Great Steaming Bonnets!
Discussion
I was thinking about it on my stop start trip to work today in the MGB GT.
I when you're stuck in traffic in an "older" car it heats up. And in wet weather the whole bonnet can start to steam as the water on it's surface is evaporated.
My old cappuccino was especially good at this, but only from a section about 6"x12" in the middle.
The MG doesn't have any lining on the underside of the bonnet so the whole thing gently steams in the mornings.
Which could look odd to the passing tourist..
I quite like the view through the wisps of steam and the rain... Just saying.
I when you're stuck in traffic in an "older" car it heats up. And in wet weather the whole bonnet can start to steam as the water on it's surface is evaporated.
My old cappuccino was especially good at this, but only from a section about 6"x12" in the middle.
The MG doesn't have any lining on the underside of the bonnet so the whole thing gently steams in the mornings.
Which could look odd to the passing tourist..
I quite like the view through the wisps of steam and the rain... Just saying.
'Know what you mean... Another small delight on a Herald or Vitesse is how the rain flicks off the corners of the "V" bonnet.
I have a similar effect on my Austin to your gently steaming bonnet, the smoke from the engine breather curls out from under the louvres inciting bystanders to inform me that my car is on fire, as it's caused by the wear in the (hideously expensive to rebuild) Jag engine it's not such a pleasant experience.
I have a similar effect on my Austin to your gently steaming bonnet, the smoke from the engine breather curls out from under the louvres inciting bystanders to inform me that my car is on fire, as it's caused by the wear in the (hideously expensive to rebuild) Jag engine it's not such a pleasant experience.
spoodler said:
'Know what you mean... Another small delight on a Herald or Vitesse is how the rain flicks off the corners of the "V" bonnet.
I have a similar effect on my Austin to your gently steaming bonnet, the smoke from the engine breather curls out from under the louvres inciting bystanders to inform me that my car is on fire, as it's caused by the wear in the (hideously expensive to rebuild) Jag engine it's not such a pleasant experience.
Had the same in a 66 Renault R8, the rain collected in the V until you hit a critical speed when it all flew up and hit the windscreen. First time it happened scared the life out of me!I have a similar effect on my Austin to your gently steaming bonnet, the smoke from the engine breather curls out from under the louvres inciting bystanders to inform me that my car is on fire, as it's caused by the wear in the (hideously expensive to rebuild) Jag engine it's not such a pleasant experience.
I know it's not really a classic, but when I first got my Z3 I panicked when I saw wisps of 'steam' come round the bonnet as I drove along...then I realised it was the headlight washers (I'd just squirted the windscreen and the lights were on). I'm always a bit paranoid with a 'new' car but this was a bit OTT even for me. 

Herald (Vitesse), water, steam...............
I modified my Vitesse with a rear radiator, with water hoses going through the driving compartment. One on the hot side let go as I went through Cascades (!) at Oulton. The car filled with condensed steam, which I thought was smoke and that the car had exploded into flames. So did the marshals, who called a fire truck!
Thanks, marshals! If it had been a fire, you would have saved my life!
John
I modified my Vitesse with a rear radiator, with water hoses going through the driving compartment. One on the hot side let go as I went through Cascades (!) at Oulton. The car filled with condensed steam, which I thought was smoke and that the car had exploded into flames. So did the marshals, who called a fire truck!
Thanks, marshals! If it had been a fire, you would have saved my life!
John
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