidents prevented? Hardly cost effective unless one believes that one accident is one too many. .....

OOPS... forgive the rant....

anyway my 2¢

My question is...How does one quantify "prevented accidents"?? If they were prevented they didn't happen, so where is the record of them?

 

[tony barnhill]

When I get the proper weather I'll give it a real close look on the underside for any identifying markings. Sometimes these have something like that and sometimes they don't.

I've searched every inch of mine - nothing!

 

[Guest]

All right, I've been told by some of those guys across the pond that this isn't a Pride & Clark Dan Dare hardtop.
No one has identified it other than to say it isn't a Dan Dare.

Who cares what they say, you dig it and that's all that counts. Sounds like you got something even rarer. It even has a dog fart vent in the top. Never can have too much evacuation in those cases!!!


Dan Dare.....sounds like a cartoon charater.

Who the H--L is that anyway........Johnny Quest's cousin ?!?!?!?!?!?!

.........Maxwell Smart's brother-in-law ?!?!?!?!?!


I say good deal !!!!


(I know, I know, it's probably some important LBC dude that didn't mind dog farts. No offense meant to any Dan fans or owners of gastrointestinally challenged canines.)

 

[Pythias]

My question is...How does one quantify "prevented accidents"?? If they were prevented they didn't happen, so where is the record of them?

If a certain number of a certain type (in this case being rear ended) at certain locations (i.e. intersections) occur over a period of years (or the more accurate accident rate of accidents per million miles driven) and a new factor (3rd brake light) is introduced and that number is reduced then the reduction can logically be attributed to the new factor.

 

[RickB]

Statistics.

Lies, dam* lies and statistics.

I'm a DBA by the way, so don't talk to me about statistics.
I cringe when certain people ask me for data, as I know all too well what they are about to do with it. (lie cheat & steal)


Anyway Kelly, no I don't think there's any deep & meaningful "thing" behind all the Dan Dare stuff. I just think they are cool looking tops. I also think the one I got is cool looking and I'm pleased with it. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[jvandyke]

I don't really see the similarities with his helmet but, whatever.
Comic

 

[JPSmit]

I don't really see the similarities with his helmet but, whatever.
Comic

I see it more here

 

[JPSmit]

My question is...How does one quantify "prevented accidents"?? If they were prevented they didn't happen, so where is the record of them?

A little like the Fire Department in Nova Scotia that got a new Fire truck and was trying to decide what to do with the old. Fella stands up and says, "I think we should keep it and use it for false alarms."

Mind you I still like my high mounted brake light and daytime running lights and pretty much anything that keeps idi*ts from hitting me.

 

[bill_powell]

Mind you I still like my high mounted brake light and daytime running lights and pretty much anything that keeps idi*ts from hitting me.

I'm with you.

If I'm not driving the Midget, I'm on a motorcycle. Either way, avoiding a hit is high on my priority list.

 

[Guest]

I don't really see the similarities with his helmet but, whatever.
Comic

I see it more here

I WAS RIGHT !!!!!!!

And he even HAS A FART VENT !!!!

Mag pouches and a bayonet ?????

That's MY kinda super hero !!!!

I'm not real big on nautical vessels as spacecraft.

Kinda like the whole "Argo" japanamation "wave motion" gun thing back in the early '80's.

Give him an AK47 and sign me up !!!!

Nothing beats the beauty and simplicity of stamped steel that'll perform anywhere !!!!

Ahh...the VW Bug of the assalt rifle world.....only without the maintenance and ALLOT more power.

The officail weapon of disgruntled peasants EVEYWHERE !!!

(I'm a big fan of the AK, Micky K was a GENIUS !!!)

 

[bill_powell]

(I'm a big fan of the AK, Micky K was a GENIUS !!!)

This is terribly off topic, but while I agree with the basic reliability of the old AK, check out the Armalite AR180 series. Even better.

Back on topic: were these "Dan Dare" tops available for the MK III Midget?

 

[RickB]

I'm getting more info via 'the list' and some is very interesting.

Check this out:

https://mgaguru.com/mgtech/top/top123b.htm

There's a company in Compton CA called Plastic Dynamics who made (makes??) these tops. Apparently for MGA's and for big Healeys as well.

 

[RickB]

Here's another:

 

[Guest]

Compton ?!?!?!?!?!

dat'z strate up gangsta dawg.......ya herd me ?!?!?!?!?!


dat aint uh faht vent, dat be a gat po't.


Here's an interesting footnote:

Poor Dan went the way of Elvis, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash and Sam Kineson (sic?).

 

[fordtrucks4ever]

None of these tops look like the one on(off) my BE. Dont mind the 25 years of dust it has been collecting.

 

[JPSmit]

Compton ?!?!?!?!?!

dat'z strate up gangsta dawg.......ya herd me ?!?!?!?!?!


dat aint uh faht vent, dat be a gat po't.


Here's an interesting footnote:

https://images.google.com/imgres?im...s?q=Dan+Dare&ndsp=20&hl=en&sa=N&start=40&um=1

Poor Dan went the way of Elvis, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash and Sam Kineson (sic?).

easier link - https://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/DanDare.html

not exactly getting the Elvis/ Ray Charles etc connection except that they are all dead - were they killed by light sabres?

 

[Guest]

All, like Dan Dare, started out "in the church" and later "sold out" for wider appeal.

Funny off topic sidenote:

WWOZ, the local "jazz" radio station did an interview with Irma Thomas that went something like this:

"So, you got your start in the church?"

"Yes, I started in the choir at seven years old."

" So, when you came out of the church.....

(Irma cuts in like Aunt Ester from "Sanford and Son")

" I have ~NEV~ER~ come out of the ~CHUR~CH~!.....
....I am stil ~IN~ the ~CHUR~CH~..and I sing in the choir at______________ ~EVE~RY~ SUN~DAY~ !!!!!"


" uhh...o.k....."

She did it in a very classy way, but left no doubt at all where she was grounded.

I found it very refreshing. Cool chic.

 

[Guest]

None of these tops look like the one on(off) my BE. Dont mind the 25 years of dust it has been collecting.

If that thing isn't screaming for a thrid brake light, I don't know what is.

Must be real heavy, I see a fork lift in the background......

.......no wonder it has 25 years of dust on it !!!!

 

[Guest]

JP,

I didn't realize that link would blow the screen up.

I deleted it in my post, edit your quote of me and let's see if we can get this back to normal.

 

[RickB]

Ok, looking for seals now.
This is serious folks, there is a place that sells the stuff for about $12 per foot and if I have to get it there so be it...

However I thought maybe someone here might know of a place where the stuff is a bit more reasonably priced.

Here is a picture of the "new style" seal. This (they say) doesn't mar the paint finish like the older style.