London to Coventry Kar Kollekshun Kapers

[purplebargeken]

Don't get too excited just yet. This is just a warm up.

 

This is about the Triumph 1500 FWD that I have bought back from my friend.

 

The photo I posted originally was pre-restoration. Here is the car now:

 

 

Damson with a grey interior by the way. She will have a full MOT too. 

 

Virgin train ticket purchased on line and 1st class is the way for me. Never been 1st class before. I may be excited*.

 

The collection date is scheduled for the 7th December. Photos will occur at the appropriate times. 

 

 

 

 

[purplebargeken]

The spoiler will be removed and fitted the the white Toledo. 

[spike60]

Does the white Toledo need more front downforce?

[scruff]

What a handsome motor. Dead jealous Ken! 

[purplebargeken]

Cheers fella.

 

Yes. Yes it does.

 

I just think that it might suit it a bit more than the damson car. Maybe. 

[Steviemillar]

That looks ace!

[Bren]

It is missing the usual triumph tidemark which extends to the roof.

[purplebargeken]

[purplebargeken]

Right then, MOT obtained with a quiet whisper in mate's ear about the rear brake pipes needing a caress with some scotchpad and grease. MOT obtained!!!

 

Insurance document printed off and costing a mere £101 for FC.

 

Camera battery charging, train ticket found, excitement levels rising.

 

Am due to arrive in Coventry just after lunchtime, mate will pick me up, drive over to his parents, natter+++, fuel up and drive home.

 

Piccies will follow. 

[purplebargeken]

Got all me 'stuff' ready. Will purchase emergency KitKats on the way in. Green Flag card warmed up.

 

If anyone spots me driving from Cov to Londonshire - give me a parp on the horn and a wave to help stave off the misery of motorway driving.

 

Remember..... Damson Triumph 1500 driven by a grim looking bloke with feck all hair and a greying goatee.

[purplebargeken]

Well, no-one parped 

 

The journey started off with a wait on the platform at Edmonton Green. Never an exciting experience.

 

 

Train arrives full to the absolute max. WTF, it's Sunday FFS. Commuting ain't due to start until Monday, what gives?

 

Ok, so it's the fast train to Seven Sister, a slight bonus. Navigate the hated Tube. Again, the tube is rammed full of people, stuff that. The next one is empty, thank feck.

 

Euston is achieved. Plod on to the train, I'd spent a tenner to go 1st Class. No expense spared here you know! 

 

Nice train, my own little light and a single window seat. Cool!  Off on time, no worries. Plop out CCM onto the table, start reading about Cortine v Dolomite, a good omen.

 

 

Announcement....... due to staffing shortages The Shop will not be open for the duration of this journey. 

 

Whaaat! No snacks, no drinks? Bastards.

 

Guess what, no staff whatsoever, no ticket checker on the train. Yet they are still offering people in Cattle Class the chance to 'upgrade' to 1st Class for a tenner. How? There's no fucker there to sort it out with and don't bank on getting anything to eat or drink, as there is no-one there either. WTAF?

 

Anyway, we roll into Coventry bang on time, hungry and somewhat dehydrated but on time.

 

 

 

Mate picks me up in his 1300 FWD called 'Lurch'. He is modifying this car slowly but surely and it will be fun when done. It was nippy and handles sweetly anyway.

 

 

Back at his we have a good natter and a catch up, long overdue. 

 

The 1500 is on the driveway all ready to go. A quick signing of forms, a look through the history (which I'd forgotten about) and off we went to the local Asda petrol emporium whereupon I completely forget to do the 'petrol station shot'. Sorry everyone. 

 

 

The drive home is a little slow initially due to a lane closure and 50mph average speed camera bollocks. Eventually it all evens out and I'm home for tea (thank fuck) at 5.30.

 

The little 1500 worked perfectly. The timing chain will need doing (again) - already done 3 times but there was a duff batch flying round which was just a pain in the arse. 

 

Observations? She handled lovely. It has been 7 years since she was mine and my mate has done a brilliant job of restoring her and keeping her in fine fettle.

 

There are a couple of little jobs to do. I have some LED bulbs to go into the sidelights. I have to get used to the dullness of the standard headlights again. The speedo/other dial lights were very dim. I may look at LED options there as they were quite hard to read. The boot lid seal needs doing and the car just needs a light clean internally. I also need to go over the important bits with some waxoyl at some point. Other than that, she is a get in and drive kind of car.

 

Cheap insurance and tax-exempt, what is not to love.

 

Made a deal with my mate, he gets first refusal if I pass her on and at the price I paid (£200) plus whatever is spent on her. That way the car is kept affordable and will go to someone who will look after her. Winnah type situation.

 

Pics to follow.

[Asimo]

Is that a FWD or a RWD?

 

Nice to see your car next to the 1300, I had forgotten what a lot of differences there were. It would be nice to line up every variant; Triumph really worked to get those cars into as many market slots as poss.

[danthecapriman]

Looks a great car. I like the look of the green baby trummy too.

 

I got offered a Toledo when I was in the garage. It was a customers car, she'd had it from new (1975) and I used to do all the work on it as I loved the old stuff. It was a solid old thing too, just a small hole in one front wing. Not a spot anywhere else! It used to go straight through every mot no problems aswell. The only down side was one day it came in sporting vile hand brushed green paint! The old dear said she'd painted the garage door and had some left over paint so did the car aswell!

Anyway, eventually she gave up driving and offered it to me for nothing! I was bitterly crushed to have to turn down the offer as I had nowhere to put it (and I did try, very hard, to find a way!) it's one I still regret not getting now. I'd love to of had it.

[purplebargeken]

It's a FWD. Very few of the 1500 versions left on the road now. 

 

She was originally a freebie and belonged to an older woman who lived in Richmond. That was the second or third car that I'd obtained from that locale. 

 

I've had 3 or 4 Toledo's. Lovely little cars. 

[purplebargeken]

Just thinking back now. I've had:

 

6 1300FWD's, 3 Toledo's, 1 1300 Dolomite, 2 x 1850 Dolomite (manual) - both freebies, 1 1500TC manual and 1 auto, 1 1500FWD and a Sprint Project (manual). So all that is missing is an auto 1850 and auto Sprint. I could then say that I have had every small Triumph saloon going. Oh, forgot the 1300FWD TC! Bugger.

[warren t claim]

When you get the LED side lights post a pic of them on, preferably with your good self standing in front of the car looking a bit moody.

[purplebargeken]

Will do what I can. It is similar to my 'going to work/Tesco/Morrisons/Asda' face to be honest.

[DavidB]

Why/how did they have FWD and RWD of the same car?

[mercrocker]

Why/how did they have FWD and RWD of the same car?

 

The green one in the pics was the first of that body shape, 1965, FWD.   It was replaced by the 1500 in 1970, also FWD.   At the same time a cheaper, similar-looking but 2 door only to begin with, variant (Toledo) was introduced to replace the Herald and give Triumph a small car contender with simpler drivetrain to get the cost down.   Later on, the Dolomite (originally 1854cc) came out using the 1500 bodyshell but with RWD to pitch the car toward growing import stuff like BMWs and give the range a sports saloon that would appeal to people giving up sports cars for family reasons (the junior exec market).   Eventually it made sense (to Triumph) to call them all Dollys and make them all RWD, although in fact the 1500 went RWD before it went Dolomite....

[scruff]

Nice one PBK! That's a great motor.