Gary Flinn

Hi Pete Can you compare and measure the new Diff and Mounting plate with your old to see if the front plate is indeed bent slightly on one side? Then maybe a bit of gentle persuasion with a Birmingham screwdriver and a wooden block maybe required😁 Gary

Good luck with it and keep us posted on progress Here's a photo of what it could look like for inspiration☺️ Gary

I enjoyed the day although we had to Queue for 20 minutes or so on the main road from Stoneleigh to get onto site. I didn't see any Vitesse's for sale, although the modified Blue Spitfire in the Main Entrance Hall was fabulous. I also saw three cars parked in the corner of the White Marquee stall which may have been for sale, but no Vitesse's Did anyone see any other cars listed for sale anywhere else? Gary

I think the original earth connection was from the Grease nipple/bolt item 35 on this still to the underside of the Steering Rack 'U' Clamp Item 53/55 nuts. Like Pete says, you need to make sure there is a clean connection to the chassis with the Clamp/Nut, or alternatively use a one of the bolts on the Engine Gary

It's a bit over my Budget!😬

It looks gorgeous with the top up too?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/315140512966?hash=item495fd69cc6:g:g9MAAOSw5uJivGYQ

Pete There is a car in the garage, trouble is it's the Mrs's Nissan Micra!!😁 I'm still looking daily too, another one's appeared on Auto-trader but Red's not one of my Fav colours. PS - I've just renewed my wanted Advert in CCW for about the 12th time! Gary

I just had to share this, it was my birthday yesterday and to my delight the Mrs sorted me a Cake out😊 Marvellous😁 Gary

Colin I'm going in the hope a decent Vitesse Convertible might be for sale, or I may get to hear of one that soon will be? The last few times I've been there are normally a dozen or so cars of all types with for sale signs near the Main Entrance. It's also good to catch up with fellow Triumph Enthusiast too, although N.O.S. parts are getting thinner and thinner on the ground every year. I'll let you know how I get on. Regards Gary

I shall be attending this hoping to find a nice Vitesse for sale and to have a general look around for Triumph Stuff. Anyone else on here going? Gary

Yes, I agree it looks like a Rootes group part for the Alpine or Minx/Rapier range They are quite sought after, it's a shame you don't have a pair. Gary

I always wondered what they looked like? Why oh why don't Newton Commercial remanufacture these, there must be a market for them. Gary

Spotted this on E-Bay for anyone considering restoring a late Vitesse Convertible? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276306093088?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D259707%26meid%3Da67b36802a35483d9c03b9a65e044459%26pid%3D101770%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26itm%3D276306093088%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4375194%26algv%3DRecentlyViewedItemsV2&_trksid=p4375194.c101770.m146925&_trkparms=parentrq%3A5a25875e18d0a8ccb3f39f92ffff3268|pageci%3A6d87ae13-bf63-11ee-a3f0-3aa3bcd1721c|iid%3A1|vlpname%3Avlp_homepage Regards Gary

I've decided not to pursue this particular car, I made an offer (What I thought was a reasonable one bearing in mind the various issues and faults with it) and have been poo pooed by the owner! Weighing everything up, the Block & Crank could well be scrap and I just don't need all the hassle and work that's involved with it at the moment. As stated, I'm hoping more cars will be listed soon as we edge towards Spring/Summer Gary

I went back in August to view a nice Black Vitesse 6 Saloon, it ended up selling for £8K plus premiums which was too much for me. They also had a some Barn find AC's for sale at the time, it was an interesting day out. Gary

Colin I do like the history on the car with one Original buyer, then it became a family owned car for 40+ years (Wife then Husband) within the same village as the current owner, he's got the original bill of sale together with all the M.O.T.'s back to 1976 to prove the mileage which appeals to me (although it's not done the engine any favours!) The bodywork and panel fit are both excellent, which again appeals. I have a budget in mind on what I think an A1+ Vitesse is worth these days and at the moment the guys asking near on what I think an A1+ Car is worth even though mechanically it has numerous faults, the worst being the engine and I believe it needs £3K to £4K minimum spending on it mechanically and no doubt I will find more when I start digging. I've been looking for a decent one now since last July and although unrestored original cars do seem to turn up occasionally (I saw a nice Cherry Red Mk1 2 Litre sell on E-Bay last September for £8k) they are getting rarer. If I didn't have so much on at home with D.I.Y. Projects I may be a bit keener, but I just know when I start working on it I'll end up getting carried away and will want it to be fault free and reliable. I need to have a further think about it, I don't believe he's going to advertise the car for sale properly till spring anyway, so it may well appear on E-Bay or the Car and Classic site then. Another option is to get one that's been fully restored to a good original standard, this may cost more initially but work out cheaper in the long run? PS - I was considering getting a Z3 Last year but have set my heart on another Vitesse now. Gary

