[Healeys] Repair Magic

[BJ8Healeys]

Steven, it happened to me almost exactly the same way in September 2000
(before all the publicity about the negative effects of driving on old
tires).

I was returning home to North Carolina from Watkins Glen and clipping along
about 65 mph on the four-lane.  The right rear tire suddenly let go and the
separating tread beat up the lower fender behind the wheel.  I wish I had
had a repair magician like yours.  I ended up replacing the lower section of
the fender.

The tire that failed was a Michelin XZX that had been with the car since
1977 (photos attached).  

Well, lightening doesn't strike twice, does it?  The next day I was motoring
down I-95 with the spare installed, still a hundred miles from home, and the
LEFT rear tire failed.  The car had to sit by itself on the interstate until
I went back 10 miles to the previous town and found a spare to get me home.

 

It taught me a lesson about old tires.

 

Steve Byers

HBJ8L/36666

BJ8 Registry

Havelock, NC  USA

 

-----Original Message-----
From: healeys-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of ATIGHTPROD at aol.com
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 12:51 PM
To: healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: [Healeys] Repair Magic

 

Many months ago I had my left rear tire delaminate  while driving on the
freeway. Spun me around pretty well, folks backed off of me  and allowed me
to get to the side of the road and no one got hurt, except my  left rear
wing/fender. Bent it up, actually, rolled it up in to itself and left  no
hard crease anywhere. From the side you could hardly notice it and it didn't
affect driving so I drove my car. 

    Yesterday I took my car up to Ellery, owner of a  small body repair shop
in Piru, California. Piru is a little town on the  126 Highway between
Ventura on the coast and the city of Valencia  on Highway 5. I don't even
know if there is a name for his business, but  this man is a magician. He
worked that rear wing back in to shape in short  order with old time tools,
years of knowledge and some amazing whacks of  different size hammers to
strategic locations on the body. 

    I'll have to do some painting to finish the job,  but I can't believe
how well he brought my car back in to shape. He was telling  me steel has a
"memory" and wants to go back to where it was, well it did!  Ellery works on
any car, as he says; "steel is steel", and his shop is always  full of a
broad array of various vehicles. Folks in southern California are  extremely
lucky to have a guy like this around. I found out about him through  a tour
of his shop arranged by our southern California Healey club and I  thought I
would spread the word about him through this forum. If any of you need
minor or major body work done and are looking for someone who is really good
with metal, contact me and I will pass along his number. I have no financial
interest, just a very satisfied and amazed client.

    As for the "magic" part. All the lights on my  '53 car work except the
left front "blinker" and I've been trying  to chase down why for years. Well
after Ellery got done bending and  banging on the left rear of my car, the
left front "blinker" is now working  again! Magic! Plus, I swear it's
running better also, but that's another  story.

Steven Kingsbury

BN1 #598

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