Triumph - That was a year that was..

[Bfg]

My sincere apologies. I didn't mean to say, nor imply anything awful.. but I do thank you for kind response (sad emoi).  This is very special of you.

To an engineer's mind ; a change in circumstance is not always ill boding or for the worse. Indeed often it is not.  Sometimes they are just changes which ought be addressed, are better not avoided, things which are not as anticipated, hoped or planned but may still be an interesting route to follow, and/or possibly even new and hopefully exciting opportunities. Certainly, regarding my own personal circumstance, there's no need to be concerned.

Cheers, Pete

- - -

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, Bfg said:

My sincere apologies. I didn't mean to say, nor imply anything awful.. but I do thank you for kind response (sad emoi).  This is very special of you.

To an engineer's mind ; a change in circumstance is not always ill boding or for the worse. Indeed often it is not.  Sometimes they are just changes which ought be addressed, are better not avoided, things which are not as anticipated, hoped or planned but may still be an interesting route to follow, and/or possibly even new and hopefully exciting opportunities. Certainly, regarding my own personal circumstance, there's no need to be concerned.

Cheers, Pete

- - -

Good to hear. Selling 'Katie' tho, maybe something incoming? (#noseybastard) 

[Bfg]

19 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Good to hear. Selling 'Katie' tho, maybe something incoming? (#noseybastard) 

I hope to consolidate.. ie., letting my Daimler 250 and Sunbeam motorcycles go too.  

           And then . . .  ?  (#secretivebastard) 

 

[High Jetter]

4 hours ago, Bfg said:

I hope to consolidate.. ie., letting my Daimler 250 and Sunbeam motorcycles go too.  

           And then . . .  ?  (#secretivebastard) 

 

Suspect not roffles🤣

[brandersnatch]

I saw you driving westbound along the A14 today. Looking cool with a ‘half open’ roof. 

[Bfg]

On 05/11/2024 at 17:26, brandersnatch said:

I saw you driving westbound along the A14 today. Looking cool with a ‘half open’ roof. 

Heading to or from Needham Market and the Coffee & Classics gathering.

The weather was overcast all day but brighter in life than is reflected in these photos.

* It's an informal meeting between 10am to 12 gaps.  In summer we were there 'til 1:30pm,  but this week at midday quite a few cars had already left the field

^ Tom Tom lead me through some back lanes, as a short cut on the way to my working on the boat, to admire the autumn colours.

P

[Bfg]

Don't look now but. . .

^ Katie's 'distinctive' sill, which was replaced (for new) by M&T Classics some three and a half years ago ..is finally ! being reworked.

M&T's primary task, with regard to this side of the car, was to correct its uneven door shuts. To do this - they cut out the old sill and replaced it along with the B-post's triangular gusset.  As far as correcting the door gaps .. I think they did a great job   but., I was never happy with the shape of the after-market sill's pressing.  Its not fitted in the wrong place - because the door-seal flange is correct, but its shape doesn't match the wing's profile. . . 

       

 

^ Fat finger measurement .. I'm sure the photo's speak for themselves, and hopefully clarifies why, until I got around to correcting its shape, I hadn't painted it.  Over the past three years, a multitude  of other tasks were of higher priority to me that than the cosmetics of this sill  .  .  .  but today I got on with it. . .

For right or for wrong, I've chosen not to slit along it, pull it out (into shape), add extra metal, and then re-weld it all up again, before fairing and finishing.. because I didn't want to compromise its structure, nor the door gaps, nor even to cut and weld ..which may instigate internal corrosion.  No, instead I decided to sheath over it, not with bondo but with steel . . .

  

^ Galvanised steel, off-cuts of a new roof panel was my choice of material for the task. Aside from being steel and galvanised, it has the added advantage that it's actually very lightweight has stiffening ribs and already has neat folds.

  

^ After hand reworking the section of galvanised sheet steel (and a rough fill over the stiffening rib).. I drilled 4 tiny holes and temporarily screwed it into place.  I subsequently adjusted the ends (which are folded inwards) to compliment the bottom shuts of each wing.  So far so good, the fit and size (after just a little more fettling) would be good to fair over and finish.

