Healey-Abbott - 1952

Back from the Painters

2010-05-09T11:59:00.000-07:00

The final hurdle is in sight, the car is coming together just waiting for the interior and hood.

The Guys have done a fantastic job on the paintwork.

Cant wait to drive out for lunch in France.

Healey-Abbott - 1952: Halfway through the painting process

2010-03-25T14:31:00.000-07:00

Healey-Abbott - 1952: Halfway through the painting process

Halfway through the painting process

2010-03-25T14:14:00.000-07:00

The Healey halfway through the painting process.

In these pictures the car has had most of the filling work done and the next step is the Primer,

Base coat and then top coat colour : -) getting closer

2010-02-15T04:44:00.000-08:00

The final parts to restore and fit

Engine gearbox, floor panels, interior door panels,
rear interior wood and dashboard.

Last thing will be the front and reat seats

What colour ?

2010-01-19T11:27:00.000-08:00

We went down for the last visit before our wonderful car goes off to the painters, although we do not have to decide now what colour we want Glen did kindly have a few reference books and colour cards for us to look at.

Well Red is a complete no no !!

It is amazing how different Red can look on different cars, Ferrari yes, but not for us.

We then travelled through all the light blues and greens, choosing bags and shoes are so easy compared to choosing a colour for a vintage car, then to make thing even more difficult we need to make sure we compliment the interior leather.

Nicola ponders .........................

You can see it was originally blue, then green...................

Nicola Ponders a little more ................................

2010-01-19T11:08:00.000-08:00

Weld and dress bonnet, front repair panel, refit bonnet & check fit.

Weld new back edge to O/S front wing. Weld unused holes and splits in O/S bonnet slam panel, dress and shape wing mounting flange and check wing fit. !!!!!!!! I bet you are impressed with my knowledge ........................................... words are courtesy of Glen Kingham.

See how those head lights are just wanting to wink at you :-)

Look at those lines

Off to the Painters

2009-12-05T07:25:00.000-08:00

Sanded off corrosion from all front body work, welded splits and cracks in off side and near side doors.

Grind back welds on 'A' posts

Courtesy of Tony, Thank you

2009-09-04T11:33:00.000-07:00

Tony sent me these pictures, I have only just got around to uploading, I keep looking at them hoping they will help with the choice of colour ...............................

Healey AGM Weekend

Pictures at Ashorne Hill.

Popham meeting in May.

Next phase

2009-09-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

Rear ash frame now completed, a mix of new and old rear body panel welded & nailed into place ............

NOW FOR THE FRONT !!!!!

Not so bad here but, some old repairs, accident damage etc to sort out.

Then just the doors and a check of all bright work trim etc nd then we are off to the painters.

Arghhhhhhhhhhhh What Colour shall we choose, Glen says panting it Red makes life difficult if it ever needs a touch up matching the colour !!! or we could stay with racing green thats the colour dad wanted

But ............... I think we should put "Freds girls" stamp on it, he wouldnt expect any less of us :-)

Hood Frame and rear end

2009-09-04T11:09:00.000-07:00

Rear of the car being clad in alliminuim

Hood frame restored and ash section,s replaced.

2009-09-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

Old Petrol Tank and new finished tank

2009-09-04T11:02:00.000-07:00

New petrol tank in stainless steel as the original was very rusty inside and out.

2009-09-04T10:49:00.001-07:00

Dale welding the petrol tank

Inside petrol tank

Petrol Tank tacked together

Engine

2009-09-04T10:42:00.000-07:00

Reassembled engine block, found to be in excellent condition with only 1 broken oil ring.

The Engine is checked

2009-02-24T13:27:00.001-08:00

The engine is now in bits and being checked, Glen assures me all the parts are there :-)

Engine block

Engine block from the other end

It is starting to look like a car again !!

2009-02-24T13:04:00.000-08:00

Assembled boot surround frame & mount, temporarily mounted old hood rail and 'B' posts, adjusted and checked alinment.
Made up off side and near side ash rear wheel arch sections.

2009-02-06T03:03:00.000-08:00

Some major progress with the ash frame.

Rear ash frame, inner wheel arch's and boot floor very nearly finished.

I was a bit late uploading these pictures I have been busy recently.

More to come next week !!!!!

2009-02-06T02:59:00.000-08:00

2009-02-06T02:57:00.000-08:00

Break it Down to build it back up

2009-01-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

It has now been stripped down so that Glen can see exactly what work needs to be done, it no longer looks like a car :-)

More pictures below

2008-12-18T13:37:00.000-08:00

Well,

What a day.

The Abbott was successfully transported from its home of the last eight years to its new temporary home in Swanley, Sad in some ways but so very exciting, we both had smiles on our faces spreading from ear to ear, it al happened so quickly.

Welcome Sam, (Glens assistant)

Tony thankyou for your additional comment on the blog and follow up support, greatly appreciated, Your car looks fantastic.

More pictures of the day below in slide show.

2008-12-11T00:21:00.000-08:00

How exciting, the date of the removal ceremony has been brought forward to Thursday 17th December.

2008-12-09T12:17:00.000-08:00

My Sister Nicola and I are in the process of having our late Father's Healey Abbott renovated. The car has been gathering dust in storage since our Father died in 1994.

Our Father, Fred Rollison, was in the motor trade, semi retiring to run a spares and accessories shop in Jamaica road. Dad (Frank) bought the car in 1970 and started restoring it many years ago, however he was never able to complete the work due to his failing health.

We have decided to complete the restoration as a tribute to his memory.

Ultimately we hope to find a home for the car in a museum for all to enjoy, taking it out only on special occasions such as our children's weddings.

History of the car;

Abbott, 1950-54, 2443cc, convertible, 88 built

First Registered: 9th September 1952

Registration Number : SPD 750

Chassis Number: F3035

Engine Number: F8178

Engine Size: 2443cc

Colour: This is a mystery my father says it was always British Racing Green, although the original log book shows blue with an amendment in 1970 to green.

November 2008 -- The work begins...

We started by researching Healey Abbott, and with the help of the Healey Society were able to locate an expert with the skills necessary to be able to complete the job. Our chosen specialist, Glen Kingham, came to take his first look at the car by torchlight in a dusty, dark garage.

Having seen the state of the car Glen decided that he could complete the task, but it's likely to take up to a year to complete, we decided that it'd be great to keep a log of the progress on this blog and will post a progress report as we go.

The car will be collected on 19th December to go to it's new temporary home in Swanley for the next year when the restoration starts.....