It’s a F***in Great Club!

For the benefit of newer members, here is a piece I published in the Newsletter back in 2013

Tommy Dunne’s Story

I met with Tommy at his house for lunch on 12/6/2013 to look over the work he is doing on the GT6 which he assures me will be ready for Terenure show.

Tommy’s association with Triumph goes way back, in fact his father and Mr McEntagart (of Cashel Road fame) were very good friends and Tommy is able to remember a 1950’s Standard 10 being in the family and later on his dad owned a Triumph 1300 FWD.

In 1968 or 69 Tommy had a Triumph 2000 Mk I which he used for all the family activities and camping holidays, sadly however this car was stolen and written off, and Tommy had to look at the practicalities of an expanding family so a 7 seater Peugeot 504 was acquired for the job. This car was sold and bought back before being replaced by a Mercedes 200, but Tommy didn’t get to sell this car as it was stolen and never recovered – it is assumed that it was dismantled and sent to South Africa for parts. In his stable Tommy also has a Mercedes 280E (in storage as it is not yet a classic) and 2 BMW E30’s, a 91 D and 97 D which have been in the family since new. In 1970 Tommy took part in the Shell Economy Run and won his class in the Triumph 2000 Mk I, he also mentioned that later in the 70’s he owned an early 60’s MGA.

Tommy recalls how he got back into Triumph’s around 1998, two significant things happened, a new neighbour had moved into the area and he had a Herald 13/60, and at a car show in Leopardstown he had met Niall Callery and Martin McGovern who invited him to the next TCOC meeting in O’Shea’s of Clonskeagh – he inadvertently went to the TR Register meeting before quickly realising the error of his ways but has remained true to the TCOC ever since. Tommy was chatting with his neighbour one day admiring the 13/60 and made it known to him that if he was ever selling the car that he would like the opportunity of first refusal. Well time passed and the inevitable happened, the neighbour approached Tommy about the car’s worth and 500Punts later Tommy had acquired the 13/60.

Moving in to the 2000’s and at a show in the RDS, Tommy bought his current project the GT6 from Jack Epstein and successfully completed the TCOC Top to Toe run in aid of Our Lady’s Hospital Charity fundraiser back in 2006. Tommy describes the current work as a rolling restoration. Tommy Dunne’s garage is probably best described as a ‘totally triumph’ place – he has a Herald 13/60, a TR6, a GT6 and literally hanging from the rafters is the frame of a Tiger Cub. The main purpose of the visit was to review the work being done on the GT6 which he reminds me that it was bought knowing this work had to be carried out. To date the GT6 has had a full overhaul of the gearbox and overdrive unit, initial work being done by Alan Egan and Alan Quinn, and completed by Martin McGovern, the overdrive unit was sorted by TD Fitchett in the UK. Last March Tommy was concerned about a noise in the engine area, again Alan Egan identified this as a troublesome valve from the breather pipe. A separate issue of a misplaced bolt sticking on the bodywork causing gear/overdrive selection problems has been sorted, so Tommy was then encouraged to go ahead with the bodywork improvements .

The following pictures demonstrate Tommy’s expertise in metalwork and welding.

Sill restoration - phase 1

How the proper panel should look

Tommy would especially like to thank Martin McGovern, Alan Egan and Alan Quinn for help and input in the past.

He also considers this a rolling restoration for enjoying the potential of the Triumph marque

(It is interesting that the 3 people that Tommy mentions are still enthusiastic contributors to the club which lends huge credibility to the title of this post - Bren Fitz)

Replies

Bren Walls March 7, 2024 at 11:53pm

Excellent article, TRBren, speaks volumes on the man.

pibren
Bren Fitz March 7, 2024 at 6:30pm

For the benefit of newer members, here is a piece I published in the Newsletter back in 2013

Tommy Dunne’s Story

I met with Tommy at his house for lunch on 12/6/2013 to look over the work he is doing on the GT6 which he assures me will be ready for Terenure show.

