| Owner : |
Viv Arthur |
| Model : |
Vitesse |
| Year : |
|
| Colour : |
Blue |
| Info : |
The car has been totally stripped and rebuilt as described below.
Body / chassis.
The chassis is an ex Triumph stock clearance chassis. It is in a sound original condition, it has not been repaired in any way.
The bulkhead section has had the panels at the base of the ‘A’ posts replaced and new ‘top hat’ body mountings fitted. The section of floor where it overlaps the rear floor has had minor repairs. The front floor wells and the rest of the bulkhead are original with only very minor welded repairs.
The rear tub top part is original, the floors are from a donor vehicle of similar age which have been repaired in the following places: Overlap section to front floor, boot floor to cross tunnel and rear wheel arches, outer wheel arch to wing. The side panels between the boot floor and rear quarter bumpers have been replaced.
The doors are from a donor vehicle and required only small patches to make good the lower panels.
The boot lid is from a donor vehicle, only requiring a minor repair where the boot stay attaches. To avoid further problems in this area the boot stay bracket is now welded to the boot lid.
The bonnet is the original, the wheel arches and ‘D’ plates are from a donor vehicle and were repaired where they join the front wings, wheel arch repair panels were used to make good the wing panels. The strip across the centre of the bonnet below the grill panel was replaced. The panels supporting the headlights and the headlight covers are original and sound.
The front valance is from a donor vehicle with minor repairs, the rear valance and quarter bumper panels are original and sound. The aluminium bumpers and front grill panel are original with minor blemishes.
One bonnet catch is new, the other and all other handles, hinges and catches are used ones with minor blemishes.
The car is painted in it’s original colour of Renoir Deep Blue and Sebring White.
A white hood is fitted to match the stripe colour (original Vitesses normally had the hood colour the same as the stripe). A zip out rear window is fitted, which is non standard, but has many advantages especially in keeping the window scratch free when stowed.
Mechanicals bits.
The engine, gearbox and differential box are the original. The diff has been re-shimmed to give the correct pre-loads to the bearings. The gearbox has had some attention to the internal clearances and the baulk rings, but still needs some attention to 3rd gear syncro operation. The engine, as far as I know, is in original condition, I have only de-coked it and replaced one exhaust valve.
The wheels are 4.5J from a Spitfire and were fitted in place of the original 3.5 rims to allow the fitment of 165x13 tyres which are close to the rolling radius of the original 5.60x13 crossplies.
A sports twin outlet stainless exhaust has been fitted, while this sounds beautiful under power, it is a tad annoying in town traffic, but I got it at a good price.
Interior.
The rear seat and door trims are the original grey which is in good condition. The front seats are tan coloured seat from a Herald 1200 which are the correct style for the car and in good condition, but unfortunately the wrong colour. This will be rectified as soon as I find suitable replacements or a supply of the correct colour PVC material.
The carpets are home made from a carpet remnant.
The woodwork needs attention, especially the door cappings. I am in the process of making new parts, which will be completed as soon as they win the competition with all the other household jobs. |
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