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Cheshire Cat
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Hi All,
Thank you for accepting my registration and I would like to introduce myself. As my forum name suggests, I live in Cheshire - apart from 18years military service.
I am now enjoying my 3rd classic car since discharge. 1st a 1959 Mk1 MG Midget, did it up and sold for a good profit as a rare example and bought a 1973 Triumph Stag. I couldn't get on with the IRS (when driven hard around bends). So after a respray and a tidy up I sold it and now own a 1963 TR4 - for these past 23 years.
I bought the TR4 as a basket case (every panel had rotted out) and it wouldn't have been a viable rebuild without securing a rust-free rolling shell - which I did, re-imported from California by a local dealer. I discovered later the car had been bought as an export by a USAAF Officer whilst on UK duty - and eventually it was abandoned in some US desert location - which explained all the sand blasted panels.
To buy a rust-free shell was an inspired decision, because aftermarket panels, at that time, didn't fit without a lot of fiddling, whereas these only needed bare metaling and a small amount of ding removals and were good to go.
It took 2 years to rebuild. The crank & flywheel was balanced, piston and liners replaced and a cracked head exchanged for a stage 2 with hardened valve seats. I was lucky, insofar, I live close to the Bentley Motors factory and had a friend who was one of their gearbox specialist sort out the gearbox and overdrive in his well equipped garden shed. I have to say, it still makes the odd drip marking it territory like most other TR's.
Since the rebuild, I have driven it through most western European countries...
Anyway, that's me for now. Regards, Phil.
Thank you for accepting my registration and I would like to introduce myself. As my forum name suggests, I live in Cheshire - apart from 18years military service.
I am now enjoying my 3rd classic car since discharge. 1st a 1959 Mk1 MG Midget, did it up and sold for a good profit as a rare example and bought a 1973 Triumph Stag. I couldn't get on with the IRS (when driven hard around bends). So after a respray and a tidy up I sold it and now own a 1963 TR4 - for these past 23 years.
I bought the TR4 as a basket case (every panel had rotted out) and it wouldn't have been a viable rebuild without securing a rust-free rolling shell - which I did, re-imported from California by a local dealer. I discovered later the car had been bought as an export by a USAAF Officer whilst on UK duty - and eventually it was abandoned in some US desert location - which explained all the sand blasted panels.
To buy a rust-free shell was an inspired decision, because aftermarket panels, at that time, didn't fit without a lot of fiddling, whereas these only needed bare metaling and a small amount of ding removals and were good to go.
It took 2 years to rebuild. The crank & flywheel was balanced, piston and liners replaced and a cracked head exchanged for a stage 2 with hardened valve seats. I was lucky, insofar, I live close to the Bentley Motors factory and had a friend who was one of their gearbox specialist sort out the gearbox and overdrive in his well equipped garden shed. I have to say, it still makes the odd drip marking it territory like most other TR's.
Since the rebuild, I have driven it through most western European countries...
Anyway, that's me for now. Regards, Phil.
