I have a Heritage Certificate for my 61 Sprite (AN5L47831). I doesn't
list side curtains as an option. However I hava a Parts Book dated June
1960, which shows the fabric curtains as standard and the sliding
curtains as options. They are listed with the Hardtop, but I asume they
could be bought as an option wuth soft top cars. I bought my first
Bugeye in May 1961 and it came with the sliding sidecurtains.
Pete Phillips
61 Bugeye
BRUCE48127@aol.com wrote:
>
> Jeff,
>
> While chassis #8283 is listed by Terry Horler in "Original Sprite and
> Midget", it is listed as the "first car fitted with hard top and sidescreens"
> not the point at which they became available. Both the Service Parts List(s)
> and Anders Clausager, in "Sprites and Midgets, The Comple Story" list the
> change as chassis #5477. This is the same point at which the windscreen
> frame and hood frame changed. From this point on, a car could have been
> fitted with a hardtop, and if so it would have come with sidescreens fitted.
> They would have been an option on cars without a hardtop. It was possible
> to purchase a hard top from a dealer and fit it to any car with the newer
> style windscreen. It was also possible to fit sidescreens to an earlier car,
> which had been fitted with side curtains. Chassis #8283 was just the first
> one to leave the factory with these fitted.
>
> Also, while Horler lists sidescreens as becoming standard, replacing side
> curtains (as you noted), this is believed by the Concours Committee to be
> incorrect, as no supporting evidence is found in the Service Parts Lists. In
> fact, later Service Parts Lists covering up to the Sprite Mk II and Midget Mk
> I, list sidescreens as optional for all AN5's and as standard for all AN6,
> AN7, GAN1 and GAN2's. I believe that sidescreens are what is sometimes
> refered to as a "phantom option", or "standard option". In other words, an
> item fitted to almost all cars in order to increase the profit on each unit.
> Whether this was done by distributors or BMC is not clear, but this was a
> common practice in the sixties with many makes of cars (not just British).
> Most Bugeyes that were shipped to the US had sidescreens rather than side
> curtains, were fitted with a front bumper, tonneau, heater, tachometer and
> windscreen washer(s), all items which were listed as optional. This becomes
> a very interesting area, the problem is, very few people have a dealer price
> sheet (window sticker) for a car. Most Heritage Certificates show heater,
> rev. counter, windscreen washer, front bumper, laminated windscreen, tonneau
> cover, etc. under 'details of equipment', but we do not know if a charge was
> made for them. Does anyone have a Certificate with sidescreens listed? If
> so is it in conjunction with a hard top, or as a seperate item? Does anyone
> have original price lists or bill or sale wich lists these items?
>
> Bruce Gearns
>
> In a message dated 97-11-15 18:26:45 EST, jchurch@exis.net writes:
>
> << Rick,
>
> They became original when the hardtop became available on chassis # AN5-8283
> (December 1958). They could be ordered as a option (to replace the
> steel-framed, Vynide covered versions) after that. From chassis AN5-34558
> (March 1960) on they became standard equipment. Source - "Original Sprite
> and Midget".
>
> Jeff Church
> AN5-11627
> Definitely a real Healey
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rickfisk <rickfisk@concentric.net>
> To: spridgets@autox.team.net <spridgets@autox.team.net>
> Date: Wednesday, November 12, 1997 8:56 PM
> Subject: Side Windows
>
>
> >Hello all,
> >
> >Was digging through my Sprite parts tonight and came across some old
> >side windows I forgot I had. The plexiglas and rubber seals are shot
> >but frames are still in decent shape. The front window is fixed and the
> >rear slides. On the top inside the frames are stamped "WEATHERSHIELDS
> >REG" with "DESIGN 883598-600" stamped underneath. Does anyone know if
> >these are original AH parts or aftermarket? Just curious.
> >
> >Rick
> >'59 Bugeye
> >(A real Healey) >>
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