Leather Bonnet Strap

[BBH]

Many of the Works / Warwick prepared cars had a leather security strap placed at the front centre of the bonnet. From the images I have seen most had the buckle attached to the bonnet and the strap secured on the shroud under the front badge.

With more specific reference to the cars prepared for Sebring, I am trying to find out:

1. Was the buckle part attached to the bonnet in front of the air grille or behind?
2. I notice from pics that some cars had no bonnet air grille (KNX) just plain bonnet with an open gap, and some (FAC’s) appear to have either a chrome top strip / cowl or the standard vertical slatted grille, but from the pictures I have it isn’t too clear.

Any help in clarifying this would be most welcome.

 

[Dr. Smoke]

I am considering adding a leather bonnet strap to my 1966 BJ8. Would prefer wide leather with sheep's wool to protect the finish. Is this appropriate for my car? And, does anyone have a good source from which to buy?
Dr. Smoke

 

[HealeyRick]

I put one on my '63 BJ7:

You don't usually see this type of bonnet strap on the 3000s, but it's up to you to decide whether the look is "appropriate:". I was trying to emulate the 100M look with the louvers and bonnet strap. I found some of the straps offered by some of the usual suppliers to be too thin and plasticky and finally bought one through the 100M LeMans Registry: > British Sport Car - Austin Healey LeMans 100M Car Registry - Regalia < It won't be cheap, but the quality is excellent.

Regarding the sheep's wool, I don't know of a source. OTOH, I know people who have been unhappy with that solution as it will sometimes collect dust and dirt and will scratch the paint finish, rather than protect it. I chose to use a strip of clear film called XPEL: > XPEL | Paint Protection | Window Tint | Flat Glass | Anti-Microbial Film < to put under the strap. It was an easy installation and is pretty much invisible. The picture below is in mid-installation. It will closely follow the curvature of the bonnet once the water used in the install is squeegeed out.

 

[John Turney]

Here's one of the Sebring cars:

 

[John Turney]

OTOH, DD300 has two straps:

For more photos & description: This Healey Was Raced by Motorsports Royalty.

It was UJB 143 at Sebring, but has probably been modified since, since it's been raced almost "continuously from 1960 until now".

 

[dougie]

You only need one leather strap, easy and fast to secure.....

View attachment SVRA-UMC '57 414 - 3_lowres.jpg