Because I didn't want to weld (introduce stress and burn off paint or wax-oil = potential corrosion) I've opted to bond it into place., with epoxy.  Some folk might have used seam sealer, but that is difficult to fair. Some might have used polyester filler (bondo) but that shrinks (and so tends to pull off of steel) and it's also hygroscopic, but epoxy is, to my mind, a robust and totally waterproof solution.   Mind you it's flipping sticky to work with ..but still a great product. The steel cover-panel was sanded inside and out, not enough to cut through the galvanising, but rough enough to provide a key for the epoxy. 

And then, the fun starts . . .

   I roughly calculated how much I needed.  That's a whole lot of goop !

Based on the sill panel being 32" long, and using x3 glue crests = almost 100 sq inches of bond .. I don't intend it to peel off !  

   

^  A thin layer was spread over the sill ..which had also been pre-sanded to clean surface. The epoxy helps protects the sill (as a barrier) from condensation, and pre-smearing it on that surface too, very much improves the bond.    ^ ^  Thick goopy rows of the epoxy ; top, bottom and along the stiffening rib.   Man-handling this, while at the same time as wearing plastic gloves and trying to get four tiny screws in, to hold it in place .., What could possibly go wrong ! ?  

I'm delighted to say - it went really well. . .

   

^ Before blending the adhesive in and cleaning up.  Thankfully there's ample working time ..when the air temperature is low.

 

   

^ That'll work as a solid basis to work from. The ridge is now 8-10mm further out than the structural sill under it.  The screws will be removed before I fair the shape with epoxy filler. The epoxy is waterproof, but still I'll also use epoxy primer over it because it's so vulnerable. 

     

^ a little packing / adjustment before the epoxy sets, just to bring that forward line down a tad..  ^^ It takes ages to cure when the temperature is 10-deg or less, so localised warmth helps the catalyst work.

It'll take me a time to finish this, what with drying times as well, but hopefully I'll get on well enough to furnish an update by the end of the week. 

That's it for tonight. I bid you a good one.

Pete

 

[brandersnatch]

On 05/11/2024 at 17:26, brandersnatch said:

I saw you driving westbound along the A14 today. Looking cool with a ‘half open’ roof. 

Not that I’m stalking you or anything but I saw you again today on Nacton Road by the roundabout. Still looking cool with a ‘half open’ roof. 😉

[Bfg]

On 18/11/2024 at 20:50, brandersnatch said:

Not that I’m stalking you or anything but I saw you again today on Nacton Road by the roundabout. Still looking cool with a ‘half open’ roof. 😉

Yep, I like to use the car.   

Pete

[Bfg]

Late update ..on account of Vodaphone's service, and therefore my phone and internet, was down last week (in the postcode area where I live).  So a quick pictorial conclusion to the sill's cover. . .

      

^ work in progress.

 

^ That works ..after a quick wash off of the dust.  

 

^  Katie's door gaps and lines are now good, on both sides  

And I'm sure some will be pleased to see her near-side sill (finally ! ) in red. 

 

^  I'm happy.. the task was okay to do at home on my own, and now she has good lines with very respectable fits.

IMO Katie's always been tidy as a driver, but I'm pleased to have this extra detail, once and for all, sorted 

Perhaps, some might consider what I've done here as a cheat, but please do recall ; the replacement sill was professionally fitted. I simply didn't task them to finish it (..to avoid further over-run of costs).  It could be a good thing, that many of those who paid for top dollar restorations / prime examples of whatever marque - don't really know what's under their car's paint and polish ! 

Bidding you good weather and a great drive out in your own Autoshite 

Pete.

 

 

[Bfg]

Morning all,

As previously spoken about, the possibility - I have made the decision to sell Katie,  in large part to consolidate the number or projects I have (two classic cars, two 1950's motorcycles and a 1972 sailing boat).   After three years of cost and thousands of man hours - i finally had a really good year driving and touring in Katie, but I'm ever restless and my age not getting any younger. 

