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Post by JonW on Apr 28, 2022 5:30:47 GMT 1
Just had a reply. He wants £11,500 for it. That rules me out then. Alex Ive no idea if that sort of money is possible in the UK for a Mk3, but while nice its not 'that nice' I fear. |
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Post by JonW on Apr 28, 2022 5:38:02 GMT 1
Thanks Steve, helpful as always! Just had a message from a TSSC member who has one for sale. There is one other for sale on eBay but it's too cheap. In Glasgow with a Lenham hard top but it has all the wrong bits on it. 1500 lump and a MK2 front end. Jon would love it (sorta)! www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115362238920?hash=item1adc2011c8:g:O2AAAOSwjQtiZ7oXAlex I (sorta) would love that! When I was 18 and bought my first Triumph I used to hang out on a friend of a friends farm (its all houses there now, sigh) just outside Chester. We would weld up cars and messa bout and have fun on bikes and stuff. Ive spoken about it before. He was an older chap and used to do up and sell old cars. He loved Spits and over the year or so I went there to work on my car he had a bunch of them. In fact inside the open sided barn over in the field was a bunch of stood up Spit and GT6 bonnets in a line, probably almost 10 of em plus tubs and all sorts of engines and other parts - a real treasure trove. We used to get parts from there, Ive chatted about it before. One of the cars he had for a while had an Ashley hardtop like the one in this advert. It was cool, but like lots of 60s Brit aftermarket things, totally flawed. The fuel tank neck helped you get gassed and it was totally impractical in use lol. The one in the pic look like it needs a really good clean inside, if only it could talk im sure it would have a gruff voice like its been on 4 packs of B&H a day since Capstan non filters excited the marketplace lol. The Mk2 front end doesnt totally undo it for me since the bumper has been removed, but could be swapped out i guess... the original engine comes with it, but i bet its fuct* as its in bits... * - failed under continuous test |
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Post by JonW on Apr 28, 2022 5:40:29 GMT 1
OH NO!!! f**k it f**k it f**k it. (gathers composure). All may not be lost. The lad on the TSSC forum is in Hove (50 miles away) and has a minter. With a breathed on engine with 110bhp. I am VERY interested. Alex we *need* pics! |
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Post by donkeychomp on Apr 28, 2022 22:00:56 GMT 1
I've just had a lot of pics sent to me via email. It's stunning. He sent detailed pictures of the underneath and it's spotless. Interior is brand new. Hard and soft tops. Twin Dellortos stage three head fast road cam. GT6 brakes and diff. I want it. And I'm going to see it on Thursday!
Alex
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Post by dusty350 on Apr 28, 2022 22:12:57 GMT 1
Woohoo, exciting mate. Is it far away ?  |
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Post by dusty350 on Apr 28, 2022 22:14:36 GMT 1
Just seen Hove !! About an hour from you. Fingers crossed Alex Need to clear your garage  Dusty |
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Post by donkeychomp on Apr 28, 2022 22:54:37 GMT 1
I am very excited! Yes the garage needs clearing. LC comes up here, the other bikes to one side, the antiques need to be gone too. This is all if I can afford the car. I know what he wants for it...and it's more than I have ever paid for any vehicle by 100%. But I can try to haggle...but if he won't budge on the price I have a feeling I'm going to pay him anyway. Maybe I'm finally having a mid life crisis but about 15 years too late! Alex |
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Post by JonW on Apr 28, 2022 23:42:32 GMT 1
haha, superb! This is great news. Like I said here: |
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Post by donkeychomp on Apr 29, 2022 0:00:50 GMT 1
If I could...I would! I'll get some on Thursday and try then Jon.
Alex
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Post by JonW on Apr 29, 2022 0:49:15 GMT 1
If I could...I would! I'll get some on Thursday and try then Jon. Alex Ok, cool. Just thought as he had sent you some you might have some knocking about. I reread what you said and looking around the market Im thinking that a nice fully restored car that is ready to be used this summer without issue would be a good buy really. None of us are getting any younger etc. Keen to hear how the viewing goes |
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Post by JonW on Apr 29, 2022 1:15:15 GMT 1
Just looked at the TSSC forum as I wondered if any of my old cars had been referenced there as I might be able to fill the owners in on their history while in my possession and found zilch which was interesting/sad etc.
What also amazed me is that i reckon a lot of the prices for parts for Triumphs are stuck in the 90s! In a good way of course! Ie A full (manifold back) Bell stainless system with twin boxes is £285! Makes me wonder how on earth we think the prices for our bike exhausts make any sense let alone the GRY stuff where a cat back system is around £2.5k! Anyway I reckon I paid something like £450ish for my Bell stainless manifold and system for my Mk3 in 1993 lol, today is just over £500. Back then I really had to justify that as it was a lot of my salary, today not so much of a worry... and, its a lot of stainless steel for the money! haha.
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Post by veg on Apr 29, 2022 18:10:13 GMT 1
Welcome to the classic British sports car club Alex are you sure you’re ready for it 😁
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Post by donkeychomp on Apr 29, 2022 21:03:08 GMT 1
Thanks for the late welcome Tim! I've owned 6 Spitfires before and other Brit cars too so I am used to the 'quirks' they have. Good thing with the car I'll be seeing is it has electronic ignition. So it'll start, and I find that option quite useful. It sadly doesn't have a twin exhaust but that can be remedied.
