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Do I buy a Triumph 1800 (1947) needing some TLC?
Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:51 am
by jackkelleher
Ladies and gentleman, I have the opportunity to acquire a '47 Triumph 1800 requiring some work at a very, very reasonable price. I think they're rather desirable, aren't they? What do people think? Should I go?
Sorry I haven't been on for ages, but school has been rather in the way... The poor Moggy is still bleeding oil from the filter, though I stemmed the flow temporarily until I can actually rectify the fault...
By the way, admins, nice new look...
;)
ps the 1800 goes soon if I don't act... Please respond quickly!
Panels complete. Engine apparently runs, seems good structurally, new carpets, seats and door cards come with the car, including those little dickey seats...
Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 3:46 am
by 8009STEVE
If the price is right, then go for it
Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 4:19 am
by jackkelleher
Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:46 am
by paulk
This was a derivative of the 'Bergerac' car wasen't it? Can't remember if he drove an 1800 or 2000
Sorry Jack ,obscure 80's british telly show about a Jersey (Channel Island) Detective. Who's main form of transport was one of these. As you can imagine there weren't many high speed chases.
Go for it

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:02 am
by alex_holden
That is beautiful, but if you hope to get it on the road and drive it, you need to look into whether you can get hold of the spare parts it needs at an affordable price, and what the insurance would cost.
Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:07 am
by paulhumphries
I've got a parts book for one
If you buy it then let me know and I'll try and scan / put onto CD for you.
I collect all kinds of motoring literature and my father in law (workshop foreman at local Jag / Standard Triumph dealers in 1950) gave me all the books / manuals he'd kept hence having the parts item.
I MIGHT have a workshop manual as well but aren't sure unless I look.
Paul Humphries
Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 12:05 pm
by chickenjohn
Thats a great true classic car! Buy it and restore.
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:48 am
by dunketh
Beautiful cars.
If you have the skills, time and facilities to do it justice - go for it!
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:33 pm
by Matt
buy buy buy

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:52 pm
by bigginger
"Do I buy a Triumph 1800 (1947) needing some TLC?" - No brainer, buy it

a
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:29 pm
by jackkelleher

The price rocketed in the final few hours, and to top it off when we asked some questions the responses were less than trustworthy and some parts that, on investigation, were almost impossible to find- certainly at a reasonable price- were proving absent. Long and short is we didn't go for it.
I have a choice now-
'60 Triumph TR3; perfect body, it's a rolling chassis with all the parts to complete it but none of them in complete order, I gather, which seems to be a good condition for me.
'58 MGA- it's ok, but not my favourite of the available ones. Everything's there, I think, but the body's not straight and some parts were scavenged.
'60 Alfa 2000 spider; rolling shell, some interior, otherwise needs all the stuff. (You're getting the picture...)
And the wild card:
1958 Maserati 3500. No engine. No gearbox. No interior at all, no lights, nothing. Just a rolling shell with a steering system (but no wheel). It's the least complete of them all, but it's a Maserati, and it's only $4000.
I'm leaning towards the TR3, to be honest-
I'm looking for a car to do up to absolute perfection, nut and bolt.
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:50 pm
by Matt
TR3, i dont think parts avaliability is too bad for them... going to other thread now
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:54 pm
by jackkelleher
Thanks...
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:00 pm
by bmcecosse
TR 3 and MGA are both well looked after parts wise - the MGA engine is very similar to the A series in the Minor. TR 3 engine is basically a very heavy old tractor engine - but worked well enough in that car. VERY prone to leakage from the seals on the cylinder liners which is a pretty grim job to fix. Go with whichever one has the best chassis/body - the mechanics are all fixable.
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:24 am
by Kevin
TR3 for me, the Maserati would be nice but how much would the missing running gear cost...................................
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:58 am
by Judge
paulk wrote:This was a derivative of the 'Bergerac' car wasen't it? Can't remember if he drove an 1800 or 2000
Sorry Jack ,obscure 80's british telly show about a Jersey (Channel Island) Detective. Who's main form of transport was one of these. As you can imagine there weren't many high speed chases.
Go for it

http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/li ... 431091.ece
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:49 pm
by Kevin