The bodies were assembled, fitted and painted at the Jensen works. We know
from a number of period photos showing the Hundred body shells being fitted
up prior to paint, that most of the panels were simply in a poor cheap
primer at that point. This would indicate that the individual panels were
not prepainted at all prior to assembly of the body shell. This is also in
evidence each time we have the opportunity to dismantle an original car. All
the inner surfaces tend to fade away from the spraying that could reach
inside the assembled shells, to areas that simply faded from colour to
primer. (i.e paint coverage near an open wheel arch that fades to no paint
further in). In addition when dismantling an original car, there is no paint
colour beneath mounting flanges, hinges, etc.
Thinking about this one step further, the body fasteners that were open and
easy to reach with the spraying equipment, received the body colour as well.
There was a significant change to painting methods that were highlighted in
a British trade paper dated early 1957, showing a then new "state of the
art" painting line and facility at Jensens that seemed to be in full use by
early 1956. The body shells coming down the line in the feature photos were
BN2's, with some of them showing duotone paint schemes.
Interestingly this coincides with my Hundred Registry records that show
about every 5th car or so coming through with duotone paintwork beginning in
early 1956.
Rich Chrysler
--------------------------------------------------
From: "S and T Miller" <stmiller96@hotmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 6:47 PM
To: <healeys@autox.team.net>
Subject: [Healeys] AH factory paint process?
> Exactly how were the cars painted at the factory? Were the fenders/
> shrouds
> painted on the inside prior to fitting and then the exterior (fitted body)
> painted? I would assume the boot, bonnet, splash pan (where applic.), and
> doors were painted separately. Did the process change during the years?
> Did
> they always use the red oxide color primer?
>
> The Millers
> "British Car Nuts"
>
> 1957 Austin Healey 100-6 BN4 35299
>
> 1959 Austin Healey 100-6 BN4 77219
>
> 1964 MGB 40841
>
> 1960 Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite AN5 34351
>
> "Always drive them, but remember each drive in an antique car is a test
> drive."
>
>
>
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