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The MAW Syndrome

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Beware the May As Well Syndrome:

https://www.britishcarforum.com/PHPhotoalbum/displayimage.php?pid=761

This all began as the usual sort of restoration with all the usual culprits being targeted for replacement, repair or refinishing, but gradually and imperceptibly I became infected by the May As Wells: since I'm doing "X" it would be short-sighted not to do "Y" too; and, if I do "A" and "B" breaks later it would be a false economy, etc., etc., etc, ad infinitum. (new master & slave cylinders rather than rebuild the old- they were doubtful anyway- right?, new brake lines rather than reuse old ones, better wheels, better headlights, new this, better that; and then there were all the excuses for new tools, too)

Before long everything I touched became the object of excessive attention. Indeed, even looking at a part made it susceptible to contemplated improvements....

Its gone too far for me to recover, but be forewarned, it may happen to you....

'67 Austin Healey 3000, in 3000 bits. THAT's how they came up with the name....
 
Sounds like the Jensen 541 my friend in Ontario is restoring... The goal for completion was two summers ago and now the new "goal" is this spring or the summertime at the latest.

He's hoping to drive it down to the big Jensen meet down in the States this spring, here's hoping...
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by JamesWilson:
Beware the May As Well Syndrome:

https://www.britishcarforum.com/PHPhotoalbum/displayimage.php?pid=761

This all began as the usual sort of restoration with all the usual culprits being targeted for replacement, repair or refinishing, but gradually and imperceptibly I became infected by the May As Wells: since I'm doing "X" it would be short-sighted not to do "Y" too; and, if I do "A" and "B" breaks later it would be a false economy, etc., etc., etc, ad infinitum. (new master & slave cylinders rather than rebuild the old- they were doubtful anyway- right?, new brake lines rather than reuse old ones, better wheels, better headlights, new this, better that; and then there were all the excuses for new tools, too)

Before long everything I touched became the object of excessive attention. Indeed, even looking at a part made it susceptible to contemplated improvements....

Its gone too far for me to recover, but be forewarned, it may happen to you....

'67 Austin Healey 3000, in 3000 bits. THAT's how they came up with the name....
<hr></blockquote>

How well I know!

It took seventeen years to go from a decent running car (with very, very minimal California car rust) to the unfinished project pictured below. It was painted just under two months ago. Now the task of finishing it...

paint1a.JPG


paint2a.JPG


paint3a.JPG


paint5a.JPG



<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Sherlock:
Sounds like the Jensen 541 my friend in Ontario is restoring... The goal for completion was two summers ago and now the new "goal" is this spring or the summertime at the latest.

He's hoping to drive it down to the big Jensen meet down in the States this spring, here's hoping...
<hr></blockquote>

I have spent a fair amount of time (in the right seat) behind the (enormous) steering wheel of a 1956 541R. An extemely cool car! With its skinny-skinny 16" tires, it would "fishtail" standing still! I could do the most amazing drifts while going around a city corner at just barely 25 MPH
angel.gif


Some tidbits of the 541R for those that don't know:
4.0 Austin engine
David Brown 4sp gearbox
four wheel disc brakes (1956!
glasfibre body/clamshell hood
thermostatically controlled air inlet (cover over the grill)

Awesome car.
 
Randy,

My friend's Jensen 541 is a real labour of love (it's a 1956), his dad purchased it back in England in the 1960's - his dad was a big car enthusiast. When my friend moved to Canada in the mid-1970's he purchased the Jensen from his dad and brought it over here when he moved, his dad then passed away not long after he came to Canada.

My friend drove it as his only car in Ontario back in 1976/77 (including the harsh winters) before he retired it from the road for many years... basically until he hopefully finishes the restoration soon. He has no plans to sell it ever! It's basically a family heirloom to him.

I've seen the car, and it's very cool... certainly unique to North America as Jensen's were never officially offered over here during those years.
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dave Russell:
I prefer the MAW syndrome to the IGE syndrome.
D
<hr></blockquote>

Ah, but I fear I may become susceptible to the perfectionist bug too and GE may become unattainable, though wanting it on the road may offer some protection against an excess of perfectionism....
 
I wondered what I was suffering from - now I know: MAW! What started as "Gee, maybe I should touch up some rock chips and give her a wax job" has turned into replacing the grill, grill surround, eyebrow, heater air intake hose, front shocks, headlight rim, air intake shroud, front bumper mount brackets, lots of small odds and ends and rechroming fender flashes, etc, too. Not to mention all the Meguire's products and wet/dry paper! All this for a car that really did look pretty good in the first place! However, I must admit to being "excited" again, which is priceless! Stever
 
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