1968 vitesse mk1 2.0 body panels

[graham H]

hi everyone, i'm new here. I have done a quick search and checked out quite a few of the questions, can you tell me/ point me in the right direction for the best fitting replacement body  and chassis replacement panels please, much obliged Graham.

[Colin Lindsay]

Hi Graham, nice to hear from you, and welcome to the forum.

Panels.... Fitchetts have a lot of the original tooling, so you'd think they could make the best panels, but I bought some a while back that were poor. Many suppliers use the same panels from the same supplier but with different prices. Let us know which panels you need and we can advise panel by panel (or thereabouts!) from members' experiences.

Chic Doig is excellent for chassis outriggers and other replacement chassis parts, plus he also makes many repair sections. https://www.chicdoig.co.uk

[Josef]

Bear in mind as well that unfortunately some panels are no longer available, or no longer available in anything close to original shape. Rear wings, boot floor, wheel well and rear floors are all rot spots with no good repros available. The rear wings are the ones that really matter as they’re visible, so expect to have to save those (depending on what you have you may find better second hand ones, but chances of them not requiring work are slim).

Also, keep an eye on eBay etc for NOS / second hand panels, they do appear from time to time. 

[graham H]

Not the best example i have to admit, but bodywork is my trade so shouldn't be too daunting. i think to do it justice i would like as many panels as possible.

[Wagger]

Welcome Graham.

Some members have done body off restorations and will advise. I see that some already have.  Buy sheets of good metal and fabricate the unavailable parts where possible.

Look at the  'My Triumph Restoration Project' section as there are many tales there with pictures.

[ahebron]

Hi Graham welcome to the forum.
Many of us use the more common Herald body parts (dont tell the Herald guys).
By this I mean complete sections.

My Mk2 Convertible is in similar if not worse condition but Heralds a getting thin on the ground in NZ.

 

Adrian
 

[Colin Lindsay]

Anyone got any recommendations for sills? (Herald / Vitesse) I was holding out for some at Stafford but I'll have to go elsewhere, now.

[Josef]

56 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said:

Anyone got any recommendations for sills? (Herald / Vitesse) I was holding out for some at Stafford but I'll have to go elsewhere, now.

Canley’s have NOS Stanpart left hand ones which I have taken advantage of. They do say it’s possible to rework them to be RH too. 
 

https://www.canleyclassics.com/?product=herald-vitesse-left-hand-outer-sills

[Colin Lindsay]

That could be one side sorted, then... I want to try to pick some up when on the mainland to avoid postage.

[Phil C]

Hi Graham, I was in your position with my Mk2 as the first lockdown kick in and I didn't know who to go to.

So this was my experience if it helps as I bought a lot of replacement panels (as my fabrication skills are limited!) which had varying degrees of fit.

Chicdoig would be my recommendation as they manufacture repair sections which are not available elsewhere. Two I found extremely useful were (i) Rear boot support panels and (ii) Lower bulkhead support panel. Its worth speaking to them as they have knowledge and appear willing to help fabricate any parts. Not cheap though.

I also got boot sides, front and rear floor panels, tread-plates and lower b-post/wing repair sections from Chicdoig. All floor panels need a lot of work to fit anyway but they were ok. Their tread-plates are double skinned and slightly longer than standard which aids fitting. The B-post/rear wing repair sections fitted well.

Fitchetts supplied front and rear valances and door skins. The front valance edge profile doesn't fit my aluminium bumper trim - a problem I have yet to resolve but the door skins were fine.

Canley's supplied a front light/grill panel, claimed to be pressed from the original press. It wasn't cheap but fitted really well.

As all three companies have real Triumph knowledge which I thought would be best?  Many other companies are simply shops with little specific knowledge to advise - IMHO🙄

Anyway good luck !

[68vitesse]

48 minutes ago, Phil C said:

The front valance edge profile doesn't fit my aluminium bumper trim - a problem I have yet to resolve but the door skins were fine.

When I bought a front valence for my Mk1 2L Vitesse it was supplied without the bumper end support bracket.

Regards

Paul.

 

 

[Colin Lindsay]

The one I bought for my 1200 convertible looked like it had been cut out with a cold chisel. The bits that actually were cut out, that is.