Hi John,
All 6 cyl roadster Healeys used a ONE PIECE tonneau rail.
On Longbridge BN4's the bar (14B 7837) fitted over top of two short locating
tubes bolted to the wheelarch. On Abingdon BN4's the tonneau bar (AHB 8395)
got its own large -diameter socket in the welded panel above the wheelarch.
The cranked-leg top bows and the hardtop pegs fitted into the smaller front
socket. This same tonneau bar was carried over to the BT 7 but upon
introduction of the fatter straight-leg top frame the same large-diameter hole
was shared between both top bow leg and tonneau bar. The smaller forward
socket was now hardtop-only.
There is an error in the Clausager "Original" book in that he states (p. 79)
that the same rail was used on the two-seater. The BN 6/ 7 did not have a
tonneau rail at all, the tonneau being supported by the folded and stowed top
frame, which sat slightly proud in its stowage pocket and stirrups.
With the introduction of the convertible BJ 7, a two-piece tonneau bar (AHB
9824/ 5) was used. This was noticeably flatter in profile, and was similar to
the MGB tonneau bar. It lived in its own L-shaped stowage bag made of
Hardura. Thankfully for the first time one was able to stretch the tonneau
cover over the bar and clip it to the heelboard, eliminating the unruly
bunching up and flapping of the 6-cyl roadster's tonneau cover.
Best regards
Peter
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