Rare 100 Aftermarket Accessory

[Editor_Reid]

When I bought my first 100 in 1981, it had an accessory that I had never seen before and have not seen again since. As seen in the photo, it is basically an aluminum collar that fits around the heater, under the dash, with a leather strap attached that permits closing off either the driver's side or passenger side heater outlets, or both.

I suppose that the advantages of this unit are:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc">[*]You can close off the heat from the heater to the interior.
[*]You can direct more of the boost fan air to the windscreen.
[*]You can close off one side of the cockpit while the other side continues to get heat. [/list]
The quality of the construction makes it a question whether this was professionally manufactured or built by some guy in his basement. If built by an amateur, he did a very nice job. If made professionally, it's slightly crude. In other words, the quality of construction is right on the borderline making it a mystery whether it was professionally manufactured or not.

I wonder if anyone here knows anything about it and whether anyone else has one or has ever seen one.

Thanks.

 

[glemon]

Reid, never seen one before, none on my Hundred, nice idea, look in the back of a Road & Track from the 50s and 60s tons of little cottage industries making accessories and improvements for sport and import cars, from Aamco and MG Mitten on down to J.C. Whitney and guys who were probably operating out of their basement or garage, my best guess a period aftermarket accessory, but possibly a homemade item--from the pic agree with your assessment, looks good for homemade, maybe a little crude for factory accessory. Which brings me back to the suggestion of a cottage industry accessory as stated above.

 

[zblu]

what is the approx diameter of the metal ring?

 

[Editor_Reid]

what is the approx diameter of the metal ring?

It is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the heater that it fits over

(6 inches)

 

[pan]

We have a 100M BN2 in our local club which is said to have been a demonstration car with the Donald Healey Motor Co. It has every conceivable option, including leathercloth covered cockpit surround and childs seat. I don't think it has one of these contraptions.

zblu, does your 100 have a heater? Austin-Healeys exported to Australia were supplied "less heater", at least that is what my Heritage Certificate says. And my car was first registered in Victoria! Brrrrrrrr!

Alwyn

 

[zblu]

Reid,
It reminded me of the circular dust cover on the end of some of the old starter motor/generators

 

[zblu]

pan,
Mine was supplied like yours, I've acquired one out of an A70 that looks like all it needs is to swap out the water in/out elbows for straights to be able to use it, not that I need it over this side

 

[pan]

I've got a heater too. Can't remember where I got it but as it has straight in/out ports it must be for an Austin-Healey. I was going to fit it during my car's recent restoration, but decided it would be redundant in the sub-tropical Queensland climate. Might be handy for de-misting the screen on the few cold nights that we do have.