DickBrowne

I thought I'd do a quick update on my search. Firstly, the good news. The garage is clear. It's been jumble-sale central at Browne Towers. My motorbike has gone, I've sold three pushbikes, I've sold more bicycle spares than I ever remember buying and I've filled my estate car and trailer three times for runs to the tip. It almost seems a shame to put a car in all that hard-won space. Almost... This morning, my last bicycle was collected and so at lunchtime, just for a giggle, I popped my car in one side of the garage and my wife's car in the other. It's just not natural you know, putting a modern car in a garage, let alone two. So, a modern estate fits, so a classic sports car won't be a problem. What about the not-so-positive? I hear you ask. Well, at the weekend, Mrs. B and I, alongside a couple of mates, went to the Sywell Classic - Pistons and Props. A very good day it was too. Whilst there, we bumped into a TSSC member, sat behind his lovely Vitesse convertible, we fell into conversation and he asked if I'd like to sit in the car. Did I? Of course I did! Sitting in the car felt a little like coming home - the view ahead bore family resemblances to my old Spitfire, and the seating position was immediately comfortable. The pedals were a little tight for my size 12's, but nothing I haven't coped with previously. Then I closed the door... At least I tried to close the door... Now, I'm a reasonably sized lad. I'm 6'2 and used to box and play rugby, so I'm quite broad with it, but the lack of shoulder space was a real problem. I've owned Land Rovers before, which are famous for their lack of elbow room, but the Vitesse felt, if anything, even tighter. So, it appears that the Vitesse and, by association, the Herald are no longer on the list. Or have I just been unfortunate to sit in a car which may have been modified in some way? Is the Vitesse a bit tight up-top? I can't imagine that the Vitesse is smaller inside than the Spitfire, and I never had a problem with that particular car. I really don't like to end on a low note, so I will just finish this update by saying that I've found a TR4 I can afford! My Triumph journey isn't necessarily over!

I'd love a GT6 - always wanted one when I had my Spitfire, but haven't the prices gone a bit crazy now? I've no idea why they are so much more expensive than the equivalent MGB GT, but with the 6 cylinder engine, I guess people compare them more to the MGC, do they? Even though the engine size is closer to a B. I don't say this to many men, but you, sir, have a lovely pair!

Nah, don’t like that at all. I am, of course, totally lying through my teeth. It’s very pretty and would so be a contender for garage space chez Browne, if it weren’t for the distance

Hmm, I'm not sure I'm a really left-field kinda guy I'd like to get myself and Mrs. DickBrowne a sit in a Vitesse or Herald to try one on for size, but I'm struggling to find anything for sale within a reasonable striking distance of Milton Keynes... Would there be any members nearby who may have one they would allow us to sit in? I know it's a cheek, but, well, if you don't ask...

I did consider a Spitfire, but my wife isn't really that keen on them - GT6 also, oddly. I'm working on that, but for my current style of motoring, the Vitesse/Herald line are just fine. As long as it keeps up with modern traffic well enough to not be a danger, that's good enough. Funnily enough, if I were to go for a MG, it would almost definitely have to be a GT as I love the coupe shape, similarly the GT6 appeals, but if it were a Vitesse/Herald, I'd like it to be a convertible. As for the state of the car I'm willing to buy, I'm pretty open. I'm handy with a spanner and very few mechanical things scare m. Similarly, interiors aren't an issue, but I recognise my own limits with bodywork. I've never been much good at that stuff. I can weld well enough to stick pieces of metal together, and make the joint strong, but it ain't pretty. I have restored motorbikes in the past, down to bare-metal, but I wouldn't want to do that with a car

Thanks for the welcome Chris - humble works well for me also One question, though, and this may or may not be something you have knowledge of living in France, but I so have to ask the question... E10 - I'm holding back slightly to see if there is any terrible effect on old engines, but what's the overall thought and feeling on e10? Will it cause all engines to explode, or will it be a bit on an unleaded damp squib?

It is with great sadness that I have joined this forum. Sad, because it signifies the sale of my last Triumph just one week ago. Of course, that was a motorbike, so probably counts for nothing around these parts. The flip side, though, is that I have a space in my garage and cash on the hip to enable me to fill it! I'm a returning TSSC member, having owned a Spitfire back in the 1980's (more of which later), and currently swaying back and forth (and hither and yon, for there are three directions to my sway) between either buying an MGB GT (sorry, but I have to get it out there), a Herald/Vitesse or maybe another motorbike. The two-wheeled leg of my ongoing journey is perhaps the least likely, and so that will be the hither of my swaying, but a nice old car? Well? Why not? More about my Spitfire - I bought it in 1986 and owned it until 1992, and it was always referred to as the egg, mainly because it was yellow with white wheels, roof and over-riders, but also because it was a bit smelly due to it spending every winter locked away in a garage and, let's be honest here, looked after in the manner of a 17 year old boy, because that was what I was. I know that my old car - PHK295R - is still on the road. I saw it about 10 years ago and noticed, almost immediately, that it is now green! I'm dead sharp, me, and not much gets past me! The DVLA tell me that it's still on the road, so it would be nice to find out where, and maybe swap some memories with the current owner. Oddly enough, when I came to this site via Google, the yellow Spitfire on the splash screen almost had the same reg number as my old one, I had to look twice (and remind myself about the whole green thing, obvs). I'd love a GT6, but aren't they expensive? Blimey, I'm amazed how much they have increased in value. One of the reasons for moving away from 2 wheels is that I have a wife. Have had for 30 years now. She's a good sort and more than happy on the back of the bike, but it's just such a palaver to sally forth for a day out, the outfits aren't flattering, and it always just seems to hot or too cold. Or too raining. A Herald, or Vitesse, convertible seems about right to me, and that's what I'm researching right now. So, that's me, that's why I'm here and that, hopefully, will be why I'm sticking around