I used to be a one. Now I'm a three. Someday, I hope to be a two and a four as
well. Does this make me schizophrenic?
Ken Bertschy wrote:
> Here's how I break down the different species of owners and their spitfires:
>
> 1. Original owners of stock spitfires. These guys bought their spitfires
> new and maintained them as stock as possible over the years. Their money
> went straight to British Leyland, for years and years and years.
>
> 2. Owners of second hand spitfires bought their spits used but have tried
> to maintain them as stock or have restored them to near as possible stock
> specifications. Collectors fall into this category.
>
> 3. Owners of customized spitfires. If you replaced anything on your spit
> with a non-standard, non-stock part, you have a customized spit. Be it
> bullet mirrors, upgraded carpeting, custom rims, moto-lita steering wheel,
> anything like that. Due to lack of original parts, most owners fall into
> this category.
>
> 4. Owners of modified spitfires. Modifications are usually for performance
> enhancements. Anything goes in this category. Wankle engines, v-8's, beefy
> suspension systems, headers, carb swaps, anything. These cars can be as far
> away from stock as you can get, to the point that the only thing in common
> with all other spitfire owners is the body tub.
>
> 5. Ex-owners or owners-to-be who are still fans enough to be on the list
> but don't currently own a spitfire.
>
> Each one of these groups is going to have a different approach to their
> respective cars. Tension will build between say, a snooty original owner
> who sees modifications as some sort of bastardization of the marque, and a
> rabid racing fan who thinks that their fully blown v-8 with ford
> drivetrain, racing buckets, alloy wheels, and headers is a "Triumph".
> These are "personal preferences" folks and have nothing to do with what
> should or shouldn't be done to a hunk of british metal. A few guys out
> there will claim that there is no such thing as a "valid modification" of
> their beloved cars. Others will claim that as long as it is Triumph iron,
> it's ok. Others think that as long as they "started" with a spit, then it's
> a spit. Who's right? Technically, the snootiest original owner is. So
> what? What a dull world this would be if we all had to drive or even own
> "stock" spitfires in order to be on this list. I say "viva la difference".
> Sure, Wankle powered spits are wierd, but so are those trailer-queen
> concours spits. I'll gawk at both, but I wouldn't own either. Gimmie my
> daily driver spit, any day.
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