Thread: Which bonnet???

That's the delux bonnet, most common on Station Wagons

Hi Andy , I prefer the older bonnet as the molded bonnet collects water and dust . the molded bonnet looks a bit weird if you ask me.

I put a Series 3 deluxe bonnet on my 2a, just changed the hinges. I had no life or death reason for putting it on, rather than a standard unit. I just thought it looked good. Still do.
On the upside, the extra grip afforded by the rounded overhang makes it a bit easier to lift when the spare's on there.

I'm starting to think I will paint up both bonnets and have a split personality until I decide which one to keep.

Still a long way off though.

Cheers Andy.

The "standard" bonnet with the sharp front edge came with the Series 2. With the Series 2a came the deluxe bonnet in two types, with (MRC2440) and without (MRC2479) the dent for the spare. From 2a on the deluxe bonnet was standard and the earlier bonnet is not listed in my 2a parts book, although all 2a 88s I have seen except station wagons originally had the standard bonnet, as did my (and I believe all) ex-army 109.

The bonnets are fully interchangeable (2,2a,3 except Stage 1), although early standard bonnets had four bolt hinges, whereas the later ones had three bolts (in three of the four holes that the four bolt ones had) with the holes in the right place for the S3 hinges or later S2a hinges.

My 2a currently has the deluxe bonnet, but I am thinking of changing it back, mainly because the spare, when carried on the front, will be a bit lower, improving visibility. The reason I fitted the deluxe is that I had one in better condition, but I have now got a standard one in good condition, just got to paint it the right colour.

John

John

I think that the Aussie built Series 3s actually had the standard bonnet and the station wagons had the Deluxe bonnet although I have seen both on SIIIs and in-fact including the other way around.

Diana

G'day Andy-M

JD was partly right, in England the 2a came with a Deluxe Bonnet, but in Australia, (Australian Production Vehicles) PMC jobbies the bonnet fitted was a Standard Bonnet, the Deluxe was an extra cost item same as the deluxe seats, and door trims every thing was an "Extra" it was not until the later series 3 fully imported Station Wagons, did the Deluxe Bonnet become common so the Blue bonnet is most likely from a Station Wagon, the grille on the green vehicle is that of a late 2a Six Cylinder Vehicle, as the late 2a 4cyl had the checker type mesh, both of these grilles are now becoming rare

cheers

I think Uncle Ho is right, and so is Diana - all the evidence I have seen is that Australian Series 2/2a/3, both 88 and 109, came with the standard bonnet as standard, with the deluxe an extra cost extra - although this may have changed with time, as the deluxe bonnet I have came off a 1981 S3 109 that was sold to a station as a cab/chassis, and I rather doubt that they would have paid extra for a deluxe bonnet (or for that matter the deluxe trim). I suspect that by that time with the competition from Toyota really beginning to bite, a few extras may have become standard, even if only at the dealer level.

John