Hi Everyone,
Some of you have probably seen some requests for help from me on various Facebook groups. Long story short, bought a 77 1500, my fathers favourite car, for his 50th more than 20 years ago. It was a runner that needed bodywork, which it got and shortly thereafter it stopped running. Various folks have had a go, none have been fully successful. None were really specialists in this type of car either mind you, except one mini specialist in Waterford who had it driving for about a week. Not long after during Covid my father had a stroke and although he can drive the automatic SUV which I bought for him ... he cant get in our out of the Spitfire without difficulty so it is my car now. He has given up on seeing it run again, so needeless to say I am making it my mission to get it on the road.. and I want to try accompish that mission this summer. Sooner the better.
The good:
- Bodywork looks sound
- Tonnes of new parts, almost everything has been replaced at some point with new parts from Rimmer that have never been driven.
- Came with a hardtop (Which is in the original Brooklands Green - the car itself was painted British Racing Green at some stage). The softtop is probably ok. Or at least it was when it was last put up.
The bad.
- It wont run.. when last tried a couple of years ago, it turned over and started. If you held it at about 4000 rpm it would keep going.. if you let it idle it cuts. Someone had a go at timing, which didnt seem to work, new carbs were installed (but I would doubt configured correctly), various pumps, points, distributor parts etc.. Zero difference regardless of what was done, no better, no worse.
- Seats, I remember buying a foam kit and some new covers for him from Rimmer years ago. Looks like one was half installed badly on the passenger side, but he doesnt seem to have gotten very far. I take this to mean that it was less than straightforward. I think / hope I have all the bits on a box, but I might need to find an upholsterer or something to get this done in a hurry. The cabin is basically being used as a storage unit right now for spares. And someone has pulled out what looks to be a cardboard? glove box/tray thing to do something with some electrical fuses or something.
- Paint.. they used the car as a storage rack in the garage in recent years, theres even marks on the driver wing from darts bouncing out of a dartboard. A buff and touch up might do it, but a full respray might be required.
- Has been laid up a bit. Tyres are trashed as a result.
.... and who knows what else.
Long story short, so many folks have had a go at this thing that I would like to sort the "wont run" problem first. Rather than start with a gnarly problem that has stumped far more capable mechanically minded people than me (I am more of a computer guy), I would prefer to trailer it to someone who really, really knows what they are doing and pay for it to get whatever it needs (and then explain to me what that was). Priority is to have the car on the road in some shape or form before the summer is out, whatever that costs and then pick away at aesthetics and smaller jobs myself if I can and try learn as I go. But Id like to start from the position of "operational, viable car" and get to that position as soon as possible
Any recommendations folks for who I could send this car to ?
Replies
Nice to see David out enjoying the car after a long time tucked away in storage.
Kilmore Quay Sept 24
Next big project is a bit less interesting but important in the longer run...build a garage at my own house that can store 2 Triumphs.
Brilliant, that's what it's all about David.
Well done.....keep it between the ditches!
So far its me just driving around at what feels and sounds like 200mph but is actually 40mph. And then going home to collect the next person in the queue whose turn it is to go for a drive.
Still lots of jobs to do, but the motivation to do them just went up a notch. Thanks for the help so far everyone.
.... so about 10 minutes after it landed at Simons house.....
https://youtube.com/shorts/3B_zKwFjqpk
Brilliant, sounds nice.
Now for the hardest part.... dragged out of my fathers garage for the first time in many years and sent off to see the man himself.
They are photogenic things arent they ? Doesnt look anywhere near as good as this in the flesh.
Update : Seat frame welded, repainted, new straps and incompetently re-upholstered and fitted by me..
Well done, that looks good! Right to Repair, go for it!
Niall
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