bartholomew10 Posted December 17, 2017 Report Share Posted December 17, 2017 Good afternoon to all! Just joined Forum as am planning to hunt up a decent Spitfire Mk1V - just possibly a '1500' - come the New Year. Have so far in life owned a TR2, TR7 and two FWD models, but as the garage space is now limited it's either a Spitfire or a Midget, but I can't feel comfortable in the latter with my shoulder crammed up against the door!!!! So plan to join the Club if I can find a car I can afford, and hope to meet Members at shows this coming year,. Regards, Richard (West Norfolk) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted December 17, 2017 Report Share Posted December 17, 2017 Welecome aboard , I found my Vitesse on the Club Site Paul (Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 17, 2017 Report Share Posted December 17, 2017 Good choice to put the smile back Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted December 17, 2017 Report Share Posted December 17, 2017 Welcome! I bought my GT6 through the club classifieds. Gully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted December 17, 2017 Report Share Posted December 17, 2017 Welcome Richard, I had a number of Spitfires over the years and have always found them great fun to drive. Overdrive is a good option to have. The spit was the last of the mass-produced separate chassis roadster. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qu1ckn1ck Posted December 17, 2017 Report Share Posted December 17, 2017 Hi and welcome, Richard. Good luck with your search . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartholomew10 Posted December 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2017 Many thanks for all those who have sent me messages - most welcome, and I look forward to seeking a good (affordable!!) Spit once New year is passed, Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 18, 2017 Report Share Posted December 18, 2017 Welcome Richard, you'll find the right car somewhere. It's nice to see you're doing it the right way round - join the club first THEN find a good car, rather than appearing at your first meeting with one that invites lots of intakes of breath, headscratching and muttering... been there, done that.... Incidentally the first classic I ever drove was a Midget, which is the reason why the first classic I ever bought was a Spitfire.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted December 18, 2017 Report Share Posted December 18, 2017 Welcome, Richard. If not done already, make contact with your local area group (http://www.tssc.org.uk/tssc/areas_google.asp) who may know of cars for sale, and might come with you as expert witness to inspect one. The Haynes manual on "Guide to Purchase" has a chapter on what to look for, with an estimate of the cost of repair, expressed in "tyres" so although my copy is thirty years old it's still relevant and helpful when bargaining. And, you may know this has you have owned classics before, but don't buy the first you see! JOhn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartholomew10 Posted January 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 An 'Update' on the situation!! - Bought a 1973 Mk-IV with Overdrive and having had all sorts of new bits and much rather lumpy welding of patches over the years, so thankfully now not much rust to be seen at all!. Had an MOT up to last Summer, but not actually running at the moment, and desperately needing a respray - so am tempted to try a Coachpainting job at a (tiny) fraction of the cost of a respray in 2-pack!.. Have done a lot of machinery and boat painting, and modern paints like Tekaloid - now an improved 'Alkyd' - or Rustoleum offer a chance at quite good levels of finish. That will doubtless make some folks flinch at the idea, but saving easily well over a thousand or fifteen hundred which would leave lots of cash for any mechanical work, and maybe even a hardtop for Winter use if I can find one. Seen several metal ones on ebay in poor nick, but for weight alone would only go for a GRP one. Roll on Spring!, Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Painted sons mini with brush small roller and japlac it transormed a nappy yellow into a bright red and white roof Lasted many years before the tin worm condemned it Took a day and a couple of tins bit orange peely , maybe some thinners would have improved but quick and very presentable. Certainly economic And many a coach builder used brushes Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomL Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 I have seen some very good results with paint applied by brush and/or roller. Flatting and the polishing helps take out the brush marks. Post a photo of your new acquisition please..... Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 2 hours ago, bartholomew10 said: Had an MOT up to last Summer, but not actually running at the moment, and desperately needing a respray - so am tempted to try a Coachpainting job at a (tiny) fraction of the cost of a respray in 2-pack!.. Have done a lot of machinery and boat painting, and modern paints like Tekaloid - now an improved 'Alkyd' - or Rustoleum offer a chance at quite good levels of finish. Brushpainting can turn out very well, but use a good brush, not those horrible nylon thingies that B&Q sell that the paint runs off immediately. That's half the battle. I used Rustoleum many years ago on a diff and it's still going strong, although red wasn't the best colour for a Herald diff... but the best results straight from the tin that I've ever seen are Japlac, they not only have Signal Red but a nice shade of Landrover Green, both of which brushed on and gave very good results straightaway. Always remember however - when you're in the car enjoying the driving, you can't see the outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartholomew10 Posted January 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Good point!!!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartholomew10 Posted January 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Thanks Tom. Have yet to post a Photo, but will have a bash! I have nothing close-up yet though. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartholomew10 Posted January 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Yes Pete, I have seen some lovely Coachpainted work in 'high-end' classic car dealerships over the years. Not kidding myself that I will in any way approach their standards, but will post a shot - probably from 100 yards away! - once done when the weather warms up, Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 XD is an old Luton registration prefix Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Not done many miles between the listed MOT's - 5 since 2014 - but nothing known since 2016 when it was last MOT's (So expired in 2017) so could have done a few since then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartholomew10 Posted January 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 Yes, low miieage due to ii-health of owner. Lot's and lot's new bits fitted in last two years but little actual use. So am (sort of!!) looking forward to the challenge of a repaint using Rustoleum. Richard. (any other Spitfire Owners nearby in West Norfolk? ie; Weeting area) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted January 31, 2018 Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 From afar the paint looks ok - but then so does mine - mine needs to have a little bit of work done to it in that regard - but I have a man that can sort it as body and paint is not really my thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartholomew10 Posted February 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2018 Yes, it does 'look' quite ok - but the Seller was honest enough to say I would 'wince' when I first saw it close-up!!! So no complaints, and am now even more looking forward to Spring and warmer weather so as to get stuck with the power sanding, and then careful brushing with my new Hamilton set! Oh to be rich and have a heated garage, although even then that could still up the dust by convection! First thing - apart from getting it actually running - is to work out how to get the plastic side (tilt) panel off the drivers seat side, (which is from a Mazda MX5). I need to slide it back a bit further as I'm too close to the wheel and pedals, and it just 'fouls' the door frame. Even an inch or two would make a good difference' Has anyone taken their hood frame off - if so is it an easy job?, as this one could do with a re-paint and I can do that inside at least. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted February 3, 2018 Report Share Posted February 3, 2018 30 minutes ago, bartholomew10 said: Has anyone taken their hood frame off - if so is it an easy job?, as this one could do with a re-paint and I can do that inside at least. Richard - I haven't taken the the cover off - but I'm pretty sure it just unclips - I have taken off (Well put it on as it came "loose" with the car!) and its only a couple of bolts each side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartholomew10 Posted February 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2018 Thanks, will have a go tomorrow, (plus see if I can 'clean' up the grubby 'interior' of the hood!) Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now