Katie is now listed on both the TR Register and the Triumph Sport Six Club website classified, and will be in those club's magazines in January.  This morning she's having a professional photo-shoot for on-line auction with Car & Classic.  It's not the best time to sell a sports car but I have reasons to try now.  

I'll keep you informed.

Pete

[Noel Tidybeard]

have you still got the bumpers? it would help her look less "unfinished project" to some prospectives

[Bfg]

5 hours ago, Noel Tidybeard said:

have you still got the bumpers? it would help her look less "unfinished project" to some prospectives

Thank you

Yes, they are in good shape with nice chrome, and will be included in the advert, as indeed are the standard 'globe' hub caps and the original wooden dashboard.

[Bfg]

Jeff Cranfield Photography

 

 

We had a great few hours with Jeff yesterday taking photos and video for Katie's forthcoming Car and Classics advert.   He's both a lovely chap and his work is, I feel, highly commendable. 

I hope you'll agree - even from these first photos Katie looks great and for the advert itself their high resolution will allow interested parties to have a good zoom in.

Pete

p.s. Jeff is based in Essex but does travel. Just as a thought - it might be a nice Christmas idea or birthday present perhaps, for your loved ones to have your own car likewise professionally photographed.? 

 

[Bfg]

 

Katie's advert is now live on Car & Classic, with the auction actually starting on 27th and ending on the 3rd January.

https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1967-triumph-tr4a-irs-45w1zg

Hey ho I can have a day off tomorrow

 

[GeorgeB]

You will get more money for this if you put the bumpers on.

[Bfg]

Prospective owner's individual choice  George. 

They are with the car, complete with the brackets etc, should the next owner wish to put the weight back on the car.

Personally I tip my hat in admiration to the works rally cars which were campaigned successful by Triumph.

[Bfg]

Please note ; Only today it has been brought to my notice that ; not only do Car & Classics auctions charge a listing fee, plus 6% + VAT of the sale price, to be paid by the seller

                  ... but also the winning bidder / buyer pays £300+VAT in fees, plus 3% +VAT of their bid value.

 

 By way of disclosure ; This will cost the buyer a minimum of another £1080 on top of their bid ..possibly more.

 

In short, excluding VAT C&C take almost 13% in fees and commission.

Had I known this beforehand I would not have put my car for sale through their auction site.

P.

 

On 20/12/2024 at 17:07, Bfg said:

Katie's advert is now live on Car & Classic, with the auction  ending on the 3rd January.

https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1967-triumph-tr4a-irs-45w1zg

Hey ho I can have a day off tomorrow

 

[HMC]

Yes I had been interested a car on an auction there a while back but the fees as a buyer put me off a bit; i didnt know the sellers also had a similar slice taken as well.

[HMC]

Up to £14k with the auction due to end today.  Lets say it makes £16k- buyer will pay £500 plus vat fees and the seller £1000 plus vat fees. Presumably its hit rate of converted sales is higher than e bay as this might cut out a degree of flighty bidders? 

[Dobloseven]

I think this has been one of my favourite threads Not so much the car itself as the way Pete outlined his goal and meticulously achieved it, often meeting much adversity on the way.His attention to detail,as he recorded the work(and cost!)involved is amazing.Be sad to see it gone,but can see why,now his work is done,he feels the need to move on.Thanks for a great read!

[EyesWeldedShut]

4 minutes ago, HMC said:

Up to £14k with the auction due to end today.  Lets say it makes £16k- buyer will pay £500 plus vat fees and the seller £1000 plus vat fees. Presumably its hit rate of converted sales is higher than e bay as this might cut out a degree of flighty bidders? 

I think you have smacked the nail on the head - I've bought and sold a bit at online auction since COVID and they all want bidder's deposit of around £500. Brightwells True Classics are now £2,500 deposit just to bid. Buyer pays 12% plus vat on the hammer price. Seller is 5% plus vat.

As a buyer you just need to be aware of the fees - as a seller? I think it's worth it not to get pissed about with by idiots, drop car over at Brightwells, set a reserve, walk away. They valet the thing, video it, photograph it and do all the hard work. 

p.s. isn't there a snag with C&C about £££ if reserve not reached?

