DEDICATION
This blog is dedicated to the restoration of the Austin Healey 3000...among the most desirable of all British sports cars.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
PAINTING THE HARDTOP SHELL
The major repairs are complete on the hardtop shell. Previously, John had applied fiberglass resin to the topside of the shell.
Today he applied several heavy coats of urethane primer to the topside of the shell. Blocking and possibly more primer will happen tomorrow in preparation of final painting on Monday. The top will be painted Old English White to match the "coves" on the car.
Later...
Tom McCurry
Tommy's Topless Cars
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
HARDTOP STRUCTURE IS FINISHED
The hardtop frame was a bit "blemished" to say the least. We have straightened, welded and filled all the imperfections. Today, John applied the finish paint.
The paint closely resembles the original finish.
Tomorrow, we will be applying the gel coat to the shell.
Stay tuned...
Tom McCurry
Tommy's Topless Cars
Thursday, December 13, 2012
HARDTOP RESTORATION CONTINUES
Tim asked that we complete the hardtop by spring so we are "working it in" among the other projects in the shop.
In the photo to the left, you will notice the aluminum frame has been primed and fitted to the hardtop shell just to confirm the "fit". It was necessary to straighten the frame and actually weld a fracture near the rear mounting bracket. We have a great fit...all is well.
Two more coats of resin have been applied to the topside of the shell in order to preserve the structural integrity. With the application of fiberglass cloth and resin to the underside, the top is now ready to block and prime and paint.
Later...
Tom McCurry
Tommy's Topless Cars
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
TOMMY'S TOPLESS CARS AND ME
You haven't seen much of me in this blog...I was always the one taking the photos. But be certain, I was there every day. I thoroughly enjoyed restoring Tim's Healey. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to accomplish my dream...to launch Tommy's Topless Cars.
As a kid, I was always interested in cars, especially convertibles. I enjoyed the wind blowing through my hair. Now most of my hair is gone, but I still enjoy the wind. At some point in my life I planned to own a company that bought, restored and sold convertible sports cars. It took over fifty years to realize the dream, but I finally did it with the help of some very talented, dedicated people.
When Tim asked me to restore his Healey, I was so excited and that excitement never dissipated. As the restoration progressed and more and more people seemed to be genuinely impressed with the quality of the work, I began to ask myself why I hadn't made this my life's work.
Our goal was to complete the car by November 2, 2012 and enter it in the Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance. To my delight, this beautiful car won two awards on Saturday; the Chairman's Parade Award and the People's Choice Award. All our efforts had been rewarded handsomely.
A special thanks to my team. Great job guys!
What's next for Tommy's Topless Cars? We have a few MGBs in various stages of completion in our shop and we put them aside temporarily in order to finish Tim's car. Now we can focus our efforts on them. However, we are continuously searching for our next major rotisserie restoration candidate, whether it is a contract job or just for the joy of it. If you own a car that you would like to have restored, we would like to be considered for the job. Obviously, we have the expertise. If any of my readers are aware of a unique British car that is in need of full restoration, contact me at tommystoplesscars@yahoo.com.
I remain...
Tom McCurry
Tommy's Topless Cars
Monday, December 10, 2012
SPECIAL THANKS TO MY WIFE
My wife Sandy has always been supportive of all my endeavors. The restoration of Tim's Big Healey required a great deal of my time. I worked at least six days per week, 10 or 12 hours per day for 10 months. Yet, her only concern was that I was pushing myself beyond my physical capabilities. I don't know, maybe she was enjoying the "break".
At any rate, Sandy was always ready to help in any way she could. She ran errands for me, accepted part deliveries, brought lunches by the shop and prepared many, many late night meals. She never complained. She was always interested in the progress of the restoration and often proof-read my blog posts. In short, I am blessed.
Thank you Sandy, for always being in my corner.
Tom McCurry
Tommy's Topless Cars
Sunday, December 9, 2012
INTRODUCING BILL MOORE
Bill Moore has been a good friend for several years now. I dare say Bill is not as afflicted with British sports cars as some of the rest of us, but he is a motor head and we do stick together.
Bill was in charge of parts cleaning for Tommy's Topless Cars. It is certainly not the most desirable job in a restoration, but it is very necessary.
Bill was a good match for this job because he is a very patient individual. He would degrease, wire brush and sandblast until every speck of old paint and rust was completely removed. He would not release the part for painting until it was perfectly clean.
Bill also helped strip the original finish from the chassis and various body parts...yet another grueling job.
Bill also missed the final photo shoot due to a scheduling issue.
Bill, you should be very proud of the work you did on Tim's Healey. Without your attention to detail, it would not be the "show winner" that it is.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
INTRODUCING DON HURST
Don and I have known one another for over fifty years. We attended the same high school and shared many interests...among them, British sports cars. And you know what happens when you become afflicted with British sports cars. At any rate, shortly after I was awarded the contract to restore Tim's Big Healey, I asked Don to work with me for the duration of the restoration.