Alex
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Post by JonW on Apr 30, 2022 0:08:59 GMT 1
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Post by JonW on Apr 30, 2022 0:16:24 GMT 1
First thoughts: It looks like its overdue a service... the Dellortos are interesting, not something ive experience in... its missing the 'cardboard' engine side covers, but i expect you can still buy them new, they might not fit well under the carbs? I thin they need to be there tho or all manner of shite gets flung up by the wheels... fancy exhausts are cheap to add as I found out this week.
All in all tho, its a nice looking car and he has a bunch of other things, a midget and another spit i think you can see in the pics. I do wonder if those pics are not the most recent, considering the age of the filter and the fact they dont all look like they were done on the same day?
Let us know how you get on, Its the nicest one so far bodywise thats for sure.
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Post by veg on Apr 30, 2022 5:05:01 GMT 1
Lovely looking motor Alex, good luck with the viewing 👍
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Post by dusty350 on Apr 30, 2022 7:56:24 GMT 1
I know nothing about these old cars, but I can see the appeal - looks a lovely example - hope it works out for you Alex And if you need a hand clearing space, give me a shout My brother in law has a Triumph Stag, gently rotting away in his back garden/jungle. He spent a small fortune on it back in the 90's. Gutted to find out recently that the Cr500 that he owned had gone though  Dusty |
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Post by donkeychomp on Apr 30, 2022 20:30:33 GMT 1
 Thanks to a tutorial from Jon I can now add images without copying them from the A/C forum! One of the dash. The entire interior is brand new. When I go to see the car I'll get more pics...and one of the actual Spitfire itself unlike all these close ups! Dusty I may well need a hand in the not too distant future! Alex |
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Post by donkeychomp on Apr 30, 2022 21:02:32 GMT 1
Jon...not sure why you think it needs a service? But yes the inner wheel arch cards are absent. One of my Spits had none either and it made no difference at all. And I drove that in all seasons and weathers!
Alex
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Post by donkeychomp on Apr 30, 2022 22:24:34 GMT 1
Just spotted on eBay a Spitfire 4 (ie the original version) for a whopping £25K. Makes the car I'm after appear cheap by comparison. I keep on trying to talk myself out of this but I still can't come up with a good reason NOT to buy it. For one thing it's an investment and as long as I look after it (and I certainly will!) it'll only increase in value. There are only 282 left on our roads making them rarer than almost anything else out there. If for some awful reason I suddenly need funds...sell it. When I sell Piglet (my Suzuki LJ80 monster truck) and my antiques those funds should cover the cost of buying the Spitfire anyway.
But the most important reason of all is this.
It'll make me very, very happy.
Alex
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Post by veg on Apr 30, 2022 22:50:07 GMT 1
That’s what it’s about Alex, it’s how it makes you feel and if you’re going to gain pleasure and enjoyment and you can afford it, go for it matey. As my old gramps used to tell me, you’re here for a good time not a long time. 👍
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Post by donkeychomp on Apr 30, 2022 23:45:29 GMT 1
A Mantra to live by. Wish I met him. Cheers Tim, that's exactly what I needed to hear.
Alex
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Post by JonW on May 1, 2022 0:27:05 GMT 1
Thats a great Mantra Tim, the man was a sage.
Old cars are like our old bikes and can make you sad, elated, annoyed, ecstatic and fed up all in the same 5mins. lol. Generally they make you Happy (capital H) tho and thats what counts.
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Post by JonW on May 1, 2022 0:40:47 GMT 1
Jon...not sure why you think it needs a service? But yes the inner wheel arch cards are absent. One of my Spits had none either and it made no difference at all. And I drove that in all seasons and weathers! Alex The oil filter had the date the oil was changed on it, 08-08-15. No worries if youre cool without the engine guards, I found it made the engine pretty messy from stuff thrown up from the wheels in winter or when sliding about on dirt lol |
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Post by lcmarky on May 1, 2022 9:21:43 GMT 1
Looks nice. In my experience what you want isn't necessarily what someone else wants, so unless it's a concourse build they will differ. I started with my 4a as a really good body & chassis - everything else can be bolted on pretty much.
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Post by markhoopy on May 1, 2022 12:08:01 GMT 1
All in all tho, its a nice looking car and he has a bunch of other things, a midget and another spit i think you can see in the pics. And a Dolomite Sprint too, out on the road.  |
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Post by JonW on May 1, 2022 14:14:58 GMT 1
On tenterhooks here... Did you buy it Alex?!?!
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Post by veg on May 1, 2022 16:34:52 GMT 1
He probably razzing around as we speak, silk polka dot scarf, packet of craven A fags and a dunhill lighter. Ding dong Alex 👍
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Post by Gitram on May 1, 2022 18:42:36 GMT 1
have you bought it then..?
marti
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Post by donkeychomp on May 1, 2022 21:18:38 GMT 1
Woah! Going to see it on Thursday lol.
I'm amazed at what some of you have spotted that I didn't. The oil filter was a good one. Might be a small bargaining chip. And the engine cards. He does have a pair of rear bumpers but I suspect the reason they are not fitted is that they're rusty or pitted. I know what he wants for it but I can haggle a bit and hopefully get it cheaper.
Mental note. I need a silk scarf and a posh lighter. Flat cap I already have! And the ability to say 'ding dong' in a Terry Thomas accent without laughing.
Alex
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