[Bfg]

2 hours ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

I think you have smacked the nail on the head - I've bought and sold a bit at online auction since COVID and they all want bidder's deposit of around £500. Brightwells True Classics are now £2,500 deposit just to bid. Buyer pays 12% plus vat on the hammer price. Seller is 5% plus vat.

As a buyer you just need to be aware of the fees - as a seller? I think it's worth it not to get pissed about with by idiots, drop car over at Brightwells, set a reserve, walk away. They valet the thing, video it, photograph it and do all the hard work. 

p.s. isn't there a snag with C&C about £££ if reserve not reached?

I hadn't realised when I agreed to use C&C's auction service that they were going to be charging the buyer a fee as well.  The exact amount they (the buyer) pays (3% +VAT, with a minimum of £300 +VAT) is  advised when they place their bid ..but I'd guess some folk might miss that during the frenzy of last minute bidding.  Anyone with a bit more thought would simply knock a £1100 off the price they would actually be prepared to buy for.

That does doesn't work well for the seller, because either he's not going to get the full value, before his own sellers fees are deducted, or else a buyer is going to pissed off because when he gets the bill it's cost them £1100 more. 

C&C classic taking something over £2700 (in seller and buyer fees) + VAT,  mostly to host a website, is I feel outrageous.  I accepted their seller's listing fee  because that included professional photography, copy-writing, and escrow financial transfer of monies.  As it happens ; they fucked-up the copy writing, and I had to repeatedly reject their listing until I got something close.  That resulted in the listing being placed a week late (..shorter lead in time), and even then I was chasing them to the very last minute (5pm on the Friday before Christmas) to get it out there.  Even then the 'Highlights' had to be substantially changed after the listing was live, and even now the copy has errors. 

The photographs were meant to be devoid of VIN numbers, so as to prevent criminal elements using them for their own purpose.  But that never happened.  Photos of the car's VIN plates and also MOT's show this information.

One chap, from Devon, wanted to come and view the car, while he was Christmas holiday visiting relatives in Huntingdon. That was supposed to be on the Sunday.  I got the message at 9:30am on Monday morning, when he was already driving home to Devon.!   

All in all I'm quite dissatisfied with the serves provided.  But perhaps that may in part be attributed to Christmas spirit and people wanting to get home to do shopping rather than focus on their job.  The fact that they also charge the buyer over a thousand pounds (knock that off the value I get) was the last straw.  I don't expect the auction to reach it's reserve, and even if it does, I'll not be using their auction service again, either to sell or buy a car. 

Your dropping a car off at Brightwells, setting a reserve, and letting them valet the thing, video it, photograph it and do all the rest might have be easier than my experience, but 17% + vat (between buyer and seller) = 20.4%  which can be a heck of a lot of money to knock of the price you, as a seller gets.  Additionally for me as a single person is the hassle of getting the car there. 

Perhaps if I were selling a £5000 car, when those total fees are £1020, and you avoid tyre kickers - it may be worth it.  But for a £25k car ; fees of £6000 wouldn't work for me.  In truth I'd much prefer to drop the price by that amount and sell privately.  I'd be no worse off but the buyer would be very happy. 

Pete.

[lesapandre]

All rooting for you here Pete. 👍

[Bfg]

Katie didn't reach reserve, nor did a very tidy TR4 which whose auction finished a week later.

Seems that only TR4's of the lower price are moving right now, and that buyers wants an absolutely original car, save for Minilite wheels, Weber carburettors and a hot cam, all leather, a full body off restoration and all new chrome, all for the price of a knackered MG midget.

It's tough really, but I'll just have to keep enjoying driving her

Pete.

. . .

[Bfg]

Aside from that . . .

Just thought I'd contribute on that old acorn 'outdoor car covers'.  A search on this forum for 'car cover' will find a few posts .. but as I've just bought one, I thought I'd add to those pages. 

When the TR is in the garage, the other  car sits out in all weathers...

The purchase of this car cover was prompted by my 'modern's  MoT  (..it's a 2010 car, which is modern to me !).  I bought it in mid-February last year, to replace my aged Chrysler Grand Voyager whose steering-rack seal had failed.., in short this car's MoT, road-tax and insurance are all now due. 

