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Re: Dark Green/Production Change Point

To: "Elliott, Patrick" <PElliott@attws-wr.swest.attws.com>
Subject: Re: Dark Green/Production Change Point
From: "Doug Ingram" <dougi@home.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 1999 22:49:19 -0800
Reply-to: "Doug Ingram" <dougi@home.com>
Sender: owner-spridgets@autox.team.net
Yeah, I suppose we do get carried away sometimes........ but it is fun to
consider and make such a big deal about all these innocuous things that
happened 40 or so years ago. I often think what would have been said on the
Abingdon line if one of the assemblers had predicted to the others that
great debates would occur in the future over their every move.......

Doug Ingram
Victoria BC
1958 Frogeye
AN5L/636


-----Original Message-----
From: Elliott, Patrick <PElliott@attws-wr.swest.attws.com>
To: Spridget List <spridgets@autox.team.net>; 'Doug Ingram' <dougi@home.com>
Date: Tuesday, March 09, 1999 10:10 PM
Subject: RE: Dark Green/Production Change Point


>Yes, true, but the real question is.... What's the closest Rustoleam spray
>can color to this? And do I have to bake it in the oven, while my wife is
at
>work? And can Toby get this color in a Quality polo shirt with a giant "@"
>right smack in the middle that I can where while bowling or curling
>depending on the weather?
>
> Is this close in shade to the military grade Duct / Duck / Racers /
>Tennessee Body working / miracle tape??
>
>
>
>Just poking fun at the retentive types....... :-).
>
>
>
>> ----------
>> From: Doug Ingram[SMTP:dougi@home.com]
>> Reply To: Doug Ingram
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 1999 9:32 PM
>> To: Spridget List
>> Subject: Re: Dark Green/Production Change Point
>>
>> Semantics indeed. Regardless of the date the car was registered, isn't it
>> appropriate to consider the year of manufacture to be the critical issue?
>> Car #5477 marked the change to the windscreen (although 3 earlier cars
>> also
>> had the changes), and this was in October 1958. Somewhere around 3500
cars
>> were built from that point until the end of the year, and I think they
too
>> legitimately should be referred to as 1958 models. Sometime  in January
>> 1959
>> Leaf Green replaced Dark Green, so there were cars made in 1959 that were
>> originally Dark Green.
>>
>> This also occurs at the other end of production of the Mk 1, which ended
>> in
>> November 1960. Every time I hear of someone who says they have a 1961
>> Bugeye, I want to shout "There's no such thing!!"
>>
>> If I had a car that was registered incorrectly, I would take the BMIHT
>> certificate to the motor licensing office, and insist that the error be
>> corrected. But hey, that's me.......
>>
>> Doug Ingram
>> Victoria BC
>> 1958 Frogeye
>> AN5L/636       - Don't try telling me that my #636 ain't a 58!!
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: TYPE79@ix.netcom.com <TYPE79@ix.netcom.com>
>> To: spridgets@autox.team.net <spridgets@autox.team.net>;
>> bthor@master.adams.com <bthor@master.adams.com>
>> Date: Tuesday, March 09, 1999 8:21 PM
>> Subject: Re: Dark Green/Production Change Point
>>
>>
>> >Brian,
>> >We may just be debating semantics here. I consider "1959" Sprites as
>> being
>> those with the later windshields, in addition to some of the other
post'58
>> improvements.
>> >
>> >I don't own the Dark Green sprite that I referenced. It is owned by a
>> friend who purchased it from the second owner. It is a dead original car.
>> It
>> was always dark green. It has the original interior (take those words
>> literally). It has its original tool kit and factory warranty. It is a
low
>> number car, but I can't find the number quickly tonight.
>> >
>> >Since cars of this period did not have a model year designation until
the
>> time of registration, it is most reasonable that these so-called 1958
Dark
>> Green cars were registered as 1959's. But to reference all of these Dark
>> Green cars as 1958's gives the impression that they carried the early
>> windscreen and other oddities peculiar to the early cars which is not
>> true.
>> >
>> >Again this may be just a matter of semantics, but I have never
considered
>> anything but an early windscreen car a "1958".
>> >
>> >Jay Fishbein, CT
>> >
>> >
>> >On 03/09/99 22:29:51 you wrote:
>> >>
>> >>Jay,
>> >>
>> >>With all due respect, I believe that Herb was correct in stating that
>> Dark
>> >>Green was only available on early AN5's.  According to the
Austin-Healey
>> >>Sprite Service Parts List, Publication Number AKD829, Third Edition.
>> Dark
>> >>Green (GN12) was discontinued at Chassis Number AN5/9926.  Leaf Green
>> >>(GN15) was introduced as a replacement colour at Chassis Number
>> AN5/9927.
>> >>According to Terry Horler's book, Original Sprite and Midget, Chassis
>> >>number AN5/9926 was manufactured in January 1959.  Consequently, this
>> >>colour was only available during the first 10 months of AN5 production.
>> >>
>> >>What is the chassis number of your Dark Green Sprite?  Did you ever
have
>> >>British Motor Heritage document the date of manufacture and build
>> >>specifications of your car?  It would be rather interesting to uncover
a
>> >>car finished in Dark Green from the works after the BMC "Documented"
>> change
>> >>point. Anything is possible!
>> >>
>> >>Brian Thornton
>> >>AN5
>> >>AN9
>> >>
>> >>>>I believe that dark green appeared only on early '58 cars....
>> >>>>herb
>> >>>
>> >>>Herb,
>> >>>With all due respect, this is false. For some reason, the Puddlejumper
>> >>>website has chosen to perpetuate this myth despite the fact that I
>> >>>brought this to Les Myer's attention early on.
>> >>>
>> >>>For any doubters in the audience, I invite you to CT to view an
>> entirely
>> >>>original dark green 1959 complete with original rubber floor mats,
etc.
>> >>>etc.
>> >>>
>> >>>I am still at work and don't have access to my reference materials but
>> I
>> >>>will check those later upon my return to the ranch.
>> >>>
>> >>>Let's at least keep the basic facts straight and not rewrite history.
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>


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