chris.eg

I'm trying to plan a route at the moment, to weigh up motorway or not motorway. I'm quite tempted to avoid motorways, even though it'll make the journey quite long.

Very excited! Can't wait to have it back here, and crossing fingers for a relatively uneventful trip...

I'm not picking the car up till Thursday, but will report when I get back Fingers crossed not behind a recovery truck...

So, if the pinking is bad enough to cause damage, would it get quite loud or still just a really gentle tinkling?

Out of interest, what would cause this? But don't worry, it was only just audible and when working quite hard.

Wouldn't I cause significant damage driving it that far (180ish miles) with the engine pinking? Forgive me if that's a stupid question ?

There is a Tesco fuel station a couple of miles from where the car is. Presumably it wouldn't do much harm to drive there and put some better grade petrol in to see how that goes? There's a Sainsbury's even closer. Is their premium fuel any good? Otherwise, would putting some of this - https://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-fluids/fuel-oil-additives/millers-petrol-power-ecomax-500ml - in the tank be likely to make enough difference? Or perhaps, this - https://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-fluids/fuel-oil-additives/redex-octane-booster-0-60-petrol-500ml If possible I'd rather not try and adjust the timing just before driving back, in case of getting it very wrong... So, apart from a 7/16 spanner, is there anything else anyone would say I should definitely take to get out of minor troubles?

I've bought it I'll probably have loads of questions to ask on here, but the most pressing one is this: To give it a proper test drive I had to go and put some fuel in. The seller said they thought it had been used on regular unleaded petrol, so that's what I put in. However, it then started to make a tinkling noise, sort of like tiny bits of metal being sprinkled on a hard surface (pinking?) I assume the seller was wrong and it had been used with higher octane fuel? So, how easy would it be to retard the timing a bit for the drive back (without too much risk of getting stuck...) or is it better to put in a fuel additive/put in better fuel? If possible, I would rather avoid a more expensive option, but obviously don't want to damage the engine on the way back. Perhaps I'm on entirely the wrong track?

I don't want to wait that long either, but i don't really have much choice as I work quite long hours during the week, it's 3 1/2 hours away and I don't really want to look at in the dark... I've spoken to the seller and was the first person to do so. With any luck she might hang on to it...

I'm planning to go and see it on Saturday (crossing fingers it's not sold by then) as I can see that this would likely end up costing me less in the long run than some of the cheaper ones and it seems that overdrive would definitely be worth having.

Ah, silly me... Sue passed the details to me, and thinks the car is good. Do you reckon she would be happy to take a look?

. Here are the details Colin: FOR SALE A much loved 1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500 in Original British Racing Green. Petrol; Manual with Overdrive. Owned since 1982 and driven daily until husband’s unexpected death in May. The vehicle is Road Tax Exempt and has a valid MOT which expires April 2019. Service history folder of MOT’s and receipts for parts and work done over the years. Plus cream stowage cover, black tonneau cover and an unused replacement black soft hood cover. Runs well but needs a little work on body but could be a nice winter project. £3,250 ono. Who is Franklin? I would be much happier looking at it with someone, but not sure anyone would be willing... should I ask Sue (devon AO) if she can think of someone?

https://m.facebook.com/groups/134271493433942?view=permalink&id=961985203995896 I feel this one might get more approval. It's a long way away, and more expensive than I was looking for, but probably wouldn't need much spending on it? Anyway, planning on ringing the seller tonight (anything particular I should ask?) and probably going to see it at the weekend.

I had noticed the back end looks low, but I think I'm right that you can get sets of spacers to rebuild the spring which should sort this? Am I missing something about seat foams in the listing, or do you think they look bad in the pictures? I know it looks a bit tatty (and probably looks better in the pictures than it actually is), but that doesn't really bother me. I'm much more after a car to drive than keep immaculate in a garage and look at! Don't get me wrong, one of the reasons I want a Spitfire in the first place is that I think they look fantastic, and I'd like to get one as tidy as possible but it's not one of my priorities. The doors do look to me in the pictures that they don't line up well, which maybe suggests that the sills were not replaced carefully? I suppose that would go along with the general consensus on here that it's a bit of a bodge job... I assume you mean the one that hasn't been on the road since 1988? (They're both red...) If so, I'm glad someone is in favour of it (potentially) as I rather like the idea of that one. Trouble is, I'm not particularly sure what it would be likely to need to get back on the road. Obviously oil, water, tyres, brakes checking, brake fluid, fuel system cleaning out. Not sure what else though? The seller says it starts and drives...

I understand that it would need a fair amount of work to get it back on the road, and is probably not worth the price they want. Apart from oil, water, brake fluid, check brakes, tyres, what else would it be likely to need? The seller says it starts and drives, whatever that amounts to... I've no idea really what condition the body/chassis is in but assume they must be reasonably good otherwise the price seems very optimistic! I feel that as I would be quite happy to put in some time and effort with it and am looking for a fairly low initial cost this might be good as it's missed out on 30 years of wear and tear. I rather like the idea of learning about the car and getting one out of a garage and onto the road. There is another on eBay that has just been listed, which looks interesting, but is probably worth too much - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIUMPH-SPITFIRE-1971-1300CC-EARLY-MK-4-TAX-M-O-T-EXEMPT/173621498473?hash=item286ca5d269:g:l1sAAOSwE4tb3F0B:rk:4:pf:0

I'm not planning on going to see this one. I am starting to think that I would have to be rather lucky to get a decent car in budget, but it seems that somewhere there must be a slightly scruffy car, used daily, that isn't worth much because itit needs repainting and maybe there are a couple of things need doing. I just need to be patient. I have also thought that I've never actually sat in, never mind driven a Spitfire and although i like the idea, perhaps I should try to find a chance to drive one...

