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answerman Member
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Hey everyone... no hurry on an answer since I don't expect that 16173 will be ready for paint till closer to spring, but something I've been wondering about... Is there an authentic color scheme? I've seen differing opinions on the pictures I've seen. It seems like a large number of the Jensen Healeys have blacked out headlight pods, and also a black rear panel (surrounding the taillights). Mine, which has been repainted by one of the POs, does not have the black in the headlight pods, but does have the black rear panel. Just wondering when it comes time to paint... not that Ms. Jenavieve will be 100% original, but I'd like to at least try to stay with the program. |
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Jensen Healey Super Moderator 
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The '74's and 75's had the headlight black but no cars came with the black rear end, afaik. Kurt |
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Robert Janca Member
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My 1972 has the black rear and headlights. They are sprayed with the same tar based goop and seem to be original. I scraped all of that nastiness off and resprayed them with a single stage truck bed liner. It looks exactly the same in texture and color, but it is much more durable. The old stuff could actually be liquefied with alcohol and a rag. It took far less time to redo the tail than it did to tape and spray the headlight surrounds. |
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James Sohl Member
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Super Moderator is correct. No original North American Jensen Healeys (and quite probably all Jensen Healeys) had a black rear panel. Most of the credit for a black, or very dark grey tail light panel goes to the TR6. As I recall from the old message board, the Mk I headlight cowl was all body color. The change to flat black was possibly for one or both of two issues: 1) esthetics, black looked better; and 2) the wide beam of the headlights reflected up off the relatively flat area just in front of the headlight. An unusual effect when driving under trees or through a tunnel! |
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Robert Janca Member
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Interesting, that makes it even more peculiar that there is only reddish primer under the black tail of my car. The remainder of the car was originally the turquoise blue color common to 1972. This color is visible inside the door panels, trunk etc...but under the black there is no trace of it. Perhaps someone took the time to grind it all off before spraying the black stuff on...but that does seem rather odd. |
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Jensen Healey Super Moderator
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Robert, I don't think the factory used any "tar based goop" on the headlight nacelles. They would have been painted with lacquer which will not dissolve in alcohol. I painted the rear of my car semi gloss black due to damage behind the license plate. I like the look even though it's not original. http://jhppg.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=31359 |
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Robert Janca Member
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Undoubtedly you both know better than I do. I am just surprised that someone took the time to remove all of the original, paint before spraying this textured black material on many years ago. |
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Art DeKneef Member
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To each their own. You'll see that all of us have different ideas on what to do to our cars. My feeling is do what you want and enjoy driving the car. |
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Robert Janca Member
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Very true Art. To me it is no contest. The contrast of the black tail on a grey car with a black removable hardtop looks very sharp. Removing the black would definitely take away from the sharp lines I see when I look at my car. |
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answerman Member
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Well, since it sounds like a lack of consensus among current paint jobs, I think I'm going to go with the black rear end (because it does look sharp) and not blacking out the headlight pods. I know it was original, but it just doesn't look right to me. |
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