Panel Fit

[nevets]

One thing I always look for when evaluating the quality of a restored Healey is how smoothly the bottom line of the front wing (fender) blends with the sill (strip beneath the door I think) and the rear wing dog-leg...and how well the contours of all those panels align with that of the door. When it's right the bottom line is a smooth transition from straight to a graceful curve. In many otherwise gorgeous Healeys, this particular junction of panels is often much less than perfect. I think I know the reason why this is so - because it's very difficult to get right. Still it strikes me as odd that with the amount of effort and $$$ it takes to restore a Healey, why more attention is not given to this unique and beautiful Healey feature.

 

[AUSMHLY]

Re: observation about panel fits

Yes Nevets, very true. I am having my BJ8 restored/painted. I have pointed this very thing out to the body shop. I looked at a lot of Healeys recently, and noticed that the nice ones have addressed this issue. I have also told the body shop to get the doors, hood and trunk gaps to be as close to 3/16 as possible. Roger

 

[Editor_Reid]

Nice to hear from someone else who (a) has noticed this, and (b) believes that it is important. To me it is very important and speaks to the overall quality and attention-to-detail of the whole restoration. To me, Healeys with an angular break between the rocker and front wing -- instead of the graceful curve that you describe and that was original -- look cobbled together, almost like replicars. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/pukeface.gif

 

[anthony7777]

nevets,im sure the lines of this car had much attention given to it,your correct a bad pannel fit is akin to looking at a gazel with a broken leg! the fluidity and motion or movement of the healey lines are i.m.o.are very sexy and near perfection,the dif bettween a good fit and bad is like having angelina jolie laying on her side next to say roseann barr,sorry i might not know how to spell thier names but i know what they look like,disclaimer- please all my fem.healy enthusiasts this is not ment as a sexist comment but pure observation,and my silly idea of levity, heck you know what i mean. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Editor_Reid]

[ QUOTE ]
... is akin to looking at a gazel with a broken leg

[/ QUOTE ]

You, sir, are a poet!

 

[anthony7777]

ah reid,please, hush uuup! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif