long shot help - 49 Roadster

[t8nwa]

My dad is restoring a 49 Roadster and it sounds like the chrome plater has royally messed up the grill surround. Sounds like they ground through the metal in places. They are trying to rpair it now, but are taking a long time and he is not too confident that it will be right when finished. Does anyone have a lead on another one or some suggestions I could give him?

his car:
Link removed and pic below.

Thanks,

Alan

[ 04-17-2004: Message edited by: t8nwa ]</p>

 

[Bruce Bowker]

Can't help but what a GREAT car!!!!!!!!!!!! I want one!!!!!!

 

[t8nwa]

hmm, the pic disappeared. For those who do not know what a 1949 Triumph Roadster 2000 looks like:

Cheers!

Alan

 

[aeronca65t]

No suggestions on the grill, but that's a real nice car (we've had a similar car here at the Moss Britfest....a white one).
I believe that these cars are informally refered to as a "TR-1".

[ 04-14-2004: Message edited by: aeronca65t ]</p>

 

[sammyb]

Hello from 20 minutes down I5! I should arrange to profile your dad's roadster in my newspaper column.

You'll be happy to know there are parts to be found, since there were a number of these cars made. There's even one in the Tyee Triumph Club, so if you go to their web site (https://www.tyeetriumph.org/) and contact their membership chair, they might be able to put you in contact with the owner (who is not listed on their site.)

Check Hemmings Motor News (www.hemmings.com) and Ebay. Not to mention, anything can be rebuilt/restored by a good replater -- If you can't find the parts, Hemmings also has a number of nationally known metal part restorers. Your dad should require the local shop pay to have the parts restored by experts.

As for the TR1 comment...Actually, the original 20TS show car of 1952 was known as the TR1. The 1800 and 2000 Roadsters were never really considered a part of the TR line (formally or informally.) They were more boulevard cruisers, as opposed to the TRs, which were purpose-built to be sports cars.

Still the Roadsters are definitely cool (love the dickey seat!)

Good luck with the restore. Hope to see you out at the shows.

[ 04-14-2004: Message edited by: sammyb ]</p>

 

[waltesefalcon]

Beautiful car

Cheers,

Walter

 

[t8nwa]

The newspaper article would be very nice. However, my dad is in Salisbury, NC. He is desparately trying to get the car ready for the Carolina British Car show to be held in Salisbury this year.

He has more trouble with the chrome than anything else. Companies going belly up with his parts and then a company temporarily loosing the bumper. I think the lesson is to get someone your REALLY trust and check out with the irreplacable parts.

Sammy is correct on the TR-1 info. The Roadsters (1800 & 2000, which were the engine sizes) were definetly TOURING cars. 60 mph is a pretty good stretch for these cars and cornering is NOT their forte. The dickey seats (been a long time since I heard that term) and rear fold up windscreen are very cool. Lots of fun riding back there as a kid. Sorry, I cannot find a pic with back opened up.

Sammy, I did see the black one at the ABFM last year. Nice car.

He is in contact with the Roadster club in England. Hopefully, he will not need to import one and this one will be fixed.

Sammy - did you do the Run to the Gorge last year. I seem to remember a really nice Red TR3 there.

Alan

[ 04-14-2004: Message edited by: t8nwa ]</p>

 

[sammyb]

Yes, the black one is the local car. I talked to the owner back at the SOVREN vintage races.

I didn't make the Run last year. My younger daughter was born Sept.11th, so my wife put the kabash on car touring events pretty early in the summer. I probably will have to stay due to work and child schedule this year too. It's a shame, I've only had my TR as far as the Olympia Airport -- about 15 miles from my house (although a 70MPH freeway zone!)

Oh, and by the way...to answer the question in your sig...I can do it at a cluck, I can do it at a gallop. I can do it really slow so my heart won't palpitate....just don't be late. (Inside joke for long-term western Washington residents.)

[ 04-14-2004: Message edited by: sammyb ]</p>

 

[t8nwa]

I knew some could do the Puyallup!!!!

I was just at the Oly airport today. The company plane flys from there to Hillsboro. I have the Red/White MINI Cooper S that is often seen in that parking lot or flying low in that 70 zone.

Alan

 

[Sherlock]

I've seen several of these early roadsters, I think there are at least three of them in the area around Toronto, Ontario, and when I lived back there I saw some of them. I also know of one in Victoria, B.C. There are a few of them around North America, certainly an interesting car "behind" their time in a certain delightful way.

 

[Cain]

The local LBC shop owner here has one. I don't know when he got it, but I think it's his next big project. A buddy of his showed it to me a couple of weeks ago. It's currently in one of his garages under a car cover and needs quite a bit of work.

 

[Basil]

One your original picture you might have it on a site that does not allow hot linkinf of image (some sites do this to limit excess bandwidth usage). Email me the picture and I'll put in on my server and link to it.

Basil

 

[t8nwa]

Thanks Basil but I copied the above pics to your member rides since you did not have any Roadsters in there. I will edit the original post to remove the link.

I have been trying to get my dad on the forum. He has owned at one time or another about every post-war MG and Triumph out there. He also has more parts in the basement than he needs. Current stable includes the Roadster, 37 MG TA and a TR6.

Alan

 

[Geo Hahn]

There was a fellow from Encino (CA) at last October's Triumphest with 3 or 4 of these... all just beautiful. Sorry I do not know his name but the So Cal club may be able to put you on to him.

Considering how many he was showing I have to believe he has a personal parts supply or a reliable source.