To All,
First of all I would like to offer a public appology to Mr. Andrew Mace
for re-posting a private response to this list. Sorry, it's easy to
forget that whatever we say here goes all over the world, and can be
easily forwarded and reposted (witness the get-well card fiasco from
England).
Secondly, thanks Andy, for reminding us of one of the joys of owning
these cars. It's allways interesting to dig up some bit of history
burried under the layers of paint and grease that accumulate over the
years. Most of our cars come with unknown history and it's like a
treasure hunt every time you remove a piece or sand away some paint. You
never know what you'll find!!
Next I want to share a Herald sighting 8^)
On Saturday afternoon as I was driving to San Francisco on hwy 101, I
got caught up in the traffic jam that starts around Candlestick (aka
3-Com Park). I looked over in the opposite lanes and what did I see
comming towards me but a red Herald convertible!!! I stuck my head out
the window and yelled, but since I was driving my '67 Ford truck I doubt
the driver noticed me. I wonder if it was one of us?? If it was please
let me know, I always like to swap stories and/or parts.
Which brings me to my final reason for posting. I have parts from a '77
Spitfire available for sale or trade. They include all body parts and
trim. Complete original smog equipment (which I'd like to sell as a set
to someone in California who needs it to get through smog check II). And
all the other pieces with the exception of running gear,frame, and front
brakes. I also have some Herald parts I may sell to finance my project.
I'm looking for a dual SU intake manifold for a 1500cc engine, exhaust
header, nylon or urethane bushings, or any other performance parts for
the Spitfire/Herald range.
I can be reached at matthews@sj.bigger.net, or call me at home
(408)986-1819.
Cheers,
John Matthews
'61 Racin' Herald
Andrew Mace wrote:
>
> I made an interesting realization last night on my 948 Herald saloon. I've
> only owned it, oh, 27 years now, and I always sort of wondered why the
> "deck" behind the back seat was white, while the rest of the car was pale
> yellow (a color Mike Costigan notes was not normally found on the 948
> saloon -- apparently except for North America -- but I digress). More
> recently, I'd wondered about what I thought might be a very light grey
> primer under some of the peeling Pale Yellow paint on certain surfaces. I
> always knew the car was yellow originally, as evidenced by the underdash
> area, chassis and underbody, etc. And I knew the first time I ever saw the
> car that it had been resprayed once or twice, given the overspray on many
> rubber bits and the originally Signal Red LHS door and Coffee grille
> surround.
>
> I suddenly put it all together. Since its going to need paint anyway, I
> popped off one of the stainless finisher strips and started scraping
> yellow away carefully with a razor blade. Sure enough, there is Sebring
> White in all the right places -- trunk lid, down the sides of the car just
> above and below the stainless finisher. A "Duo-tone" finish, buried under
> successive resprays of Pale Yellow on all the original body panels! Duh!
> My five- and eight-year-old children were, to say the least, startled to
> see me scraping paint of their favorite car but immediately wanted to help
> with the job. I passed on their offer.
>
> I probably should have noticed this about 23 years ago when I was forced
> to refinish the original bonnet (since retired to a place of honor in the
> barn). However, when I'd first gotten the car, intending it only as a
> parts source for a convertible I'd used to make mincemeat of a Rambler
> wagon's tailgate, the bonnet had long since been repaired (badly) at least
> once or twice -- 1/2" thick bondo around the side lamps.
>
> Since the Sebring White was only a topcoat over the Pale Yellow, I'm sure
> that any trace of white on the bonnet had disappeared as a result of all
> the grinding, hammering and other repairs made. Considering the fact that
> the original Sebring White appears to be a very thin coat over the Pale
> Yellow base, I'm not surprised that none of it survived the repairs to the
> bonnet. It is barely surviving my most delicate attempts to chip away the
> mediocre repaint of perhaps 30 years ago; indeed it appears that most of
> the white reacted chemically with the paint sprayed over it. But having
> buffed a small area of smooth, unblemished Sebring White on the left rear
> quarter, there is no question what I have.
>
> Anyway, that should definitely make for a bright, cheery car when it gets
> painted (a job that will now cost half again as much), but I may have to
> rename "Joseph" -- perhaps to "Daisy"? :-) And I fear I am now doomed to
> seeking out wide whitewall tires for it once restoration is completed!
>
> --Andy
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> * Andrew Mace, President and *
> * 10/Herald/Vitesse (Sports 6) Consultant *
> * Vintage Triumph Register *
> * amace@unix2.nysed.gov *
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>
> p.s. Once the car is on the road again, will I indeed be "Driving Miss
> Daisy"?
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