GFL

That's a great article Alan, thanks for sharing. It just goes to show what a good design it was, even better now with the new Trunnion less versions? Gary

Here's the info off the Rimmers site which does show only one front mounting near the vicinity of the Bellhousing and the rear silencer the correct shape for a MK2 Vitesse. I'm sure I've read somewhere that the Exhaust changed halfway through production of the Mk2, with the front pipe in two sections then changing to one piece On my old Vitesse which was manufactured in June 1970 the rear mounting pipe mounting position was before the silencer and was definitely off the Differential crossmember, there was no mounting bracket for the front of the Silencer on the Boot Outrigger which I believe was the original, the rear silencer bracket was on the Boot rigger though. I know the Heralds and probably the earlier Vitesse models had 2 Mounting brackets on the boot Outrigger for the front and rear of the Silencer. I suppose so long as everything is securely supported then it doesn't really matter where the supports go PS - I always though the front mounting was a bit of a waste of time as it is quite near were the exhaust downpipe fixes to the manifold anyway. Gary Exhaust Fittings and Mountings - 2 Litre Mk2 - PDF.pdf

This should help, Thanks to Canley Classics website. Going from Memory, on the Mk2 Vitesse there is only one rear silencer, this is supported at the rear on the Hanger off the Boot Outrigger and also near the Diff support crossmember At the front there are supports for the exhaust pipe at the bell housing and also near the rear of the gearbox I think? Regards Gary

Pete Be very careful with the Bonnet to Door gaps, yours look a bit tight, 5/16" is recommended with the rear of the doors to 'B' Posts set to 3/16" If you get the Front door to Bonnet gaps tight you will get paint chips for sure The Herald/Vitesse range never had tight panel gaps like some other period cars, due to the flexible method of construction! Not sure if you've seen this before the Standard Triumph service notes for building up the Body, it is very useful when setting gaps and adjusting things? Regards Gary Triumph Service Training Notes Herald Body.pdf

Pete I have seen this door skin crack on quite a few Heralds/Vitesse's, usually Convertible models. I always thought it was due to the top of Quarter light catching the top of the 'A' Post when going over pot holed roads and causing flexing and strain on the door? I suppose using the quarter light to Open/Close the door could cause the issue too. Gary

Don I think that spring was made on April the 1st? 😁

Just to add to this debate, if you look at all the original Parts/Workshop Manual sketches for the Triumph Herald/Spitfire Swing axle & Roto-flex type rear suspension, it shows the majority of the bolts that make up the rear suspension with the heads facing forwards and the nuts facing rearwards, this includes the bolt heads on the 'U' clamps of the rear spring. I don't know if there is a practical or engineering reason for this, can anyone offer any comments? Regards Gary

Could well be a late Vitesse 6 Speedo, all the 2 litre Vitesse Speedo's read up to 120 MPH Regards Gary

Andy Ok thanks for the info, I didn't realise that happened regarding the M-O-T History but it makes sense. I always keep a look out for Red Stags with Private plates at Classic car shows or Triumph meets to see if it might be my old one, no luck as yet though? I suspect the TR5 will probably be tucked up being pampered in some garage after being sold by the Dealer, it was in near concours condition I had a look out for it at the recent TR Register meet last Saturday at the car Museum at Ambergate but again didn't see it or any Valencia TR5's with Private plates. Cheers

I would imagine it was more for sound deadening that heat. However, there is a lot of heat that comes off the Vitesse engine with it being a big lump of cast iron, apparently most is from hot air being pushed back from the radiator? I suppose the exhaust and manifold don't help either. I lined the lower/outside of my GRP Gearbox Cover with silver type stick on heat resisting type foil purchased from an Autojumble, I also used nuts and bolts at a few positions on the underside in case the glue failed due to the heat. An additional layer of bitumen type sound deadening was added to the top of the cover, then a layer of underlay and the carpet helped keep a lot of the noise and heat out too. Gary

Colin It was a guy who runs a restoration company in Northern Ireland and is a serial Sunbeam Tiger racer, a guy called Jackie Cochrane. He is well know in Tiger circles and a very successful racing driver. The car was advertised with its original Registration Number by the dealer BUP 4F here's a photo when I owned it Gary

Do you mean the Stag is no more and a baked bean can?!!! I hope not, it was in excellent condition so I hope it is still around somewhere with a new registration number The TR5 was sold to a car collector in Northern Ireland to finance the purchase of my current classic, he then subsequently sold it on early last year I believe and it was advertised for sale last summer at a Classic car dealer for £50K+ I should imagine that is now wearing a personalised plate.

