GrahamJ Posted November 18, 2023 Report Share Posted November 18, 2023 Forgive me but I was brought up be my dad to be a Ford man, and nearly all the cars I’ve owned since I passed my test in 1972 have been Fords. In the day I always liked the look of Triumphs and at last, after 59 years ( ! ), I’ve got one. In 2020, after I retired, I joined the Torbay Old Wheels Club, and sneaked in my 1998 Ford Cougar. A bit young for the club but what you might call a modern classic. Anyway, after three years of fun with that, I have seen the light, sold it and bought a Vitesse. I think it has previously been in the club, and if anyone has any info on it, it would be interesting to hear. I’ve only had it a week, and my wife Alison and I have done a couple of runs in it, but it feels like Christmas come early. Can’t wait for some better weather. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamJ Posted November 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2023 Should read 50 years not 59 🙄😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qu1ckn1ck Posted November 18, 2023 Report Share Posted November 18, 2023 Hi and welcome to Triumph ownership. I too was a late convert ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Faulds Posted November 18, 2023 Report Share Posted November 18, 2023 16 minutes ago, GrahamJ said: Forgive me but I was brought up be my dad to be a Ford man, and nearly all the cars I’ve owned since I passed my test in 1972 have been Fords. In the day I always liked the look of Triumphs and at last, after 59 years ( ! ), I’ve got one. In 2020, after I retired, I joined the Torbay Old Wheels Club, and sneaked in my 1998 Ford Cougar. A bit young for the club but what you might call a modern classic. Anyway, after three years of fun with that, I have seen the light, sold it and bought a Vitesse. I think it has previously been in the club, and if anyone has any info on it, it would be interesting to hear. I’ve only had it a week, and my wife Alison and I have done a couple of runs in it, but it feels like Christmas come early. Can’t wait for some better weather. Hi and welcome, nice looking machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted November 18, 2023 Report Share Posted November 18, 2023 Very nice with some good panel gaps there but keep it dry😭 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wagger Posted November 18, 2023 Report Share Posted November 18, 2023 Welcome to the club. That is a very nice car and one year older than mine. Do you have details of any mods and is it an Overdrive model? You will receive a good deal of info and assistance on this forum. Yes, keep it dry. Mine has a sunroof which means use sparingly when it is wet as the wind can force water in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamJ Posted November 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2023 Thank you all. It is a 2 litre Mk1 with O/D. This picture is the day it turned up on a trailer. Lovely and sunny morning and then the heavens opened when it got here 🙄 It’s got a cover over it at the moment. But had a set back with the garage. You can probably tell from the photo that the drive down to the garage is a steep angle. I cleared the garage ready for the car, but can’t get down the drive without ripping the exhaust off. Trying to thing of a Plan B at the moment….. blocks of wood or something 🤔 Ive been on the look out for a Vitesse for a while when I came across this one. Crawled around it and was so impressed I bought it. It does have some bubbly bits but to me nothing too bad. I have got it booked for an MOT so I’ll find out soon 😳 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted November 18, 2023 Report Share Posted November 18, 2023 Has it got a twin 'wheel barrow handles' exhaust system fitted by any chance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68vitesse Posted November 18, 2023 Report Share Posted November 18, 2023 Mk1 2L Vitesse, excellent choice nice looking car, welcome. As to Fords never owned one, but had the use of, so it balances out. Regards Paul. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wagger Posted November 18, 2023 Report Share Posted November 18, 2023 I suspect that the exhaust grounds on the sharp kink where th drive meets the pavement. If so, can you radius that point? Some carefully placed scaffold planks could be a temporary solution. My car only has a silencer on the rear end, no centre box. It is quiet enough with the Standard rear box. Early Vitesse just had one pipe from manifold to rear box. You could fit a section of flexible exhaust pipe and fit a few more hangers to the chassis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamJ Posted November 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2023 It is the top of the drive which is the problem. When the rain stops I’ll have another go at it. Will report back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wagger Posted November 18, 2023 Report Share Posted November 18, 2023 If the drive is wide enough, approach it diagonally then use the amazing steering feature to straighten up. you will have to do that every time though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratton Jimmer Posted November 19, 2023 Report Share Posted November 19, 2023 Welcome to the madhouse. As others have said, that's a very nice looking car. Hope to be in the Paignton area next summer with our Spit so will look out for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted November 19, 2023 Report Share Posted November 19, 2023 Garage access, two lengths of steel or alloy channel section? placed stretegically. similar to the ramps used to load onto trailers?. When we loaded static caravans onto Lorries the ramps where alloy channel and up to 6 or 8 meters in length, had to be supported in 2 or 3 places. just to prevent grounding!. Is it a 1600 or 2Litre, Vitesse? SWMBO, had a 2Litre back in the 80`s. She was No1 in the Traffic Light Grand Prix, on her daily commute,😂 Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted November 19, 2023 Report Share Posted November 19, 2023 Graham, Lovely car! I've also had some good Fords, Cortina, "Box" Granada and now a Fiesta auto, goes like a rocket, 1 litre of 3 cylinder throbbing power! Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted November 19, 2023 Report Share Posted November 19, 2023 Must say I do like the sound of 3 cylinder engines! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted November 19, 2023 Report Share Posted November 19, 2023 1/2 a 6 cylinder, init! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted November 19, 2023 Report Share Posted November 19, 2023 Tempted to take a saw to the Vitesse... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamJ Posted November 19, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2023 Thanks again for the messages. A few more ideas to think about. Back in the 60s/70s if you had 70bhp+ you thought you were king of the road. These 3 cylinder turbos make a mockery of those old cars 😁 Our daily is a Citroen C3….. goes like a rocket 😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve P Posted November 19, 2023 Report Share Posted November 19, 2023 (edited) 4 hours ago, johny said: Must say I do like the sound of 3 cylinder engines! Except the Ford Ecosport, (which sounds like Dougs), we had one blow 2 turbos and finally die due to oil supply issues with the wet cambelt system, they are terrible. S Edited November 19, 2023 by Steve P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted November 19, 2023 Report Share Posted November 19, 2023 Welcome to the forum, and good choise of car! My Vitesse is an early 1966 Convertible. Funny coincidence, my father also always drove Fords, but my first car was a Herald which I bought when I was 17. You will find this forum very friendly and a lot of knowledge here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve P Posted November 19, 2023 Report Share Posted November 19, 2023 Should have said, nice car, I have a 68 2L Mk1 purchased in 1985 from High Wycombe for £700. My kids can sell it when i croak. S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamJ Posted November 19, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2023 It’ll be nice to meet some new faces probably in the new year now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham C Posted November 19, 2023 Report Share Posted November 19, 2023 Welcome Graham Glad you have moved to the light side 😀. Interesting comments about wet cam belts systems, my son has a Peugeot 308, drinks oil like anything, wish he would get rid of it. Fully agree poor engine design, always thought 3 cylinders turbo engines are being pushed to their limits. Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted November 19, 2023 Report Share Posted November 19, 2023 1 hour ago, GrahamJ said: It’ll be nice to meet some new faces probably in the new year now TSSC Devon Area meet in Newton Abbot which ain't far from Paignton! Go here fore details: The Triumph Sports Six Club - Areas (tssc.org.uk) Doug 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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