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What should I do with "Statler"

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apbos

apbos

Jedi Knight
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What should I do with "Statler"

My TR3a so nicknamed by "Silverghost" Is now ready for restoration. tilt Statler by all accounts was a parts race car. TR4nut has gotten me a replacement front fender and inner fender patch and now I must go forward with my bodywork repairs. I've managed to collect a lot of bolt on mods (Racestorations fiberglass competition sidescreens, SS header, chrome alternator, Brooklands wind screens, lucas fog lamps and XHP 940 reproduction plates etc(later a Toyota 5 speed)). As I am almost ready to put on the lower patches on to the front fenders I am at the point of also having to make the decision on making the front end tilt! I done the research and it can be done and reversed if need be. My vision of the car would be a modern street interpration of the LeMans TR3S XHP 940 (BRG/Yellow/#26). I know it is my car and I can do with it as I please. My question is does this move the car out of your consideration for purchase if you were looking to buy a nice driver TR that you might show in an altered or race car class?

The tilt would really make the cars engine chrome stand out! If you would like to hear how I <span style="font-weight: bold">Might</span> plan to do it if I proceed I can elaborate.
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Paul
 
Re: What should I do with "Statler"

I would be quite interested in reading about how you might
build and install the tilting front end.
Have to admit...I would never buy a car that had been altered
like that. From my viewpoint...so few of these special cars
around...why do that to one of them. But then again...
it is your car...and your money. Press on. Gil
 
Re: What should I do with "Statler"

Anytime you alter a car from original, you risk losing potential buyers. I'm not aware of any 3s with tilt front ends, who knows, maybe you could be opening yourself up to a whole new buying market. You will definitely draw attention at the car shows.
 
Re: What should I do with "Statler"

As you say, it is your car and you should do what you want with it. Especially considering that you are starting with a restoration project, that a few years ago may have just been scrapped.
Personally, I like to see cars with a bit of character. Car shows would be very boring if all of the TR3s were rebuilt to original condition in original colours.
You will enjoy your car as you want it and I suspect that you will get a thrill modifying it and then driving it.
Yes, anything other than period modifications may reduce the resale value, but if you say that all modifications will be reversible then that shouldn't be too much of a problem.
I think that the real difference in value will be the quality of the work that is done. If the car is thrown together then the value will be adversely effected. If however you do a beautiful job and make a car that drives beautifully and looks great then the value could be the same or more than a standard car.
Good luck with the project and I hope you will regularly keep us updated.
 
Re: What should I do with "Statler"

It is your car. Do with it what ever you please. I get sick of hearing those who don't like "bling" or chrome or whatever doesn't suit THEIR tastes. It is YOUR car so enjoy it YOUR way.
 
Re: What should I do with "Statler"

A tilt front end, executed well, would not lower the value in my opinion and could easily raise it. I definitely think it would a attract a big crowd too everytime the car were shown. Do it, you know you want to! :devilgrin:
 
Re: What should I do with "Statler"

here's another variation which is very cool, IMHO
 

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Re: What should I do with "Statler"

IMHO I like the idea of the tilt frontend. Makes getting to the radiator a lot easier. :thumbsup:
 
Re: What should I do with "Statler"

Frank
That is cool and easily reversable. Definitely one to contemplate.

Here are some pics of Steve M's Tilt TR3 in So Cal. His is welded together. I would like to use something like his tilt mechanism. I also would remove the inner fenders and make a frame that would support the feders out of square tubing whick would attach to the firewall (maybe with some hood latches, to which the fender would be bolted. The fenders would be cut off at 6 in from the ground (at the level af the replacement patches) and that patch secured to the tub). The tilting fenders would then be secured using spitfire latches. This way the bonnet could still be used and when it was closed up it would look almost stock.
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Off to work and a little more dreaming.

Paul
 
Re: What should I do with "Statler"

Paul I will have the front end of my donor TR if you need any parts or patches. I got your voice mail about the hard top, Too much stuff laying around now.
Did you get your rear fenders off?
Dan
 
Re: What should I do with "Statler"

Dan
Thanks for the parts offer. I hope to work on it this afternoon. I've been shooting the nuts and bolts with penetrating oil this week. I'm really torn with this tilt mechanism. Working on the car will help as I'll know better what will have to be done. How goes the progress with your car.

Paul
 
Re: What should I do with "Statler"

I have a very nice nose and front fenders off of a doner car (TR-3) that have been brazed together, sitting in my back yard. After seeing this post, I now know what I can do with it. I have tried cutting the nose panel from the fenders but being brazed, my cutting wheels will hardly touch it. I have 2 TR-3 parts cars to build from. I would also want to remove the headlights, chop the windshield, and of course louver the hood, TR-6 wire wheels and fat tires, aluninum radiator, side draft Webers, headers, rack and pinion steering, Toyota 5 speed, race car type dash with different instruments, a real roll bad into the trunk, and a flat MGB gas tank in the floor of the trunk where the spare tire use to be. Now if I could get some of my local TR-3 buddies to help. I got sidetracked. Bill C, Mesa, Az
 
Re: What should I do with "Statler"

We have the neice for the weekend so family stuff today.
But the head is all ported out and I got the TR6 pressure plate yesterday along with the oil cooler and 12 inch puller fan The head and flywheel go to the machinest Monday morn and I hope to have the flywheel back so I can finish the toyota trans before I send the frame over to the body guys on Friday. The head I can install later.
Dan
 
Re: What should I do with "Statler"

" being brazed, my cutting wheels will hardly touch it"

Try a recip saw. Had the same condition and saw took care of it in short order.
 
Re: What should I do with "Statler"

apbos said:
does this move the car out of your consideration for purchase if you were looking to buy a nice driver TR that you might show in an altered or race car class?
Click to expand...

Nope. In fact, it would make it more appealing to me.
 
Re: What should I do with "Statler"

As long as it's returnable to the original state and the parts are kept I vote for adding value. No big shaker scoops though.
 
Re: What should I do with "Statler"

I agree that a nice car should not be cut up, but I have a car that was clobbered in the front, the whole front of the car including the frame is scrap. My neighbor (also British car guy) came over and when I showed him the picture of the Le Mans car and the tilt front end he got inspired as I have. We will see what happens. Thanks, Bill C. Mesa, Az.
 
Re: What should I do with "Statler"

Bill
I've created a monster. It is a good thing I am leaving on vacation this week so I can think about it. I have a file of images etc that maybe of help, if anyone is interested. A interesting thing that you can not see in the picture of the Le Mans car is the plexyglass sidescreens. I have yet to see them on any other car. I have some other small pictures of the the Le Mans cars. Does anyone else have any?

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Paul
 
Re: What should I do with "Statler"

I'm glad you liked my suggestion about the name!! :smile: I think the tilt front is a cool idea. Do it, but do it right. Where you'll lose people is if it is done poorly. If it looks cobbled and shoddy, it'll turn people away. If it looks like it may have come from the factory, or works, you'll get people pondering over it, trying to figure it out. Just my 2 cents.
 
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