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How Much $$$ have you spent on your TR

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Hi all,

Yep, next to impossible to answer this question!

Having owned the car since the mid-1970s, tinkered with it alot over the years, I'm sure I have spent plenty on top of the original $1800 purchase price.

But, I've sold of some unused spare parts, too! Hey, I got all of $50 for the old, chrome 240Z mag wheels that were on it!

Figure it this way... take cost of the initial purchase, add cost of any and all restoration and repairs, then divide by years of ownership and use. Probably still not too efficient, but compared to a "modern" car with depreciation, maintenance and most people's burning need to "upgrade"/keep up with the Joneses every 3 or 4 years, it's probably not too bad either.

And - everyone is right - there is the "fun" factor to consider too. That "Fun" might be defined as: drivin' with the wind in your hair, getting comments from passers-by, driving in a parade, competing in a vintage race or just getting your fingernails greasy... to each his own!

I say just enjoy your car, whatever that means to you, and don't fret over it! Just think about costs if you were restoring and maintaining an old Jag or something even more exotic!

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
I like the old adage, "if you have to ask, then you can't afford it". It is a hobby! How do you put a price tag on something that gives you pleasure and fun? If it keeps you off the streets and out of the Bars, you are way ahead of the game!
Regards, Tinkerman
 
I am going to be the black sheep on this one becasue I've actually benfited my bank account with this car stuff....I put myself through school by buying and selling LBC's....I paid for my house by buying and selling LBC's....Now I am not really in it for the money anymore, but I have way less in all my LBC's than what their actually worth, and that includes my TC restoration. The only cars I've lost money car is the newish stuff...especially the Caddy, but I guess thats expected.
 
The first time I started my TR3 and heard the sound of the engine, I knew I was getting a good deal.

Money only counts if you plan on getting a return on your investment. If I want a return on my investment, there are thousands of stocks I could buy.

I've already got a return on this investment and I'm still pouring money into it.
 
wow lots of replys, I am guessing that everyone is into it for as much as I am, Like most replies, I am not into it to make a profit just have fun, I guess I was looking for a reality check, I bet that fish cost about 200 a pound, seems like just when you think your done one more detail need addressing, hope every one is having as much fun as I am
 
I don't think that there is anything wrong with making money from a hobby that you love. What better job could you have than that? I wish that I could do it, but I have a habit of forming these long term love affairs with sports cars and would end up keeping too many of them.

I have to dump my daily drivers every two years because I put too many miles on every year, so the fun ride is the weekend LBC. I've had too many Caddy's, Lincoln's and every other major brand. The fun cars are still the ones that we talk about here.
 
I've had dozens of cars but never have put as much money in one as the current TR3 (still not that bad yet). I made a fair amount of money over the years buying, fixing and selling old Johnson and Evinrude outboard motors and Volkswagens-- at least enough to buy the next one while driving a decent one that I bought or fixed up. My regular driver cars are normally used cars that I've bargained hard for and typically beat then depreciation for most cars and have fun driving them while searching for and considering the next purchase. I'm sorta keeping track of the TR but not really that concerned. The fact that I had successful no-problem weekend with it helped my attitude toward it!
 
I have had the TR3 from my Dad for only 4 months and I am already at $1500. Most of it was spent getting it running again from being stored for 5+ years. It is running sweet now and I have put about 900 miles on it.

My dad kept all the receipts since he got it in 1969. He bought it for $550 from the original owner, and without taking the time to add all the receipts up, I would estimate he put $20K into into it! That does include a total restoration (except the engine was not rebuilt) in the 80's. When he "sold" it to me for $1 earlier this year, he said,"I guarantee you, this will be the most expensive free car you will ever have!" I am loving every minute of it. When it looks like this (attached), how can anybody think it is not worth it?
 

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I've always thought it was useless to add up reciepts for my LBC's. Especially maintenance related items. Sort of like adding up the cost of oil and gas. If I can keep driving them then it is money well spent.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
$2000 bought, $1500 parts, $100 a year insurance. Lots of satisfaction in keeping it alive and running.

And I get twice the looks at a light compared to a $50,000 Porsche (and I've even been challenged by Porsches!)
 
Some day I may actually add it all up.
But for now I'm able to drive my LBC so it makes it all worth while !!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/patriot.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/patriot.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif
 
Upon reflection my only thought is of all the cars I've owned worked over and sold. There are a couple I sure wish I had back.
When I found LBC's and our TR4 in particular, I determined this was the one that won't get away.
IMHO money does'nt= Fun.
That being said I'm kinda pushin the wife to allow me to do just a couple of more things this season!
 
my wife has the '58 3A and the 4A is mine and I do all the work. my stack of receipts is about 6x the size of hers but hers is on the road (almost anyway for this season) and mine is still a rolling chassis. overall with cost of each vehicle considered, it's pretty even but i'm afraid to actually add up the invoices. but then i'll end of with a frame up and hers is a driver (which i drive 99% of the time!!!!)
 
Like a handful of Triumph owners of recent times, I use my Triumph as a daily car, too. In previous times, it's been a '63 Spitfire and a '78 Spitfire 1500. Both were quite used when I bought them but they had to provide regular transportation. My '80 TR-7 Spider is also used regularly, so I equate monies spent on it as the same as funds spent on any "appliance" needed to get you to work. I'm guessing that I've spent about $2,000 above the $5,000 purchase price over the past 3 years, but that's with 40,000 miles of driving, too.

Jeff
 
My Herald is "only" a driver, although to most folks it looks pretty darned good. In four years and the better part of 25,000 miles, I've spent very little. Part of that is because I've collected lots of new and used bits over the years, and another part is because I like to think I've shopped wisely at places like eBay to pick up relative bargain NOS bits.

Looking back over my time owning the car, I suspect that a majority of what I've had to do is at least in part due to either neglect or unknowing maintenance/repair by previous owners. As an example, some previous owner's monkeying with the voltage regulator (not even the correct one to begin with) is likely what caused the generator to fail. Fortunately, it was rebuildable.

And the last major repair (new clutch, finally finished!) was my own stupidity and cheapness in trying to reuse what appeared to be a good used pressure plate. Actually, all the areas that I checked before reusing it looked fine, but I must have missed a stress crack on one of the release lever assemblies on the older-style coil spring pressure plate. (Luckily the bellhousing protected my right leg when the clutch blew; it was reusable despite the small hole where that release lever apparently tried to escape.)

Anyway, my new clutch is in, and the clutch hydraulics are all cleaned up, rebuilt and installed as well. And it's all working great! Now to get insurance and plates and GET DRIVING! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif (OK, that's the main reason I replied to this; I just wanted to tell SOMEONE that the Herald will be back!)
 
Back in the "good ole days" when cars were cars and sheep were still scared of cowboys, we used to call them there fancy bell housings, "scatter shields". Mainly used on high horsepower 60's style drag machines.

I never knew that they were required on a Herald. Maybe there's more to that Python airline sketch than you know......
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have all my Triumph receipts in a cabinet in a garage. I have a rule. Never, Never add anything up.



[/ QUOTE ]

Same with me. I didn't buy this car (25 years ago) as an investment. On second thought, it HAS been an investment in FUN (which is my goal in my life, anyway). I know I'll never get back the money/time I've put into her, but then again I could never BUY the fun I've had had owning my TR. THAT is my justification. And being single, with no one to answer to, it's a moot point. In the end, I DON'T CARE how much I've put into my TR...... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
GT
 
I WAS feeling a little down about the amount of money I've spent on restoring my '74 TR6 so far...that is until I read all the posts from other crazy nut cases just like me! It's true what they say, it's comforting to know you are not alone! I too have a detailed logbook containing receipts for EVERYTHING. It's literally overflowing with receipts from Moss, TRF, and various other suppliers like Aeroquip, Strange Engineering & Willwood as well as receipts from all the local vendors I've contracted to perform assorted jobs, etc. Thank goodness I've had the good sense not to add it all up, either. I'm crazy, just not stupid!
 
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