Colin The changes in connection with Data Protection issued a few years ago although introduced for good reason are a pain in the A*** if you trying to trace the history of a car you've recently purchased. I have tried a couple of times to trace the history of my current classic via DVLA and drawn a blank, unless there is some legal problem/dispute over ownership then they don't want to know. Long gone are the days when you get send a SAE and a cheque for £5 to get photo-copies of the old log books detailing names and addresses of the previous owners 😒 Gary

Can anyone offer any advice on the following query:- I owned a lovely Pimento Red Triumph Stag in the late 80's early 90's and sold it on in 1994, the Registration number of the car was XHD 444R If you do a search on the registration number for M.o.t & Tax history there are no details found for it? Could this be because the car was fitted with a personalised number plate, or maybe the car was written off. Can anyone offer any advice? PS - I also owned briefly a TR5 and this was sold on in 2018, again there is no M-o-t or Tax history listed for this car when you do a search so I'm assuming again it now as a different registration number. Regards Gary

It looks very straight and original, I hope it finds a good home? I often wonder what happened to my old Stag - Registration XHD 444R, I sold it in 1994 No M-O-T or Tax history is listed for it so I presume it was either given a Private Plate or written off, I hope it was the former? Gary

Dealer prices for you Then again, try and restore one to the same standard for £25K? It really is a stunning example, now if it was a similar condition Mk2 Vitesse Convertible I would be sorely tempted🤑 Gary

What about this bit of Time Warp history for sale? https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1491541 Looks ready for the concours circuit to me. Regards Gary

Here's a link to the Herald https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354221746883?hash=item527942eac3:g:OjEAAOSwhAti91cI&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoImJK2n4OLc5b6Yz6fYvvSTeTds%2BXavLTODqjCjiiOGnJJRktiR1nqS%2BJhgvA1vDX1PlcTDLIt0I9yB4X%2BPKWZaIEWY2fAt3R1PXp7wrCbHaP5oTJUBLRj%2BI12%2Bi0HZWEfOS0bAY7rTuz7p9%2B%2B%2B8fBkOp3MiDpBi3rtf9Xf8FWGYNn0vhKEBCABYUtBssNQWJLUd%2FzaibYsHDkR3BGRQDFU%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR76mosbVYA

Yes A Panther Rio, here's a link https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjzwruW5Ln5AhVtQUEAHeQIAboQFnoECAkQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aronline.co.uk%2Fcars%2Fpanther%2Fpanther-rio%2F&usg=AOvVaw30N5eE7yAOLKdbfOV31rh1 Regards Gary

Chris Maybe you had some faulty Mini dampers with the Chassis extension brackets? As I've said, the Koni Classic 80-1717 gave an excellent ride on my MK2 Vitesse It sounds like you've got your car riding Ok now so tick with the SPAX Dampers using the Wheel arch top mounts Gary

That's good to know another ones being saved. I wonder how many more N.O.S Vitesse Bonnets are out there stashed away, there can be many surely? I do know of a Later Herald/Vitesse convertible front bulkhead that is stashed in some ones Shed (Or a last it was a few years ago?) Gary

Hi Paul I was the guy sitting with Colin last night, nice to meet you I know what you mean about Stafford, I was leaving it till nearer the date to get my tickets for fear of some family event or Covid meaning I couldn't get. I've had some great times there during the 90's and noughties when it was the favoured site for the TSSC International, maybe next year it will happen again I hope so? Gary

Chris I've noticed you have queried the Mini damper conversion previously, what make of Mini damper did use and are you sure they where the correct open/closed lengths? The Koni 80-1717 worked well on my Mk2 Vitesse and are the correct Open/Closed lengths Gary

I, like a lot of people it seems was going to attend but hadn't pre-booked my tickets, again I didn't realise there was any discount for booking early? I've had some great times at Stafford over the years, selling stuff, admiring cars and chatting with like minded enthusiasts There were a couple of reasons I didn't pre-book, one of them the thought of catching Covid the week prior (Which seems to be spreading worse now than ever!) and also the possibility of some family event taking precedence One thing to bear in mind, which is certainly affecting my visits to car shows and no doubt others too is the cost of Fuel to get there and back, and also the increasing costs of everything at the moment Lets hope the event happens somewhere in 2023, I will be there. Gary

If someone is doing a Concours resto on a Vitesse and doesn't have a decent bonnet then it will save a lot of time in repairs and panels? I wonder how much a new bonnet costs for a BMW 3 Series, probably more than £2K off BMW?