Thankfully after polishing up the headlamp's perspex, cleaning the brake discs (a little crudy around their perimeter), and checking all the lights were working.. it passed it's MoT on Thursday without so much as an advisory.  Road-Fund tax is half the price of the Chrysler, and its insurance is £100 less.  Perhaps there's just nobody wants to steal one of these ! ? 

The MoT inspector commented that the sills were especially good  ..He said that these Peugeot 308's are now rarely found without they having had, or needing repairs. The car was £1900 last year and although not a lot, if she's in good order then it makes sense to try and keep it that way.  Of course the TR4 is in the locked garage, so 'Pug' sits out in all weathers, whether foggy, ice or rain, although in truth the summer heat and and UV are probably as unkind to a black car with a black interior.   

Where I now live, I cannot erect a car port (which would have been my first choice, and although I'd thought of using a car cover when I first bought it, the idea never got any further than that.

I'd previously had a 4-layer Stormforce exterior car cover - for other cars, and despite it being one of the more expensive - it lasted just two years before succumbing to UV.  So yesterday I looked on-line to see what options were now available.   AutoExpress.co.uk pointed me to Halfords.  It was a pretty pathetic multi car-cover report by AutoExpress, and Halfords is not somewhere I'd have looked ..because generally I find them expensive and no better than buying elsewhere.  It's sort of like buying stuff for my boat from a chandler, when other suppliers cost 50% less. 

But, Halford's All Season car cover has a 2 year guarantee, is heavy duty, breathable, three under-body securing straps, and at £68 is a fraction the price of a Stormforce.   Two great advantages of buying from Halfords is that it's local to collect ..or more importantly.. to take back (if required), and their on-line price included 3-day delivery.  On-line there was also £5 off, so even better value..

As it happened I ordered mid-afternoon yesterday, and the courier delivered it at 8:35am this morning.  

   

^ I bought an XL, as Pug's  overall dimensions suggested Large might have been a bit narrow.  As it happens the sizing is generous so Large would probably have been a better fit.   Had my car not been shaped like an estate car, this cover would have been far too big. 

   

^ Pug is parked in a sheltered corner of a small residential car-park, but for half of a summer day she bakes in the sun, and half of a winter day she sits in the shade and damp. The loose fit as well as the air gap under the car cover provides essential ventilation.  Elasticated ends and three straps under the car stop the cover from lifting and blowing away.   In time, I'm sure the creases will drop out. 

At 5m long and almost 2m tall, the Pug's not a compact car, and her fixed aerial doesn't help when fitting a car cover.  However, I've placed a length of (4" dia) pipe insulation over this to help bear the cover's weight, and equally to allow an air gap between the car and its cover.  Of course, the fitted roof rails are a great help with that air gap.  Note, as a generic, rather than fitted, cover - it has no pockets for the wing mirrors.   

The fence beside the car is to my side garden, and 'the plan' is to hang the cover from that, rather than struggle to fold it, each time I use the car.  As a retiree with no commute, living within walking distance of Tesco's local, and with the Triumph ready to go, my use of Pug is not very often.

   

^ Detail of these cover's double-stitched construction. The material is heavy and the stitching seems robust enough, but on my previous (the Stormforce) cover, it was not the stitching that failed but the material itself.  If I get two years of sun and weather protection for less than £65 I'll be a happy camper.   The reflective surface finish on the outside will help lessen summer heat build up within. Flock material finish on the inside to minimise chafing, or it melting onto the car's paint. The cover is a little under 5kg but I found it easy to fit, despite there was no label or notice saying FRONT.  Still, I can soon remedy that with a felt pen. 

I have a lightweight (nylon ?) outdoor cover for the TR, but it's neither waterproof nor is it easy to fit when there's even the slightest of breeze.  At best it's little more than a visual deterrent and dust cover. I use it when I'm away, and otherwise as an indoor car-cover, again using pipe insulation to provide an air gap between the paintwork and the cover. 

So there we are.   Ask me in two years if you want a long term appraisal. 

Hope that's helpful.

Pete