[Healeys] Austin-Healey 6000 Mk III BJ8

[WILLIAM B LAWRENCE]

As opposed to the rough cast iron lumps of old? Generally, with the exception of the top of the market,  the engine bay dress ups were always an after market thing. That is certainly true of the Austin Healey. They were built to a price level and any aesthetic improvements in areas not generally visible to the public were dealer or owner installed options.

The current move to cover everything in plastic is driven by the fact it is a cheap and attractive way to cover up the "naughty bits". And it provides a more modular look to the engine bay while helping to discourage the casual rube who might pick up a wrench and do damage to himself, or an expensive piece of machinery. Shade tree mechanics is not what it used to be...

Bill Lawrence
BN1 #554
________________________________
From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> on behalf of Bruce Steele <healeybruce at roadrunner.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2019 2:59 PM
To: 'Bob Spidell'; healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Austin-Healey 6000 Mk III BJ8


Today’s engines are all fairly rough cast aluminum lumps.  It’s a lot cheaper to just cover up the wiring, hoses and unfinished aluminum.  Finned, polished, and/or chrome rocker covers, artistically designed air cleaner housings, etc. are long past but still make an engine bay, IMHO.



Bruce Steele

Brea, CA

1960 BN7



From: Healeys [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Bob Spidell
Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2019 9:23 PM
To: healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Austin-Healey 6000 Mk III BJ8



Agree wholeheartedly; it's one of the reasons I bought the car (my second Bullitt).

I really don't understand the shift to covering engines with tons of plastic.  Is an engine too intimidating to your average car buyer these days?  Also makes it that much more difficult to work on (maybe that's the point).



On 3/6/2019 1:11 PM, Kees Oudesluijs wrote:

At least that shows the engine in the proper way. So much nicer than all the smooth covers.

Kees Oudesluijs



Op 6-3-2019 om 16:44 schreef Bob Spidell:

"t is also a pity the way the engine looks with all the plastic on top but I suppose you cannot avoid that."

Yes you can:

[cid:image001.jpg at 01D4D4B3.4590F7B0]

On 3/6/2019 1:28 AM, Kees Oudesluijs wrote:

A very nice machine, I love it and it seems to be very well screwed together. It looks spectacular and very neat. Some minor things I definitely do not like: the steering wheel, Moto Lita, black  or  tan leather looks so much better, and the instruments which should be white on black or black on silver SMITHS/JAEGER UK. It is also a pity the way the engine looks with all the plastic on top but I suppose you cannot avoid that.

Kees Oudesluijs





Op 6-3-2019 om 04:04 schreef Patrick & Caroline Quinn:

Hello



Without doubt it’s very well done, but it gives rise to the question on how much of it actually rolled out of the factory in Abingdon.



Very, very little.



Hoo Roo



Patrick Quinn

Blue Mountains, Australia




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