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Austin Healey
jacko - 20/5/12 at 06:19 PM

Hi all can anyone tell me on a Austin Healey 3,000 mk3 is the bonnet steel or alloy
I believe the wings etc are Alloy is this right
Thank You for any help
Jacko

r1_pete - 20/5/12 at 06:28 PM

I'm pretty sure the standard model had steel wings and bonnet.

But, as was the case with E Types, MGB's TRs etc Alloy components were fabricated for lightening race cars.

jacko - 20/5/12 at 06:34 PM

A mate of mine has a bonnet to repair [ he has not seen it yet ] but i told him it could be alloy should have seen his face
I remember watching my father repairing a Healey that had rolled over many many years ago and thought it was Aluminium
Jacko

r1_pete - 20/5/12 at 06:42 PM

Yes, it could be either, is he getting access to the car as well to check the fit as he repairs it?

The bonnet is surrounded by another single piece of bodywork, which the wings etc. bolt to, it forms the scuttle top, part of the wings and the grille surround.

jacko - 20/5/12 at 06:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by r1_pete
Yes, it could be either, is he getting access to the car as well to check the fit as he repairs it?

The bonnet is surrounded by another single piece of bodywork, which the wings etc. bolt to, it forms the scuttle top, part of the wings and the grille surround.


Yes he will have the car too thanks for your info
Graham

johnwilders - 20/5/12 at 08:24 PM

I’m fairly sure the wings & bonnet & boot are steel but the shrouds around the bonnet & the edges boot are aluminium. Have a good look around the edges of the shroud as they corrode where they are sandwiched between the steel of the wings & the inner wings.

BigFaceDave - 20/5/12 at 08:48 PM

Just spoke to my Dad (he had 2 years ago) and he is saying steel. Hope that helps!

Peteff - 20/5/12 at 09:54 PM

The shop next door to my mate's old unit used to restore them and they were aluminium.

Steve Hignett - 20/5/12 at 10:06 PM

In my experience (only worked on two of them) and they were steel.

Chippy - 20/5/12 at 10:14 PM

Guy down the road has one and if the rust thats on the body is anything to go by, its definately steel. HTH Ray

cs3tcr - 20/5/12 at 10:16 PM

The bonnet, wings, doors and boot lid are indeed steel, while the shrouds are in aluminum, at least on standard cars. I spent the better part of my teen years helping restore a 3000 Mk 1.

jacko - 21/5/12 at 04:17 PM

Thank you all for helping after reading all the post's it seems most are steel with a few specials that are aluminium

I will let you know which it is when the car comes in for repair
Jacko

Dave Ashurst - 21/5/12 at 09:20 PM

These guys are just down the road from me. LINK
It might be cheaper to replace the panel. Check out the online catalogue under "outer body panels".