Against the Wind(shield)

One of the many parts the Austin Healey didn't come was the windshield frame. The windshield frame consists of eight main parts. There are two posts, two post feet (connecting the posts to the body), and four frame components. The only components that came with the car were the two feet.

The beauty of this windshield was its ability to slide down. Its regular position was upright, but it could slide down, giving the car a sleek, racing look.

This windshield design was only used in the first two years of production. The limited number produced, along with the Austin Healey used as racing cars, makes this part difficult to find. In fact, the difficultly in finding a windshield was one of the reasons the previous owner decided to sell it. I called several people who specialized in old British car parts, and all of them had the same response, "that's a hard part to find, good luck." I was able to track a company in Europe that was selling it complete, but they were asking $2,500. Ebay had a listing of just the windshield frame posts, and it sold for over $400.

 As was needed to find this part, I ran into a whole lot of luck. To help in the search for this part, and other parts, I purchased an iPhone app that would search listings on Craigslist nationwide. This search pulled up a 1955 Austin Healey BN2 for sale back in Massachusetts I read the description about the car for sale, and the owner had mentioned the car came with an extra windshield frame posts. I quickly called and asked him if he would sell just the windshield frame posts. Unfortunately, he had someone already commit to buying the car, but he would ask the potential new owner if he wanted the extra windshield frame.

My persistence paid off. After multiple calls over several weeks, the owner decided to sell me windshield frame. In addition to that good news, he also said he was able to dig up the other components I needed. In other words, he had everything I was looking for and for a price that was significantly lower that I could ever imagine! He sent it, and I paid for in (in that order). Much like a kid on Christmas, I was excited to open up the package the day it came in the mail.

They need to be re-chromed/repainted, but, overall, they are in great condition. Finding them relatively easy took a huge burden off me in the journey to restore this car. Now all the pieces (pun intended) are beginning to come together.