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Some Thoughts on Rotisserie Restorations

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The Austin-Healey Concours Committee -- about which almost everyone has strong opinions, but very few really know much about! -- has defined a standard that I believe is very intelligent: Cars should be restored to the way in which they were intended to be manufactured.

In other words, we do NOT want to see runs in the paint or other imperfections that, while occasionally found on all-original cars, were never intended. This standard allows us to avoid silly discussions about overspray, poor panel fit, etc.

You must remember that one of the purposes of the Concours Committee is to recognize those cars correctly restored to original specification, and not to recognize cars that are rolling examples of the shortcomings of 1950s and 1960s automotive assembly lines. It's about the cars, not the British automotive industry of 50 years ago.
 
Hi Cutlass, you are so right. Even Pebble Beach is beginning to complain about the restored level of the cars there. They are considering a new rule that will require documentation which justifies not using some of the car's parts in their original condition rather than completely restoring every inch of the car. They say that the current restoration trend is destoying the originality of the cars---Keoke
 
ok guys, we all or most of us know that a healey requires the eng. and trans,to be in place to correctly perform alignment of the doors pillars,panels, etc. at least it is desirable to do so, can some one please tell me how the heck do you do this on a ro-tiseery in the first place???? unless your just usin it to de-rust bead blast, replace none structural panels, covers, weld small holes etc. the only thing i use my ro-tiseery for is chickens! -- my second rum and coke please HELP! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif
 
anthony7777 said:
ok guys, we all or most of us know that a healey requires the eng. and trans,to be in place to correctly perform alignment of the doors pillars,panels, etc. at least it is desirable to do so, can some one please tell me how the heck do you do this on a ro-tiseery???? unless your just usin it to de-rust bead blast, replace none structural panels, covers, weld small holes etc. the only thing i use my ro-tiseery for is chickens! my second rum and coke please HELP! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif
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I think it is safe to say that the term "Rotisserie restoration" is just that - a term - that is often used to define the level of restoration of a given vehicle. Just as "frame-off restoration" implies everything down to and including the frame.
Its also safe to say that a car can be just as "restored" on a set of car jacks or a set of saw-horses as a rotisserie. i think rotisserie just sounds better in a sales add, much better anyway than "Full car jack restoration" or "Complete saw-horse resto".

And unless i miss the mark a rotisserie is really only meant for the rough frame/chassis work. I don't think it was ever intended to do an entire restoration from top to bottom on.
 
timbn2, thanks, thats just great first we have all that "english" gibberish to contend with i.e. - bonnet = hood, but now we are creating our own misnomers! thats it! we got an italian car segment on da "forum" yet? K-KOTS! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif
 
I love this topic. It has been my experience that those individuals who put forth the "concept" of restoration and its specifics are those who complain the most at events when their cars do not win the vote for best "restored" car. If one follows some of the logic that has been written on this topic restored means as it left the factory. But, if it left the factory with paint runs, poor panel fit etc. you would be obliged to repair those factory imperfections to make it a restored car. But then it would not be as it left the factory, kinda catch 22 I think.

IMHO a restored car is one that has been gone through from front to back and those items needing repair or replacement are done so. By adding an alternator, spin on oil filter etc does not make it any less restored. Maybe some none standard parts, but by no means is it any less restored.

Maybe its time to revisit how the hobby evaluates its "code" for enthusiasts. Donald Healey got his start not by "restoring" a car for racing, but by hacking it to pieces to get it to go fast. When he was so gracious to come over to the States and attend the Healey events he always seemed impressed with the innovations that individuals had undertaken to correct some reoccurring problem. Remember the days before Moss. Geoff Healey marveled at the Daatsun 5-speed in a Bugeye conversion when he first drove one.

When looking to buy restored car or motorcycle I want there to be the flavor of originality for sure. But the reason the world progress's is because things get better, better compounds and techniques. I bought a DMD intake manifold for 2" SU's for my BJ7. NOt original but it gets better gas milage and has tons more umph.

Sorry if I rag, but I have issue with some one defining or interperting my efforts as some how less marginalized by not useing the Ponz screw heads.
 
How about the different height for the rear lights on the BJ8's? The L/H and R/H lights on my 67 are different heights and on every BJ8 I've seen. An obvious flaw when they made the rear shrouds. Should they be corrected or should they be left as they came from the factory? I don't know of anyone who had them corrected...yet.
 
anthony7777 said:
timbn2, thanks, thats just great first we have all that "english" gibberish to contend with i.e. - bonnet = hood, but now we are creating our own misnomers! thats it! we got an italian car segment on da "forum" yet? K-KOTS! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif
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/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/savewave.gif 7777's

K-KOTS! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif Does that mean "Katzenjammer" in Italian??---Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
This is a great subject for debate that probably has no single position that will satisfy everyone. In the absence of any higher authority, I would have to defer to the concours guys as the final arbiters of what constitutes a restored Austin Healey. That said, I also recognize that there is room for personal choice and exceptions to the concours standards that are widely accepted within the Healey community.
 
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