Its a Triumph, Spitfire...
Discussion
I did have some stuff about this in the GG thread about retro cars, but though it deserves its own thread to document it.
Last Friday I was pottering outside and my neighbour said hello, we got chatting and as the local "car bloke", he asked me what he should do with a 1977 Triumph Spitfire. I made some suggestions and said I would ask round.
I resumed my top level pottering, alternating between garden and car tasks, and this is the key bit, I also opened a can of beer.
My eldest son rang to arrange collection of my Jag XJ, which he was borrowing the following to take him and his mates up to Scotland for a few days, I jokingly said "You dont want a Triumph Spitfire do you", and I should have know that he would, he has form, he has a slightly crusty 1990s Mini in his Garage ready for renovation which is on hold whilst he finishes his workshop (built from scratch mainly by himself) We went halves on it as a joint project.
So, I, emboldened by my second can I went round to see what the score was and we agreed a price, they had a think and the following morning he appeared at the door clutching the documentation. Its been in their family since the eighties so quite a wrench but they dont have a garage and have a few cars, so space is at a premium and this would just deteriorate so it makes sense to let it go, he did say they may be getting a more modern replacement.
I drove it the 10 metres or so home and sent the money over, now the owner of a 1977 Triumph Spitfire, resplendent in Java Green, initial buyers remorse turned into determination to get it so its usable.
I am holding off digging too far into it yet, spent last Saturday cleaning it but have a friend coming who knows old British stuff quite well and want him to cast his eye over it.
Have done a few jobs,
Replaced the carb link pipe rubber hoses which were weeping.
Re plumbed the breather pipes.
Drilled the boot lock out, couldnt get in it for love nor money.
Painted the air box
Polished one carb
Loads to do
Go through the brakes
Service
Change Coolant, looks grim.
Check the rest of the fuel pipes
Get it running better, struggles to idle
Replace the 20 plus year old front tyres
Change a Ball joint on the front drivers side
Fit a new boot lock
Sort the bits of rust
Sort the paperwork so its "historic"
Maybe replace the dampers
Get a decent cover, it came with a Smart Roadster one
Replace the hood
Will do a big order of all the bits from Moss this week, total spend so far is £9.38 on Fuel hose and clamps.
Typical that the decent weather disappeared when we bought it !
I wasnt looking to buy a classic, probably wouldnt have been a Spitfire but I am loving doing jobs on it and everyone seems quite taken with it, was expecting my wife to hate it but she is really keen. Dont think it will ever be a concourse one as it has a few bubbles on the body but it can be a good, usable example with a bit of work.
Photos to follow
Last Friday I was pottering outside and my neighbour said hello, we got chatting and as the local "car bloke", he asked me what he should do with a 1977 Triumph Spitfire. I made some suggestions and said I would ask round.
I resumed my top level pottering, alternating between garden and car tasks, and this is the key bit, I also opened a can of beer.
My eldest son rang to arrange collection of my Jag XJ, which he was borrowing the following to take him and his mates up to Scotland for a few days, I jokingly said "You dont want a Triumph Spitfire do you", and I should have know that he would, he has form, he has a slightly crusty 1990s Mini in his Garage ready for renovation which is on hold whilst he finishes his workshop (built from scratch mainly by himself) We went halves on it as a joint project.
So, I, emboldened by my second can I went round to see what the score was and we agreed a price, they had a think and the following morning he appeared at the door clutching the documentation. Its been in their family since the eighties so quite a wrench but they dont have a garage and have a few cars, so space is at a premium and this would just deteriorate so it makes sense to let it go, he did say they may be getting a more modern replacement.
I drove it the 10 metres or so home and sent the money over, now the owner of a 1977 Triumph Spitfire, resplendent in Java Green, initial buyers remorse turned into determination to get it so its usable.
I am holding off digging too far into it yet, spent last Saturday cleaning it but have a friend coming who knows old British stuff quite well and want him to cast his eye over it.
Have done a few jobs,
Replaced the carb link pipe rubber hoses which were weeping.
Re plumbed the breather pipes.
Drilled the boot lock out, couldnt get in it for love nor money.
Painted the air box
Polished one carb
Loads to do
Go through the brakes
Service
Change Coolant, looks grim.
Check the rest of the fuel pipes
Get it running better, struggles to idle
Replace the 20 plus year old front tyres
Change a Ball joint on the front drivers side
Fit a new boot lock
Sort the bits of rust
Sort the paperwork so its "historic"
Maybe replace the dampers
Get a decent cover, it came with a Smart Roadster one
Replace the hood
Will do a big order of all the bits from Moss this week, total spend so far is £9.38 on Fuel hose and clamps.
Typical that the decent weather disappeared when we bought it !
I wasnt looking to buy a classic, probably wouldnt have been a Spitfire but I am loving doing jobs on it and everyone seems quite taken with it, was expecting my wife to hate it but she is really keen. Dont think it will ever be a concourse one as it has a few bubbles on the body but it can be a good, usable example with a bit of work.
Photos to follow
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