Sanity Returns (maybe...)

November update, no pictures...

Marina is almost finished, bodywork done, minor electrical issues, soft brake lines and a week of driving her to make sure she's OK and she'll be with her new owners.

2000 Mk. I sedan from the last post is going to Mike Montoya to be put back on the road much quicker than I could ever do it.

There is one other 'project' that is planned, but for the immediate future I'll be finishing off the Marina & putting a clutch in the Spitfire. More to come if the other 'project' works out...

Take care!

Jamie

Wow...it's been a while.

Yes, I've been busy...with many different things. In celebration of finally getting internet capability back at home tonight for the first time in 2 weeks, I figured a blog post was well overdue.

If you're my friends, and reading this, you wonder where I've been...well...I've been out of state a lot for work. And one other trip...that's directly applicable to this blog.

Yes, there's another 2000 in the family. Why? Well...that's a long story. But first, there's the other British 4-door sedan to show you.

Here's a picture of the 1975 Austin
Marina I couldn't turn down, as I purchased her.

What you can't see in this shot is the mangled front right fender where she had met a Lexus.

After frame straightening and welding the front fender and valence back together (they were about 9" apart after the wreck) she's getting closer to being roadworthy. As usual with me, I've been able to procure all the parts, but not the time. Amazing how inexpensive parts for this car are...it led to the front suspension being completely rebuilt with NOS parts, including the lever shocks. And I thought Triumphs were built to a price...NOTHING like the Marina. But it's refreshingly honest in it's simplicity.

However...the Marina has already been promised to a family member pending it's completion, although with right of first refusal to get it back it may end up back home someday, and it's going to some very good folks that I know will take care of it. Why, you ask?

Because we have another 2000 Mk. I in the family. Her name is Holly.

Holly started out life purchased by a family in Coventry to US specs (just like the Estate we have) but this family spent some time in Holland after purchase. The family then took the car to California, and finally Houston, where I understand the original owner died. The car was kept inside and last year, I was able to connect the family, who were looking to give the car away as long as it was restored, to a likely restorer.

Unfortunately, the gentleman's fortunes took a turn for the worse, and he was unable to follow through. When he offered me the car, I decided to take him up on it. He was kind enough to meet me 1/2-way from Texas, so we drove out to Nashville, and apart from two flats on the trailer (you can see one of them in the lower left of the above picture on the spare tire bracket) the trip went very smoothly. So...it's probably good that the Marina is moving on, even if it's still attached by relation.

Holly is amazingly original, even down to the majority of the paint. Apart from the radiator cap and an aftermarket horn button, I can't find anything that isn't original. So...the plan is to put her back on the road as painlessly as possible, and drive her. We'll get to the cosmetics eventually.

I'm hoping to get back to the Estate this fall. We'll see.

It also seems that new tempting Triumphs drop into my lap every time I turn around this year. I'm currently deciding whether or not I can buy one that would put most of my other cars to shame. So watch for an update soon!

Jamie

Not much progress BUT determined...

Well, I made a monumental decision (for me) last week. I had the chance to increase my Triumph count (and therefore my Cylinder Index) by adding a beautiful little Herald convertible to the stable, but passed it up to concentrate further on the Estate. So...expect a rash of updates shortly as I remove the old front fenders and finally finish welding the front end together! All words of encouragement are appreciated!!!!

BTW, any of you that attended the South Central British Car Gathering on April 17-19...wasn't that a great event! I was lucky enough to have three cars there, including my Italia (on the road and legal for the first time in 4 years, thanks to Dave Crane) and had a fabulous time. We had 6 Italias in the same place! I'm told that's the largest grouping of the cars ever in North America...thanks to Tyrone Stoner, the VTR Italia Coordinator for organizing us and providing a beautiful commemorative 50th Anniversary model Italia for each Italia attendee! :-)

Since I don't have any more recent Estate pictures, here's one of the Italias. Mine is the white one in the left rear. And for those of you that have known me a long time, yes, the one in the front left used to be ours as well (Tyrone owns it now).

Air Conditioning becoming a reality...

I've purchased a new A/C system for my TR6 with an eye towards using most of the components to put A/C on the 2000 as well. The kit looks good; we'll be trying to install it on the TR6 at the TCOC Tech Session at Dave's Place the first weekend in April.

Here's a link to the A/C system, if you're interested. I had previously found a Vintage Air interior unit that I think will fit in the passenger side footwell on a Mk. I, and coupled with the underhood components from this guy should work pretty well. Once I get the TR6 system up and running I'll go ahead and purchase the components for the 2000 set.

Can't wait to get started on the fenders. I had actually taken today as vacation to start on it, but I ended up laying down all day as I was seriously "under the weather". Hopefully tomorrow will be better!

This is a picture of the underhood installation on a TR6 (not mine, yet). Since the unit doesn't use either the extended water pump OR an additional pulley on the crank, I have high hopes that it will fit in the constraints of the 2000 engine compartment.

They're Here!!! And They're Beautiful!!!

Picked up the fenders and valences from the bus station yesterday...they look terrific! Still in the original primer with both Stanpart and BMC (!) part number decals (BMC's were probably applied at dealership as the numbers are handwritten on those).

In addition, I got two valences. One is a duplicate of what I already purchased, a mint factory Mk. I lower valence. Second one is NOT from a 2000/2500...I'm thinking it may be a Herald but I forgot to look up the part number last night. I'll look soon and post it.

WhoooHooo! Now I don't have to worry about patching the hole!!!

Jamie

New fenders found (fingers crossed)

By pure chance, two NOS front fenders appeared on eBay just as I was searching for Triumph parts. They had a buy it now...so I did! They are on their way to me now via Greyhound bus...

They are also coming with two valences...so I may have extra there. We'll see!

Also, we installed the new suspension (from Richard Good) on the TR6 at Kevin Andrews' wonderful shop, Waynes Alignment in Siler City, NC. Between that and Dave Crane solving the charging problem with the Italia, I may actually have three out of four Triumphs on the road!

Not only that, but Ally, Cristina and Ani had a great time at the Pottery Tour as well. What more could one ask for!

Cutting a hole!

I finally found the pictures from where my friend Jim and I (and Ally, of course, couldn't have done it without her) hammered the fender back into shape...ok, roughly into shape, but he did far better than I would have done...and then the hole we had to cut out. The metal in that spot was just far too gone; it had previously been folded over and not prepared well, thus it was way too rusty as well as being creased and stretched. I'm still waiting to shape the replacement sheetmetal, but I have the cardboard pattern cut and waiting...

The black is from both Eastwood Rust Converter and POR-15...I'm using the POR on the inside panels and the Rust Converter (which is friendly to delayed top coating) on external panels.

It's interesting to look at these pictures today; as you can tell it was warm -- on the other hand, we had about 6 inches of snow last night through noon today. I've also attached a picture of Ally today in the snow just 'cause I felt like it... :-)

Parts still needed (not many, thankfully!)

Ok, here's a list of what I still need or would really like to have (really just an excuse to update the blog). Any leads on the following would be most helpful:

• manual transmission driveshaft
• Stag front seats
• Miscellaneous stainless trim strips (to replace drilled or bent ones)
• Method of mounting cable operated gas pedal from Mk. II into Mk. I
• One more pair of new (repro is fine) MGB overriders
• AMCO bar for front like the one on Vern's car
• Time, time, time......

I hope the holiday season was wonderful for all of you!

Jamie