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Wanted: Early BN1 Sidescreens

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Tech396

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I'm helping a friend who is looking for a pair of frameless side screens for the early BN1.
Here a photo as an example.
Any help is appreciated

1657499125204.png
 
Very Early BN1

BN1 met vol perspex sidescreens publicatie.jpg
 
I have a question. Of course this is only for BN1/2 cars. I modified a sidescreen set to replace the pliable plastic with the vinyl trim with a solid piece of lexan. I retained the chrome trim pieces but made no provision for a flap or a hole for reaching in to open the door (I may do but got lazy). My solution was to make a "key" out of a 1/8 metal rod that I can slip past the edge of the sidescreen to push on the inside door lever. Works well and I keep it in a secret place inside the rear fender well with a couple of magnets. Works great.....but how were you supposed to open the doors with those early solid side screens? Mine are certainly too well fitted to squeeze a hand in.
 

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Maybe the limited access was the reason they were not that common.
Because they are so rare I don't use them while driving
If the softtop is not too tight, you can pass it. With a hardtop that is a challenge ;-)
 
roscoe said:
I have a question. Of course this is only for BN1/2 cars. I modified a sidescreen set to replace the pliable plastic with the vinyl trim with a solid piece of lexan. I retained the chrome trim pieces but made no provision for a flap or a hole for reaching in to open the door (I may do but got lazy). My solution was to make a "key" out of a 1/8 metal rod that I can slip past the edge of the sidescreen to push on the inside door lever. Works well and I keep it in a secret place inside the rear fender well with a couple of magnets. Works great.....but how were you supposed to open the doors with those early solid side screens? Mine are certainly too well fitted to squeeze a hand in.
Click to expand...
Roscoe--

According to what I have read one gained access by unfastening the Tenax button closest to the door and reaching in.
 
Thanks Michael. I probably would have realized that if I had the soft top installed. I'll bet you can relate, I'm a hardtop guy now and if I could just figure out how to remove the hard top and stow it while driving it'd be a perfect world. Truthfully, I am thinking abut how I might do that without it ending up in the road.
 
In 50+ years in Healeys I've never seen side curtains like those. Are they some J.C. Whitney aftermarket thing? Maybe something cobbled together by a shade tree mechanic?

I see nothing salvageable there, but the ad states, "...in decent shape." I'd hate to see what that guy considers "poor condition."

By the way, Ken Fleming has a nice pair of the early style side curtains that I believe he'd part with. Find him in North Carolina in the club directory.
 
It's clear to me that these were probably made from a late model BN2 set of side screens and modified. The hole spacing where the screws are holding the plastic looks identical. One would have cut out the center horizontal stringer and welded up a small vertical piece where the openable window is attached to achieve this look. Close inspection of the welds on that piece certainly look " cobbled" to me. I agree, nothing to see here. Perhaps the door pegs and sockets are restorable. Not sure how the handle was supposed to work but at least it's ugly. I felt a tiny bit ashamed with how I modified my side screens but now, not so much.
 
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