Trivia ?

[smaceng]

This is my second BE, and I still do not know the answer to this question. What is the cut out for in the middle of the grab handle wood support? My quess is weight reduction. Any other ideas? Scott in CA

 

[toysrrus]

Hi Scott,

My guess would be a cleaner, smoother, flush appearance with the dash facia.

Russ

 

[john_j]

Hi Scott,

My guess would be a cleaner, smoother, flush appearance with the dash facia.

Russ

It's behind the dash, so not visible, so there isn't any aesthetic reason.

The L shaped cut out is I think to get round the hole for the radio, the curved pocket? No idea! Unless it's to give access/clearance for the radio fittings?

 

[paulsherman]

With 48,000 Bugeyes built, I suspect they were going "green" and saving a tree or two.

 

[RickB]

With 48,000 Bugeyes built, I suspect they were going "green" and saving a tree or two.

Good one...

Except that it's a cutout so the wood was there and got cut out and tossed in the bin - or burned for heat.

 

[GeeBee1]

Reduce weight?

Pat

 

[jvandyke]

I found one of these on the dash I was restoring. I thought was a PO thing! Mine was delaminating. Being lazy I squeezed some wood glue in between the layers, put some weight on it and all is well. Now I'm glad I did, it's an OEM part after all! Now my Midget is worth at least $25,000.

 

[Hairyone]

yep one on my UK frogeye too. I also thought it was a PO bodge. Perhaps it's for a glove compartment optional extra, or for a radio would have been my other guess.

 

[mightymidget]

would it have anything to do with defroster tubes, hoses

 

[jlaird]

It was for clearance for the big old radio that went in there.

 

[spritenut]

The handle was the same grab handle used on the big Healeys, but the big Healeys had a chrome indented piece which pretty much matches the indent on the wood.
So it's an "off the shelf" part from one Healey to another.

 

[jlaird]

Well that's intresting. Our poor little cars must not have a part to call their own.

 

[drooartz]

Well that's intresting. Our poor little cars must not have a part to call their own.

Very few, Jack. The main body shell is almost it. Almost all the other bits came from somewhere else. Made them cheap to buy when new, and great for parts availability now.

 

[bgbassplyr]

Could be a place to hide a baggie of weed.

 

[smaceng]

If there was a prize I would award it to.......Spritenut!
After I asked the question, as a forensic engineer, I had to figure it out myself. The cut out, as Spritenut said, was for the knuckle clearance behind the grab bar on the early big Healeys. I would think that one could order the "Escutcheon" item 112 from Moss, cut a hole in the dash behind the grab bar, and make like your Spriget grew up. The piece of wood, called a Packing Block (item 111)for $25, was positioned with the cut out toward the back of the car in a big Healey for clearance for the Escutcheon (I love the sound of that word). In the Spriget, it was positioned with the cut out toward the front of the car. In my younger days, maybe, a place to hide the p*t.
Scott in CA

 

[Guest]

Could be a place to hide a baggie of weed.

In my younger days, maybe, a place to hide the p*t.
Scott in CA

No, you're supposed to put that in the horn button of a VW Fox or Jetta. :cowboy:

 

[jsfbond]

Late sixties Econoline vans had a small shelf under the "Hood" beside your seat, for nickle bag storage.Plus room for three "little Millers" in glass bottles in each of the lower vents, doors.

 

[Gundy]

Later model Land Cruisers have a large debris collection cup
fitted to the bottom of the air assembly. Completely out of site
under the assembly but easy to reach to service. Spin off a
wingnut and presto a large sized metal container drops into your hand to dump twigs/rocks/water from the system. When you have to leave something behind and hike out. It's as good as a safe.

About the item. It would appear the one in the drawing is oval
and the item in question is a half moon. Was it cut that way for the standard grab bar?