My new car - and previous ones, too....lots of pictures!
Discussion
Well, where do I start. This is going to be picture heavy, that's for sure!
My first car was a 1978 Triumph Dolomite 1850HL, 3 speed manual - it was a lovely car to drive, with a stunning interior and was exceedingly comfortable. It had quite a good rorty exhaust note and was good fun to plough around in. Not quite "Sporting" enough and after 2 years became a bit bored of it.
Just noticed it's on the For Sale section here too - not me selling it, though! It was a great motor that lasted me well, was in a few magazines and turned up on television too a couple of times (Men & Motors, and a documentary called "Poisoned"
.
Next was ABW - a 127BHP Sprint, 4 speed manual overdrive, that I bought blind off eBay and had for the grand total of about two weeks. Very rapid machine that felt well sorted but had some issues.
Then, after a quiet period (in which I was still driving my white one, which I then sold), I bought this:
A 1971 Triumph 1500 FWD. However, this wasn't acceptable - so the car was fitted with the two litre 16 valve from the Dolomite Sprint, along with the whole RWD powertrain, steering, brakes, etc. A fast road cam was installed, Aldon Flamethrower coil, few other tweaks and tunes and estimated output was around 160BHP. It went very well with an excellent rally exhaust note (old Janspeed system), but unfortunately had a few mechanical foibles that required me selling it, as I could no longer work on it (lost the space).
Also had a gorgeous interior, that one!
A quick vid of it, not really balls out, just tootling up the hill - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipSlYzQykvU . There's a few more on there too.
So, I sold that then (wonder how it's getting on!) Next up was something a bit...toy town, but amusing!
A 1500SE, one of about 30-40 left (much like my 1850 auto). This is the end of production run 'special', if you could call it that. Straight four, 1.5 litres, 4 speed overdrive box, cruddy interior. Fortunatly, I ripped it out and put a black one in, which suits it much better.
(interior isn't so clean in this one!)
This is now for sale - it's a fantastic drive though, really good laugh on it's skinny tires and revvy engine. Quite comfy too, if a little noisy cruising at 80mph.
AND NOW......for the main show, my newly aquired ride........
Excuse the poor photos, ran out of time for this one............
OK, the interior needs some work and there's a little bit of tidying to do, but still!
The car is fitted (Very professionally!) with a fuel injected Rover 3.5EFI, making about 160BHP and 220lb/ft. This drives a 5 speed gearbox with a Sherpa linkage - and it's fantastic. There's literally 1cm of throw between gears, it IS like a rifle bolt and makes a great noise - Ka-chink!
The swirl pot is in the tank, with EFi pump so that's quiee. Exhaust gases exit via a single pipe system, with fresh air coming in from a K&N filter. The radiator is a one-off item and the engine is as far back as possible. Everything works beautifully and the car is the BEST one that I've ever driven.
It also has Spax shocks, uprated springs and goodridge hoses.
Just bought it, got in, fired it up and ploughed the 120 miles home in 3 hours. Felt like ages but we got there in the end........
The cabin is .......requiring work. It's so noisy - but everything is well placed, the pedals have been moved but the travel is bang on and it's got a nice clutch, light accelerator and the brakes work well. The gearstick falls nicely to hand and it's a real pleasure to drive - it really does ride, grip and go nicely - maybe down to the springs and the 205 tyres it is shod with.
Some videos (apologies for the poorness, ran out of time, energy and daylight today. Some better ones will appear later)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs2Erxnc30U
A quick blast, short shifting at about 3000RPM.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSQobrcjVo8
Starting & revving.
The vids don't quite get the noise across!
Best bit? Only another 90 quid on my insurance policy!
So yes, expect to see updates about this ride and see it down the quarter at the 'pod soon!
(can't see any theme in my car history.....will be something different, next time!)
My first car was a 1978 Triumph Dolomite 1850HL, 3 speed manual - it was a lovely car to drive, with a stunning interior and was exceedingly comfortable. It had quite a good rorty exhaust note and was good fun to plough around in. Not quite "Sporting" enough and after 2 years became a bit bored of it.
Just noticed it's on the For Sale section here too - not me selling it, though! It was a great motor that lasted me well, was in a few magazines and turned up on television too a couple of times (Men & Motors, and a documentary called "Poisoned"
. Next was ABW - a 127BHP Sprint, 4 speed manual overdrive, that I bought blind off eBay and had for the grand total of about two weeks. Very rapid machine that felt well sorted but had some issues.
Then, after a quiet period (in which I was still driving my white one, which I then sold), I bought this:
A 1971 Triumph 1500 FWD. However, this wasn't acceptable - so the car was fitted with the two litre 16 valve from the Dolomite Sprint, along with the whole RWD powertrain, steering, brakes, etc. A fast road cam was installed, Aldon Flamethrower coil, few other tweaks and tunes and estimated output was around 160BHP. It went very well with an excellent rally exhaust note (old Janspeed system), but unfortunately had a few mechanical foibles that required me selling it, as I could no longer work on it (lost the space).
Also had a gorgeous interior, that one!
A quick vid of it, not really balls out, just tootling up the hill - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipSlYzQykvU . There's a few more on there too.
So, I sold that then (wonder how it's getting on!) Next up was something a bit...toy town, but amusing!
A 1500SE, one of about 30-40 left (much like my 1850 auto). This is the end of production run 'special', if you could call it that. Straight four, 1.5 litres, 4 speed overdrive box, cruddy interior. Fortunatly, I ripped it out and put a black one in, which suits it much better.
(interior isn't so clean in this one!)
This is now for sale - it's a fantastic drive though, really good laugh on it's skinny tires and revvy engine. Quite comfy too, if a little noisy cruising at 80mph.
AND NOW......for the main show, my newly aquired ride........
Excuse the poor photos, ran out of time for this one............
OK, the interior needs some work and there's a little bit of tidying to do, but still!
The car is fitted (Very professionally!) with a fuel injected Rover 3.5EFI, making about 160BHP and 220lb/ft. This drives a 5 speed gearbox with a Sherpa linkage - and it's fantastic. There's literally 1cm of throw between gears, it IS like a rifle bolt and makes a great noise - Ka-chink!
The swirl pot is in the tank, with EFi pump so that's quiee. Exhaust gases exit via a single pipe system, with fresh air coming in from a K&N filter. The radiator is a one-off item and the engine is as far back as possible. Everything works beautifully and the car is the BEST one that I've ever driven.
It also has Spax shocks, uprated springs and goodridge hoses.
Just bought it, got in, fired it up and ploughed the 120 miles home in 3 hours. Felt like ages but we got there in the end........
The cabin is .......requiring work. It's so noisy - but everything is well placed, the pedals have been moved but the travel is bang on and it's got a nice clutch, light accelerator and the brakes work well. The gearstick falls nicely to hand and it's a real pleasure to drive - it really does ride, grip and go nicely - maybe down to the springs and the 205 tyres it is shod with.
Some videos (apologies for the poorness, ran out of time, energy and daylight today. Some better ones will appear later)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs2Erxnc30U
A quick blast, short shifting at about 3000RPM.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSQobrcjVo8
Starting & revving.
The vids don't quite get the noise across!
Best bit? Only another 90 quid on my insurance policy!
So yes, expect to see updates about this ride and see it down the quarter at the 'pod soon!
(can't see any theme in my car history.....will be something different, next time!)
Edited by LewisK on Tuesday 28th November 14:29
Edited by LewisK on Tuesday 28th November 14:31
Edited by LewisK on Tuesday 28th November 14:33
Great stuff! Thanks for posting.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff