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Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
The start of something big. Frame off restoration
- Thread starter justin_mercier
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justin_mercier
Jedi Warrior
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Well.... It's amazing how much can happen in a week. I fixed some issues with my chassis, my cross-tube in the front was on upside down, I re-mounted the electric fan more securely without the through-the-fin mounts, and I put new emergency brake cables, forks, and levers on.
That said... the car will no longer be a TR6. There are probably a lot of people who really wont like this decision, but it's MY decision... Instead, I am re-importing to the USA one of the last (if not THE last) Hathaway Hunter body kits.
The Hathaway was designed by Mark Goyette, better known for creating the Ferrari replicas for the Ferris Bueler movie, in 1979 to use a triumph TR4 through TR6 frame, engine, transmission, etc, and there were in total, across several owners to the rights to produce the kits, around 20 or so created. From a post here last week about the body molds to produce the kit being for sale on ebay in Europe I have got in contact with the owner of the molds. He still has an original 1983 complete kit with all the trim and fittings, which he purchased from the US in 2003 and had shipped to Germany, but since he's now selling the molds and all, he's selling this kit, and that's what I will be purchasing from him.
It was never my intention to not have a TR6 when I was done, but... as people may know I have always professed how when I'm done the TR6 I want to immediately find myself a sidescreen roadster to restore, usually mentioning a small mouth TR3 or a TR2. Well, I think this will be the best of both worlds. I'll have a sidescreen roadster, with TR6 power, handling, etc.
Much much more can be learned about the Hathaway Hunter at www.hathawayhunter.com
I hope you all still let me hang out here though , it'll still be a TR6 at heart! I will likely be placing a LOT of new TR6 parts and whatnot for sale soon, new inner and outer sills, floor pan, outer and inner rear valance, a complete hardtop in primer needing a little work and paint, an original never used, but needing a little cosmetic work, Parrish Plastics TR4/250/6 hard top, miata seats, new leather covers for miata seats, carpet set, amco center console, etc. all for sale soon.
It's amazing what can change in just a week.
That said... the car will no longer be a TR6. There are probably a lot of people who really wont like this decision, but it's MY decision... Instead, I am re-importing to the USA one of the last (if not THE last) Hathaway Hunter body kits.
The Hathaway was designed by Mark Goyette, better known for creating the Ferrari replicas for the Ferris Bueler movie, in 1979 to use a triumph TR4 through TR6 frame, engine, transmission, etc, and there were in total, across several owners to the rights to produce the kits, around 20 or so created. From a post here last week about the body molds to produce the kit being for sale on ebay in Europe I have got in contact with the owner of the molds. He still has an original 1983 complete kit with all the trim and fittings, which he purchased from the US in 2003 and had shipped to Germany, but since he's now selling the molds and all, he's selling this kit, and that's what I will be purchasing from him.
It was never my intention to not have a TR6 when I was done, but... as people may know I have always professed how when I'm done the TR6 I want to immediately find myself a sidescreen roadster to restore, usually mentioning a small mouth TR3 or a TR2. Well, I think this will be the best of both worlds. I'll have a sidescreen roadster, with TR6 power, handling, etc.
Much much more can be learned about the Hathaway Hunter at www.hathawayhunter.com
I hope you all still let me hang out here though , it'll still be a TR6 at heart! I will likely be placing a LOT of new TR6 parts and whatnot for sale soon, new inner and outer sills, floor pan, outer and inner rear valance, a complete hardtop in primer needing a little work and paint, an original never used, but needing a little cosmetic work, Parrish Plastics TR4/250/6 hard top, miata seats, new leather covers for miata seats, carpet set, amco center console, etc. all for sale soon.
It's amazing what can change in just a week.
Brosky
Great Pumpkin
Offline
As I've always said, do what makes YOU happy. I know I do and I lose very little sleep at night worrying about what others think of my car.
That looks great and now I know we'll be going to Lars again this year!
Check your PM's on those parts. I may need something that you have.
That looks great and now I know we'll be going to Lars again this year!
Check your PM's on those parts. I may need something that you have.
Silverghost
Yoda
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Shoot, no excuses needed for THAT decision!! That's a VERY presentable ride! Of course.....WE WANT PICTURES!!
bgbassplyr
Darth Vader
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HerronScott
Darth Vader
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Jim,
Seems to be loading here for me.
Scott
Seems to be loading here for me.
Scott
OP
justin_mercier
Jedi Warrior
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I'll have to get a fuel tank fabricated for it, and a few other misc pieces, but It should be a mostly complete original kit. If you go to the 'register' link on hathawayhunter.com it's the brown kit in a crate that's photod there.
The interior kit that comes with it I'll probably end up using as templates / patterns to create my own interior as it's light tan and brown, and I plan on having it painted duo-color with black fenders and silver center/top, so a black interior would look best. The soft top is also a bit of an unknown since "new old stock" doesnt always mean 'usable' when it comes to plastic and vinyl. The important thing is that it has the parts like the front grill, the dash, etc.
After 30 years, the fiberglass will need a bit more prepwork before paint too.
The interior kit that comes with it I'll probably end up using as templates / patterns to create my own interior as it's light tan and brown, and I plan on having it painted duo-color with black fenders and silver center/top, so a black interior would look best. The soft top is also a bit of an unknown since "new old stock" doesnt always mean 'usable' when it comes to plastic and vinyl. The important thing is that it has the parts like the front grill, the dash, etc.
After 30 years, the fiberglass will need a bit more prepwork before paint too.
OP
justin_mercier
Jedi Warrior
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If anyone has any experience with international shipping logistics, I'd appreciate help getting this over here =) It needs to be re-crated (in a much smaller crate than the one above which is what it was shipped from the US to Germany in, with way too much excessive free space)
Mr Thomas Wiegand should be getting me some more photos soon as well. he just got me the photocopies of the original assembly manual, and some other publications and brochures, as well as photos of a kit being assembled.
It'll probably be put in a 1.5mx1.5mx2.5m or there about size crate weighing around 150k
Mr Thomas Wiegand should be getting me some more photos soon as well. he just got me the photocopies of the original assembly manual, and some other publications and brochures, as well as photos of a kit being assembled.
It'll probably be put in a 1.5mx1.5mx2.5m or there about size crate weighing around 150k
OP
justin_mercier
Jedi Warrior
Offline
Time for more Hathaway Hunter info. I'm still working on getting it over to the states, but we're pretty close now, with some reasonable quotes for shipping, and Mr Wiegand working on crating it this very week.
Here is a little history. This kit was designed by Mark Goyette in 1979 and then later sold to Chuck Hunter of Vintage Motor Works in California. When Mr. Hunter passed away in 1984 the kit stopped being produced for some time. In 1994 Jan De Buyser of Belgium bought the rights to the molds and produced three more cars, and then sold the molds and the rights to the name in 1996 to Thomas Wiegand of Germany. Thomas produced 5 more kits and one complete car in the mean time before putting the molds up for auction on Ebay, which is how I got into contact with him.
The kit that I am purchasing is actually the last of the original kits produced in the early 80s. Thomas believes that this kit was made in late 1983 or early 1984 by Vintage Motor Works. This kit was listed for sale in 2003 in kitcarmagazine, and eventually purchased by Thomas Wiegand because he wanted an original kit with parts to compare with and perhaps have more produced, such as the front grille which is no longer existent elsewhere.
This is how the kit arrived in Germany from the USA. It is currently in the process of being re-crated for a return trip back to the states, and will be much better packed than it's first trip over the pond.
Here are some photos of the kit itself, unpacked and laid out.
The nice thing about the kit is, with the exception of the grille, the other parts are actually available from a number of other cars. Most of them I will still have to obtain myself, but they wont be that hard to track down. I have been studying photos and talking with owners, and have come to the following partial list of 'donner parts' The Cobra parts are actually surprisingly easy to get, since the Factory Five replica cobra plant is less than an hour from me.
TR2/TR3 Rear bumperettes - x4
Alternate - AC Cobra Bumperettes - x4
VW Beetle Headlight trim rings - x2
MG-TD front turn signals - x2
Optional MG-TD Front badge bar - x1
AC Cobra door latches - x2 (one set)
AC Cobra seats - x2 (one set)
1 set Spitfire Mk3 tail lights (the circular lower ones)
Spitfire bonnet latches - x2
Austin Healey Sprite windshield frame (1968 model type) - x1
TR2/TR3 trunk hinges - x2
TR4 soft top tie down clip thingies for the rear, no idea what they're called! - x2
TR4 soft top frame - x1
Some of these, the soft top frame, the windshield and frame, and a few other misc parts will be coming with my kit. The others I'll have to source here, like the seats and door latches.
Anyhow... What a long strange trip it's been! My TR6 will no longer actually be... a TR6
Here is a little history. This kit was designed by Mark Goyette in 1979 and then later sold to Chuck Hunter of Vintage Motor Works in California. When Mr. Hunter passed away in 1984 the kit stopped being produced for some time. In 1994 Jan De Buyser of Belgium bought the rights to the molds and produced three more cars, and then sold the molds and the rights to the name in 1996 to Thomas Wiegand of Germany. Thomas produced 5 more kits and one complete car in the mean time before putting the molds up for auction on Ebay, which is how I got into contact with him.
