Quite a story Steve. How come I never run across these jewels?
Mark Ascherl
1981 TR8 DHC FI
----- Original Message -----
From: Steven McCutcheon <Steven.McCutcheon@MAH.GOV.ON.CA>
To: <triumph@terraworld.net>
Cc: <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, October 28, 1999 2:27 PM
Subject: Re: Italia barn find
>
> Chad: I have done just as you for years. I have had Spits and GT6's for
some 25 years and more recently did a ground-up on a Stag and TR4. I found
this car just 8 miles from my home. It was located in Oakville, Ontario
having migrated north via a U.S. service-man's brother. The original owner
brought it over from Europe to Fort Knox and then sold it to a fellow
service-man. When owner #2 left the forces he took it to the Chicago area.
The story I get is that his brother came to visit and fell in love with the
car and as he was a racing fanatic the brother gave him the car. Owner #3
and his wife exported the car to Canada and drove it for many years. Owner
#3 was killed in a strange accident preparing for a Formula 2 race he was
driving in. The widow drove the car for some years and then put the car
away, hoping to one day restore it.
> A member of our TR club heard about the car and kept it under his hat for
a few years returmning periodically to make another offer. The widow
refused to sell too low because she knew what she had.
> I got wind of the car and immediately made arrangements to see it and made
an offer. After some haggling, she agreed to sell it to me and I picked up
the complete Italia, partially disassembled with very rusty sills but
otherwise remarkably solid.
> Needless to say, I am very excited and I am now on the hunt for any and
all literature and info I can find!
> Steve Mc
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