These questions continually pop up about this style BMC brochure. The
images in this publication are representations and nothing more. These
were pre-production renderings. Some of the images in this publication
are not even photos. For example, to my knowledge, no cars were
delivered with Burgess air cleaners and I've never seen evidence of a
Bugeye with body-color front frame rails and radiator supports.
And when I discuss originality I am referencing personal observations of
original unrestored cars. Responses about what exists on cars that have
passed through numerous owners and have been disassembled and
reassembled in whole or in part are not a reliable basis for examples of
originality, nor does it mean anything to conclude that aspects and
details of one series apply to another series.
And once a car is disassembled and restored, unless the owner can truly
verify the details, the "fingerprints" from the factory are gone. Few
people restore a car to factory original specs. That is because in small
tiny ways, they want to improve certain aspects of the car. How many
people dab their rocker covers with yellow paint as the engine
inspectors did? How many people paint over certain plated mounting bolts
with a brush with black paint? Even fewer miss the bolt and slob black
paint on the body panel. Not every restorer creating an original car
paints the steering arms yellow and then brush-paints-black most of the
arm. Ever see SU H1's with all the various types of plating on the linkages?
Picayune details? To be sure. But there is nothing like looking at an
original car such as Biff's Mk II to see exactly how they rolled-off the
assembly line.
I base my conclusions on observations of original unrestored cars that I
have observed or that have passed through my hands. I only offer these
comments and information for those with any interest in concours level
originality. Those who know me understand my appreciation of it as well
as the fact that I don't preach it and have a great appreciation for
slightly and wholly modified cars such as rotary-engined creations and
Bugzuki's.
As to the question about the first type of sidescreens, I have never
seen a source for these and if anybody comes-up with a shop that is
willing to make them, please post it to the list. I concluded a LONG
time ago that they are just too much of a PITA to sew.
jay fishbein
wallingford, ct
http://home.ix.netcom.com/~type79/ Now, New and Improved
"Do have an unusual day, won't you?" Vivian Stanshall
Robert Duquette wrote:
>Cool! Were the engines ever really that colour?
>
>
>
>>From: Kent McLean <kentmclean@mindspring.com>
>>
>> From the Old Car Manual Project:
>>
>>http://www.tocmp.com/brochures/Austin/1959/Sprite/index.htm
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