I'm so glad to be poor and to not have a place to put my one spit-let alone
more! I just love, love love them!!!
Everyone who knows me knows that I am a couple-there's Nigel! Even the men I
date!
(I recently registered for housewarming gifts-but there wasn't a
"Housewarming" catagory-so I registered under "Bridal"-the grooms name?
Nigel Spitfire, of course! His address? His carport number!)
It is truly and illness and an obssesion-and I do not wish to be cured!
Happily insane,
Laura G. and Nigel
----- Original Message -----
From: Nick Moseley <nmoseley@comsavings.com>
To: <jack@cocoinc.com>; <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 1999 4:20 PM
Subject: Re: Temptation/Obession, Long, possibly boring
>
> Sorry for the delay in replying, day off today, Happy Canada Day!
>
> snip:At 07:24 PM 6/29/99 -0400, jack@cocoinc.com wrote:
> >Nick, how do you find the time to work on these, unless they are
basically
> >just sitting there?
> Good question. Another one I get asked is "what are you going to do with
> them?" I haven't got a full answer to either...yet.
> The history of one man's obsession goes something like this:
> I'd been interested in Triumphs since high school. I did a grade 11 term
> project on the marque. On an impulse, I bought the 76 and ran it for over
8
> years as a daily driver. Purchase price was $2,100.00 and it was both the
> best and most enjoyable commuter car I've ever had. It was only a question
> of time as to when it would rot away, so when the chassis rotted it was
> taken off the road because it was unsafe.
> I was off work for three months due to a medical problem. Over that time I
> got a stripped 74 tub and chassis and slowly transferred everything over.
> The activity helped keep me sane (relatively speaking). The project came
to
> a halt though because it required a floor pan, A post, and bonnet; I have
> no welding skills, and limited money to support my Triumph habit. (Anyone
> in GVRD good with a welder, I can probably re-pay in parts, or with a BMW
> 320is that also needs welding?!)
> I spotted an ad for two Spits and, lacking self-control and thinking about
> getting a bonnet for my project, went and had a look. It turned out that
> the owner was under a lot of pressure to get rid of them, and would have
> sent them to be crushed if he didn't get what he felt was a reasonable
> offer. I couldn't bear the thought of them going to the crusher, and
> besides, the bonnets weren't perfect, but were much better than the one I
> had. (Thats my story and I'm sticking to it!) One car was complete but not
> running with terminal chassis rust; the other chassis was good, tub was
> terminal, and lacked interior, engine and ancilliaries. He wanted
$1,000.00
> but we settled on $450, so I felt good that I had at least saved them from
> being crushed. (The count is now up to three). To get one on the road it
> needs a clutch, the tub and engine will have to be moved to the parts
cars'
> chassis. It wasn't running when I got it but thanks to help from the list
> it does now.
> So I thought that with some work I could have one car for me, and one for
> my 18 yr old son to take to college.
> Now some of you may be able to relate to this part. In my circle of
friends
> and co-workers I am thought to be just a little Spitfire-obsessed. An
> acquaintance is associated with a charity that get cars donated to them.
> They had a Spit donated, so knowing my interest in Spits he asked me to
> have a look and give him an idea of possible value. It was pretty
> rust-free, but interior was shot, the top was shot, the engine wasn't
> running, brake calipers and slaves were seized, master cylinder shot etc.
> So with some parts (that I had on hand anyway), lots of time and work I
> thought it could be quite good. I gave a reasonable estimate, and also
> (because I am indeed Spitfire- afflicted) a cash offer. They accepted. So
> after three week-ends and evenings' work and lots of parts I had a Spit
> that I thought I could use as a daily driver, at least in the summer. I've
> now been driving it for three weeks but can hear a rattle during cold
start
> up, which I suspect is a bad sign. I suppose I should regret buying it,
but
> driving a Spitfire to work with the top down is the one sure way to put a
> smile on my face on the way TO work, not just on the way home.
> As you noted, I can't work on them all at the same time, but I do
something
> with them pretty much each week-end, and most evenings. Right now I'm
> waiting for the glue to dry as I re-veneer a dash-board. Since my medical
> problem I can't enjoy drinking beer anymore, so its easy to find time to
> work on the Spits.
>
> All things considered, as I tell my wife, I could have a much worse (and
> more expensive) hobby. The cars are in the back yard, so the tone of the
> neighbourhood isn't ruined, I spend more time at home, and am doing
> something I enjoy. None of my cars will be concours (at least until well
> after the kids are out of university, and the finances have time to
> recover).But, they are being preserved and gradually up-graded, and I hope
> you agree, thats a good thing.
>
> To those of you who got this far, thanks for reading my ramble. If you
made
> it this far, you too may be truly Spitfire afflicted.
>
> Nick
> P.S.
> snip>By the way I still look at the classifieds every week, but I won't
buy
> >anymore cars, my wife would kill me, but then again that's what I said
after
> >I bought the Gt6, and the TR8, and the last 914 ...
> >Jack Levy
>
>
> Me too...
>
> Nick
>
> ----
> Nick Moseley
> nmoseley@comsavings.com
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