I LOVE THE SMELL OF DISMANTLING IN THE MORNING …

… it smells like victory.  And also restoration.  A restoration has its own special smell.

Work continues to strip the RHD BN2 Le Mans for the body-paint shop.  We’re taking it down to every last nut, bolt, screw and clip, and any other loose parts that we can pry off the chassis.

Once we made the decision to go this far, we thought we’d might as well do it to concours standards, and we’re finding lots of original parts and hardware as we go – we’re undoubtedly the first ones to remove these things since it was assembled at Longbridge 65 years ago – and we’re following the sage advice of our departed and much missed friend, Rich Chrysler.

Rich told the story of someone who once commissioned him to restore their Healey, but added, “I don’t need it restored concours.”   I suppose the guy thought that meant he’d pay less, but Rich’s response was classic and is burned into my memory:  “OK, what didn’t you want done right?”

We’ve decided to do everything right.  Should be quite a specimen when we’re finished.  Thanks for the inspiration Rich.