The kit that I am purchasing is actually the last of the original kits produced in the early 80s. Thomas believes that this kit was made in late 1983 or early 1984 by Vintage Motor Works. This kit was listed for sale in 2003 in kitcarmagazine, and eventually purchased by Thomas Wiegand because he wanted an original kit with parts to compare with and perhaps have more produced, such as the front grille which is no longer existent elsewhere.
This is how the kit arrived in Germany from the USA. It is currently in the process of being re-crated for a return trip back to the states, and will be much better packed than it's first trip over the pond.
Here are some photos of the kit itself, unpacked and laid out.
The nice thing about the kit is, with the exception of the grille, the other parts are actually available from a number of other cars. Most of them I will still have to obtain myself, but they wont be that hard to track down. I have been studying photos and talking with owners, and have come to the following partial list of 'donner parts' The Cobra parts are actually surprisingly easy to get, since the Factory Five replica cobra plant is less than an hour from me.
TR2/TR3 Rear bumperettes - x4
Alternate - AC Cobra Bumperettes - x4
VW Beetle Headlight trim rings - x2
MG-TD front turn signals - x2
Optional MG-TD Front badge bar - x1
AC Cobra door latches - x2 (one set)
AC Cobra seats - x2 (one set)
1 set Spitfire Mk3 tail lights (the circular lower ones)
Spitfire bonnet latches - x2
Austin Healey Sprite windshield frame (1968 model type) - x1
TR2/TR3 trunk hinges - x2
TR4 soft top tie down clip thingies for the rear, no idea what they're called! - x2
TR4 soft top frame - x1
Some of these, the soft top frame, the windshield and frame, and a few other misc parts will be coming with my kit. The others I'll have to source here, like the seats and door latches.
Anyhow... What a long strange trip it's been! My TR6 will no longer actually be... a TR6
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Very cool Justin - I live less than an hour from you and hope to see your project completed some day. I emailed my friends I grew up to see if they want to go tour the Factory Five plant down the Cape in the next few weeks and then take a trip to Bill Pullmans car collection in Hyannis.
If you need help with anything, please do not hesitate to ask.
It's been a pretty mild winter here in New England, which hasn't made it easy to keep the 3A in the garage!
Bill
If you need help with anything, please do not hesitate to ask.
It's been a pretty mild winter here in New England, which hasn't made it easy to keep the 3A in the garage!
Bill
gubba
Senior Member
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WOW...I just spent 2 hours this sunday morning reading this blog form page 1 to page 26 and I bow to your greatness and deep pockets. I trueley admire your tenacity Justin. A machanic, electrician, welder, designer , enginer, bodyman, painter, and all out of your garage...a true Triumph guy. Too bad you had so much time into your tub..Just to change it but you will have a very unique ride when you are done. Kudo's
OP
justin_mercier
Jedi Warrior
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Here are some updated photos that were sent to me of the crating effort. He's figured out probably the best way to fit the kit in a small space, and even offered to fit it even smaller if I wanted to do the fiberglass work needed to re-attach the tips of the fender wings if he were to saw them off shorter, but I passed on that option =)
As can be better seen in these photos, there will be a decent amount of gelcoat repair / prep from 30 years of being moved about before it can go to paint, but being fiberglass, it should be fairly straightforward and easy.
As can be better seen in these photos, there will be a decent amount of gelcoat repair / prep from 30 years of being moved about before it can go to paint, but being fiberglass, it should be fairly straightforward and easy.
Number_6
Jedi Warrior
Offline
Here's one stop shopping for all the Cobra bits that you might want. Factory Five Racing, right up the road in Wareham, MA, has all the parts in their spare parts catalog. I of course have no monetary interest in Factory Five.
AC Cobra Bumperettes
AC Cobra Door Latches
Vinyl AC Cobra Seats
Or for a little more Leather
AC Cobra Bumperettes
AC Cobra Door Latches
Vinyl AC Cobra Seats
Or for a little more Leather
OP
justin_mercier
Jedi Warrior
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The body is just about ready for its trip back over seas! Hopefully it should be on its way sometime next week =)
Number_6
Jedi Warrior
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Just a suggestion but you might want to make sure that the guy you have crating the body provides for an easy way for customs to open the crate for inspection. When I had Martin Robey ship my body shell for my E-Type from the UK I had a fully enclosed crate. US customs just smashed a few of the boards on the top of the crate to look inside. In the process they did some serious damage to the body panels.justin_mercier said:
OP
justin_mercier
Jedi Warrior
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Thanks, I hadn't thought of that, but just passed your comment along to the gentleman I'm buying the body from .
GBRandy
Jedi Knight
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