[Healeys] Parts is Parts; was: Re: Missing under Load

Bob Spidell bspidell at comcast.net
Thu Jun 4 12:28:04 MDT 2015


Michael, 

Someone, somewhere, will appreciate your horn rims. 

When restoring our BN2, I heard the aftermarket rear reflectors--the ones on the 'plinths'--were different than original. Don't remember how, exactly, but a connoisseur of Healeys--think the late Rich C. or Curtis A. (still around, I hope)--would know. There was a man, I think he was a lurker on this List, who was making them from scratch. He was retired from Pratt & Whitney Propulsion--yep, an honest-to-god rocket scientist--who was making them as a hobby. He made custom molds for the rubber 'grommets,' exactly replicated the chrome rims--in brass--and had them plated to perfection, and sourced original Lucas reflector lenses from somewhere. I bought a pair, for $125 or thereabouts, and was glad to get them; after all, this was a genuine 'factory' 100M bought for ... well, you don't want to know. Last I heard he was studying steering boxes in order to create a new, scientifically-designed worm gear that would eliminate most play (maybe D. Welsh beat him to it). 

Bob 


Bob I could not agree with you more! 
The horn rims that I have had made are a prefect case in point. 
http://www.netbug.net/blogmichael/?p=1335 
I have had many many inquiries from owners interested in them but when they hear that they will cost $89 each including shipping I frequently hear back that there is a UK supplier who sells them for less. 
The rims from across the pond are for made for an earlier model horn, will fit with a bit of work and with shipping in they cost a few dollars less however, they are "made to a price" and actually really don't look correct, but that is where the money goes. 
As the saying goes...."You get what you pay for." 
The car that I have just finished has a very large proportion of restored used parts in it because I have found that it is easier to replicate an original by starting with one. 
Michael S 
BN1 #174 



On Thu, Jun 4, 2015 at 11:21 AM, Bob Spidell < bspidell at comcast.net > wrote: 



In defense of Moss--sort of--like any business they try to offer what their customers want. Face it, most people buy on price (even classic car fanatics). I have had extensive conversations with Moss people--Michael Grant in particular--and they would love to provide perfect quality at WalMart prices, but they are at the mercy of their suppliers and customers (although it appears they are starting to manufacture some parts, like upholstery and brake parts). They are also offering different grades of quality; Kilmartin vs. No-Name sheet-metal, for instance. The abject failure of WalMart to make a profit proves people want quality at any cost (NOT). 

I'll recite again the conversation I had with a local, small, LBC parts supplier. He had a NOS Big Healey front bumper--he wanted $300 for it--and no one would buy it, preferring the crappy, flimsy off-brand versions at about $100. Then, the people who bought the cheap bumpers bitched about the quality. 

Bob 










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