The project began late December of 2011 and was completed at 8 pm November 2, 2012, the night before the Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance. Don was faithful to the project and his knowledge of British sports cars was appreciated on a daily basis.
Rotisserie restorations involve many jobs that are somewhat less than exciting and Don was involved in most of them. His willingness to accomplish the necessary was greatly appreciated.
His knowledge of automotive mechanics and manufacturing processes made him a natural for this project.
Due to a family emergency, Don could not attend the final photo shoot. But his fingerprints are all over this beautiful Healey. Thanks Don for your expertise and dedication.
Tom McCurry
Tommy's Topless Cars
Friday, December 7, 2012
INTRODUCING GUS CHRISTOPHER
Interior kits, for the most part, are usually a satisfactory fit. In this case, it was lacking. The workmanship left much to be desired and the patterns were also "off" a bit. But when you have an artist such as Gus on your team, there is less reason for concern. Gus Christopher is in charge of interior finishes for Tommy's Topless Cars.
The original was, to be kind, very tired. Every panel and cover required replacement.
Tim ordered a custom kit which included carpeting and upholstery.
As Gus began to install the seat upholstery, irregularities became apparent. The carpeting was also mis-sized. But not to worry, we have Gus.
We ordered new carpeting and custom fitted it to the car. Gus spent a great deal of time re-sewing and fitting the leather seat covers.
Take particular notice of the carpeting on the transmission tunnel. That is one piece of carpeting...an impressive piece of work.
The finished product speaks for itself.
Thanks Gus, for the great job. You are a true craftsman.
Gus Christopher of Auto Connections
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
843-338-6053*****carautoconnections@yahoo.com
Tom McCurry
Tommy's Topless Cars
Thursday, December 6, 2012
INTRODUCING JOHN SAARLOOS
I have always said that a painter can make a good job look bad or a bad job look good. In this case, John Saarloos has made a great job look even better. John is in charge of paint and bodywork for Tommy's Topless Cars.
John is the most meticulous paint and body man that I have ever known. His workmanship and attention to detail separate him from all others in his field.
The body and frame was completely stripped and primed with PPG epoxy primer.
The body has been blocked and primed so many times that I have lost count. But this process is the only way you can create a perfectly straight surface. Quality paintwork is all relative to the time spent on surface preparation.
The body was also blocked again and again between finish coats.
The result is a finish that requires no apologies. There are no scratches, dents, blemishes or imperfections of any kind.
The only problem with owning a car with perfect paintwork is that first scratch, that first rock chip or that dreaded door ding. When it happens, I hope no one tells John.
Thank you John for all your hard work and dedication to this beautiful Healey.
Tom McCurry
Tommy's Topless Cars
Tom McCurry
Tommy's Topless Cars
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
INTRODUCING PAXTON PEARSON
It is difficult these days to find people who take pride in their work. I have come to realize that the craftsmen are a dying breed. But there are always exceptions...Paxton Pearson.
I have been associated with Paxton for a couple of years now and the more I learn about him, the more impressed I become. Paxton is in charge of metal fabrication and welding for Tommy's Topless Cars.
When we began work on the Healey, we saw evidence of rust all along the lower sections of the doors, rockers and fenders.
Removing the layers of rusted metal exposed a rusted framework.
Paxton, with much attention to detail, reconstructed the latch pillar, wheel house and rocker panel. They were all in perfect alignment.
Beautiful work! You would never know this car had ever been rusty.
Congratulations Paxton, on a job well done.
Tom McCurry
Tommy's Topless Cars
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
HARDTOP RESTORATION PROGRESSES
The restoration of the hardtop is going very well. Today, I assembled the aluminum frame just to make sure it still fit together properly after it was straightened. It fits very well, however, there are a large number of minor defects in the aluminum that we must address. We will be painting the frame with automotive grade aluminum paint and clear coat. This coating will closely resemble the original anodized aluminum finish.
John made the necessary repairs to the fiberglass top today. As I mentioned previously, there were many stress cracks. John laid cloth and resin on the weak areas on the underneath side. He also repaired the cracked fins around the side window openings. Tomorrow, the gelcoat will be applied to the topside.
The archive listing of this blog contains detailed step-by-step photos and narratives regarding this restoration since it began late last December. Please direct any comments and questions to tommystoplesscars@yahoo.com.
Stay tuned...
Tom McCurry
Materials and equipment purchased from:
Moss Motors (mossmotors.com)
Victoria British (victoriabritish.com)
Eastwood (eastwood.com)
The Roadster Factory (the-roadster-factory.com)
English Parts (englishparts.com)
Napa Auto Parts (napaonline.com)
Apple Hydraulics (applehydraulics.com)
Coker Tire (cokertire.com)
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