Just been listed on eBay and I will certainly not be going to see it... I'm obviously just going to have to be very patient as not many potentially suitable cars seem to be available at the moment There is still this one available though, which if it's solid I could imagine might be worth the asking price? https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/118278627/triumph-spitfire-1972.html?utm_source=newsnow&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=newsnow cars

What do you all think of the sound of this: It's a 1500, R reg, MOT and tax exempt, V5 present. However, I've had a look at it and it will need sills. The rear wings are fibreglass and are fitted well but somehow there are also fibreglass outer sill panels! They (the sill panels) will need replacing with steel ones (£45 each on eBay). Will need some work where the floor meets the inner sill in places. Floors are generally ok, require a patch here and there, there's a plate on the drivers floor. Tie rod attachments are good and heel board, front arches quite good and rear deck. Solid boot area... fibreglass bootlid, good bonnet. The car looks presentable but has some imperfections etc. It runs, started immediately when i went to look at it- will need clutch pedal/cylinder sorting, brakes will need going through. Rad missing. However, because of the condition I would be asking £1395 for the car, not 2k as originally envisaged. My thought about it is that the sort of person who would fit fibreglass sills is perhaps not the sort of person I would want as a previous owner...

Unfortunately I won't be able to make it tonight I really wanted to, and am not giving up on the idea of Triumph ownership at all. Will there be any other gathering/event before next month's meeting?

All being well then (if I don't back out of this for the time being) I'll pop along to the meeting then as at the least it would be very informative to meet some people that know a lot more about these cars than I do I'm glad to know that it's not entirely unreasonable to keep a Spitfire outside, although I imagine the roof often leaks? Is it possible with some time and effort to make them watertight? The idea of renting a garage would probably be good, but I imagine prohibitively expensive for me at the moment. Perhaps not a problem though as I'm really not after a shiny, pristine car. I would want to drive it regularly. I'm quite lucky in that I don't have to drive to work daily or do regular motorway journeys so this would be my regular (though not daily) car to drive mostly short distances with the odd longer, occasionally motorway journey for holidays etc. Might even end up pulling a tiny camping trailer (I imagine a 1500 would manage this ok?)

I will come along, as long as I've finished work in time (pretty variable hours). What normally happens at the meetings? Do you all eat at the pub? That car in Devon does sound good to me, but at the moment it really is more than I can spend and I am very hesitant to take a loan to pay for anything, especially a car which could still need a fair bit more spending on it. The other problem I have, which may actually mean I have to abandon this idea for now is that I don't have a garage to keep a car in. I get the impression that these cars deteriorate pretty quickly outside, so perhaps this is something I need to come back to in different circumstances in a few years

Interesting to see everyone has differing opinions about MOTs... I get the impression that some people think I might disregard safety with this endeavour. Don't worry, I won't. At the very least I would get the car inspected annually at a garage to check brakes etc. Honestly, I would probably get it MOT'd. The only thing putting me off that would be the risk of being stuck at a garage with a "dangerous" fault. The reason that the term is used for someone who does a bad job is that Bodgers never finished the job. They didn't make the chairs, they just turned the legs and stretchers. I never knew this before The cars I was originally looking at have since all sold, but Sue (Devon AO) just emailed me this which sounds interesting: "He had a 1500 Spitfire of which he is only the second owner having bought it from a work colleague in 1982. It has been a daily driver and has a current MOT. It is I believe British Racing Green and has overdrive. It is a 1976 car and the lady is looking for around £3250 for it. " Trouble is, it's a little too expensive for me really ? I have also heard of a white 1500 that will be listed on eBay that I'm keeping my eyes peeled for as it's a bit closer and probably within budget. Perhaps I should save for a bit longer and hold out for something like the one Sue mentioned to come up again.

Thanks for the idea Doug. I have just emailed their AO to see what they can come up with. So far everyone seems really helpful

I have got a quote for a mk4 (from a comparison site, strangely enough) from Lancaster for £390. I get the impression though that that would be somewhat reduced if I were a club member? Really, I would rather spend money on a mk3 that was always going to be a bit scruffy than on a shiny mk4. I just think they look much nicer Seems that it would be difficult to find someone to look at it with though as I can't really see anyone up here wanting to head all the way to Devon for a bribe ? Unless this looks like a good option: Quote selection I would be very happy to get hands on with the car, but would need to be fairly sure there weren't any big expensive problems. My biggest problem with this I think is that I have absolutely no welding experience and that seems to be mostly what these cars need. I would actually like to learn to do some as one day I would like to be able to properly restore a spitfire/gt6/something else entirely, but at the moment I feel that may be jumping in at the deep end (possibly even with lead boots ? )

Obviously no one knows without going to see it, but what do you think the 1500 would be likely to need spending on it to get going, just very approximately to have an idea.