I recently looked at an SP250 in need of restoration (on which I passed), but there is a curiosity I'd like to hear from the group about. In the attached picture, does anyone know what the 'gill-like' openings are just to the right of the heater box (as viewed in the picture)? On my car, that area is solid, and is where the body tag resides.

Certainly unusual!

Could perhaps be some owners attempt to reduce under - hood (or bonnet to us) temperatures by venting air through the 'gills' and out through the plenum grille? I have seen this area vented to aid cooling on a car before, but not done quite so elegantly.

The picture shows the six rubber hood buffers in place and these are normally adequate to establish a gap between the hood and the body allowing hot air from the engine bay to escape. A problem normally arises when the buffers are mistakenly replaced with a full lip seal around the hood aperture. Maybe in this case the car lived in sunnier part of the USA?

Vortex O'Plinth wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2019 10:46 pm Certainly unusual!

Could perhaps be some owners attempt to reduce under - hood (or bonnet to us) temperatures by venting air through the 'gills' and out through the plenum grille? I have seen this area vented to aid cooling on a car before, but not done quite so elegantly.

You are correct, if it is owner-done, it is a very nice job! Never seen anything quite like it.