The car is excellent bodywork, paintwork and interior wise, but let down by the Engine and general mechanical condition. It's such a shame it's been neglected mechanically as there can't be many with 47K genuine miles and only 4 previous owners left I'm still fighting with my conscious about making an improved offer🤔

If I could get it at the right price I would find the time for sure, I've tried to work out what it would cost me in parts alone and it's adding up to at least £3K I reckon, maybe more if the Engine block is scrap. Gary

Pete Sometimes your Heart starts to rule your head, it's the best one I've seen bodily and the low previous owners and 47K mileage with M.O.T.'s to prove (Although it's not helped the Engine!) are very appealing? I'm hoping more decent ones will be listed over the next few months with spring just around the corner🙂 Gary

I made what I thought was a reasonable offer for the car bearing in mind all the Mechanical issues that need resolving the worse one being the Engine but had a somewhat sarcastic response from the owner! I don't know if to up my offer slightly and say this is my final offer or just move on and continue searching? I could do without all the work involved to rebuild the engine and sort all the other issues with dodgy brakes, dodgy steering, a new hood and oil leaks on the Gearbox & Differential as I have enough on with DIY Project s on the house at the moment. The lack of an M.O.T, since 2018 is worrying, if I did purchase the car I would definitely get it M.O.T. tested and who knows what other faults would be found with the corresponding additional expense involved to correct them. It's a shame the mechanical side of the car isn't as good as the Bodywork and interior. Gary

No go with my offer☹️, I haven't really got the time to remove, strip and rebuild the engine anyway. I just hope any unsuspecting purchaser of this car takes if for a test drive? The search continues. Gary

Colin It does put me off a potential purchase of the car I must admit, I certainly won't drive any classic I own without a valid M.O.T.? The last decent Vitesse I viewed YPE 595G hadn't been M.O.T. tested since 2015 either, although the then owner had had the car checked over by a professional Mechanic recently which was reassuring. I often check the M.O.T. History on potential Vitesse purchases and 9 times out of 10 the car's not been M.O.T. tested since 2018 when the law was brought in about classic's not needing the test. I've more or less made my mind up to make the guy an offer on the car, me and my good friend John both gave it a thorough inspection, although no doubt there will be some other issues and potential additional costs we've missed. I've had a quote for a new hood including fitting and have worked out a rough cost for parts and machining to rebuild the engine, although if the block is scrap due to the thrust washer issues I will have to get a second-hand block for reconditioning which is a worry and something I won't know till it's stripped and inspected. The other potential M.O.T. failure points, Steering Rack play, Iffy brakes and minor welding and the cost to put them right have also been factored in to my offer So, I will contact him tomorrow and make an offer for the car on what I feel it is worth in it's present condition. Gary

I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure?😁😁😉

I'm trying to weigh up how much it could cost me to correct all the faults I've contacted Don Trimming and been quoted £245 for a new Hood in ICI Vynide as per original, its a further £295 for them to fit it, no doubt new seals and retainers will be needed so add £100 for these too. I could fit it myself, I've done a couple before but getting all the creases out around the rear quarter windows and side's is an acquired art, Don trimming did my last Mohair one and made a great job, so I would probably let the professionals do it. An exchange steering rack is around £235 and the uprated UJ £35 off Canley's (The rack may just need shimming I suppose?) Brakes, who knows but maybe around £250 plus if I end up renewing Calipers, Pipes and hoses Diff and gearbox seals are cheap enough, I've got a re-bush kit for the gearbox so no problems with that the other bits are minor and I can no doubt sort for minimal expense. Like you say the engine will be the big expense, I just hope the thrusts haven't dropped out and the Block is knackered? The Bodywork and paint are in excellent fettle, in fact its probably the best one I've looked at so far I need to make a decision before the weekend🤔. Gary