spitfires
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Wannabe (kinda long)

To: spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: Wannabe (kinda long)
From: Mark Gardner <mrgrdnr@ix.netcom.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 18:03:28 -0700
Hi all - I just signed on a few days ago. so pardon me if my questions
have been recently covered.

I wanted a spitfire 25 years ago, but settled for a Herald convertible. 
It was fun,and I thought my system had been purged.  But nooooo.  I need
a spitfire.  I've read the buyer's guides on the VTR and TSSC web pages
and started looking.  I signed on the list and now I'm a little
worried.  I see all the posts about engine swaps, and I wonder what I'm
getting myself back into.  Is this an aberrent thread, or do many people
lose the stocker and go to something else?

Also, I live in the High Desert of Southern California, where summertime
temperatures regularly reach 110 F.  Can a spitfire survive that
environment?  I don't want to have to run my heater all summer long (8^(

Anyway, I've got a line on '79 1500 that was supposedly running when
stored, but hasn't run in three years.  Aside from the obvious, anything
I need to know about resurrecting the little guy?  Assuming body and
interior are in fair shape, what's a reasonable price.  The guy is
asking $2K, but the little research I've done so far looks more like $1K
to me.  Am I dreaming?

Do people have strong opions about models?  I'm leaning towards a 1500. 
Am I crazy?

BTW, I don't want to spend my whole life wrenching on the thing, but I
am not totally inept or unfamiliar with Brtish vehicles, having been a
Triumph/BSA/Norton mechanic more years ago then I care to admit.

Thanks in advance, and sorry for the long post.  Future ones will be
terse.

Regards,

Mark Gardner

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