SITE MEMBERS' CARS

I bought this car in Leominster, Massachusetts in 1981 when I was 17. It was full of Bondo after 10 New England winters, but it had fresh BRG paint over the rot, I didn't have much money, and it was love at first sight. I also owned a 1974 parts car that had been destroyed in a fire, which accounts for the mishmash of parts.

I sold it in 1988 while I was in flight training with the US Navy. I came across it for sale via the Internet in 2000, on its last legs. I think the polite phrase is "beyond economical restoration." I bought it back sight unseen without any real idea what I was going to do with it, drove it home, and stared at it for 4 1/2 years. In the Spring of 2005, I took a deep breath, sold my lovely 2nd-owner TR250, and dove in.

The bodywork was well beyond my ability, so kudos to the crew at Manassas Quality Autobody for being willing to undertake this task. I am also greatly indebted to Jeff and the crew at Motorhead LTD in Fairfax, without whose skills and advice I would not have dared begin. Finally, my greatest supporter, my wife Kate, who began dating me in 1982 when I was a badly groomed adolescent with a smokey green sports car.

6-Pack club members: See us on page 21 of the Winter 2001 issue, "Family Album" (Vol. XIX, #1) http://www.6-pack.org/

The shape of things to come:
-Chassis has been strengthened and powdercoated.
- 16" Panasports with 215/60/16 Michelin XGTH4 tires mounted. 26.3" diameter is 1/2" shorter than original Michelin X 185-15.
-Body has received final paint.
-Transmission rebuilt with J-type Overdrive
-January 2008: Engine is back home, after 1 year, 1 month, 3 weeks, and 4 days at the machinist's. It now sports 2632cc, forged pistons, forged rods, 9.5:1 compression, Richard Good's GP-2 camshaft, 1.65:1 roller rockers, aluminum flywheel, header, etc.
-July 2009: Fuel lines, exhaust, and transmission hydraulics are in. Underhood work is done. Just a few more items and I'm on the road.
-March 2010: Seats and steering wheel are in, waiting for the rain to stop and I'll be adding gas and crossing my fingers. Very tense time. Has it really been 5 years since I started disassembly?
-3/5/2010 It's alive! Started the engine today and ran it at 2000-2500 RPM for 20 minutes to bed in the cam and lifters. Small oil leak from the oil pressure gauge fitting at the engine side. I guess I left it finger-tight.
-4/7/09 Mile number one. CC55483L moved under its own power and did a tour of the Virginia countryside. There's some sorting to be done, but the car has begun its second life.
"It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important." Antoine de Saint Exupery

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http://www.triumphowners.com/735

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