            Tommy’s association with Triumph goes way back, in fact his father and Mr McEntagart (of Cashel Road fame) were very good friends and Tommy is able to remember a 1950’s Standard 10 being in the family and later on his dad owned a Triumph 1300 FWD.

            In 1968 or 69 Tommy had a Triumph 2000 Mk I which he used for all the family activities and camping holidays, sadly however this car was stolen and written off, and Tommy had to look at the practicalities of an expanding family so a 7 seater Peugeot 504 was acquired for the job. This car was sold and bought back before being replaced by a Mercedes 200, but Tommy didn’t get to sell this car as it was stolen and never recovered – it is assumed that it was dismantled and sent to South Africa for parts. In his stable Tommy also has a Mercedes 280E (in storage as it is not yet a classic) and 2 BMW E30’s, a 91 D and 97 D which have been in the family since new. In 1970 Tommy took part in the Shell Economy Run and won his class in the Triumph 2000 Mk I, he also mentioned that later in the 70’s he owned an early 60’s MGA.

            Tommy recalls how he got back into Triumph’s around 1998, two significant things happened, a new neighbour had moved into the area and he had a Herald 13/60, and at a car show in Leopardstown he had met Niall Callery and Martin McGovern who invited him to the next TCOC meeting in O’Shea’s of Clonskeagh – he inadvertently went to the TR Register meeting before quickly realising the error of his ways but has remained true to the TCOC ever since. Tommy was chatting with his neighbour one day admiring the 13/60 and made it known to him that if he was ever selling the car that he would like the opportunity of first refusal. Well time passed and the inevitable happened, the neighbour approached Tommy about the car’s worth and 500Punts later Tommy had acquired the 13/60.

            Moving in to the 2000’s and at a show in the RDS, Tommy bought his current project the GT6 from Jack Epstein and successfully completed the TCOC Top to Toe run in aid of Our Lady’s Hospital Charity fundraiser back in 2006. Tommy describes the current work as a rolling restoration. Tommy Dunne’s garage is probably best described as a ‘totally triumph’ place – he has a Herald 13/60, a TR6, a GT6 and literally hanging from the rafters is the frame of a Tiger Cub. The main purpose of the visit was to review the work being done on the GT6 which he reminds me that it was bought knowing this work had to be carried out. To date the GT6 has had a full overhaul of the gearbox and overdrive unit, initial work being done by Alan Egan and Alan Quinn, and completed by Martin McGovern, the overdrive unit was sorted by TD Fitchett in the UK. Last March Tommy was concerned about a noise in the engine area, again Alan Egan identified this as a troublesome valve from the breather pipe. A separate issue of a misplaced bolt sticking on the bodywork causing gear/overdrive selection problems has been sorted, so Tommy was then encouraged to go ahead with the bodywork improvements .



The following pictures demonstrate Tommy’s expertise in metalwork and welding.

    Sill restoration - phase 1

How the proper panel should look



Tommy would especially like to thank Martin McGovern, Alan Egan and Alan Quinn for help and input in the past.

He also considers this a rolling restoration for enjoying the potential of the Triumph marque

(It is interesting that the 3 people that Tommy mentions are still enthusiastic contributors to the club which lends huge credibility to the title of this post - Bren Fitz)
Patrick Duffy March 7, 2024 at 11:29am

Tis a good un! Must try get around to see him soon.

Also, love the oppenheimer's whiteboard to the left😄
Bren Walls March 7, 2024 at 10:11am

Excellent, DC - tell Derek PiBren said a big hi to Granda!
- Derek Carroll > Bren Walls March 7, 2024 at 4:22pm
  
  Told him to pass on our best wishes to Tommy. Derek said he's grand still giving out 😀
Derek Carroll March 7, 2024 at 10:05am

Tommy's grandson Derek driving our shunter. Good driver too .
- Patrick Duffy > Derek Carroll March 7, 2024 at 11:31am
  
  Class! That lad is a truck fanatic! Sound fella

This reply was deleted.