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[Trawlerman-Les]

Hello all

I am a recent new forum member presently in the early stages of building Mountfleets Boston Typhoon. My only previous build is my Artesania Latina Hellen.

I thought I would mention my on-going other hobby, the restoration of my classic sportscar.

When I left school in '67 there were a lot of these around, but most were in a dilapidated state as production had ceased a few years earlier, and spare parts were hard to find. I just loved the lines of the car however and it became the car I most wanted.
Well.....life got in the way and it was 2003 when I finally bought my 1955 Triumph TR2. I ran the car as my everyday transport for five years, but with high miles being covered and no garage, it began to fall apart. It was parked in the back garden for a few more years until I finally built my garage/workshop and restoration began. For pictures of this budget restoration on Photobucket, use the link below.

Car will be a few more years until completion, but hope to drive it again someday.

Les
http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/RustyResto/library/1955%20Triumph%20TR2%20restoration?sort=3&postlogin=true&page=1
 

[eddiesolo]

At first I thought it was a Frog-eyed sprint, nice restoration so far. Hopefully you will have her back to looking amazing and on the road.

[Trawlerman-Les]

Thanks Eddie

My car should really have been scrapped, or broken for parts, but I could not do that. The idea is to restore the car by making my own repair panels rather than buying modern replacements. A sheet of steel is £5, a replacement wing is £500!

TRs are often mistaken for the Healey Sprite but are much larger and had used the bulging headlamp "pods" since their introduction in 1953, six years before the Sprites debut.

Les

[Plastic - RIP]

Looks like a nice job 

Handy that only a few panels have compound curves.

Who is going to paint it?

I'm still toying with getting another classic car - but the numerous built-in rust traps and British weather are not compatible. My last MG was showing signs at the join between the A-post & sill in the area hidden by the door and front wing. Total pain to fix so I sold it on. 
I'd like a brand-new MGBGT bodyshell - the Heritage ones are Zintec steel so are as rust-proof as most modern cars.

It would be like a big Airfix model to build.

[Liverbudgie2]

Les,
That's a really nice job your doing there. I'm restoring my '72 6 at present but, I don't have the metal basing skills you seem have - or the equipment either to accomplish a successful and satisfying job, which is why I'm having to farm out this aspect of the job since the college course went mammary glans up.

[Stavros]

WOW as a Panel beater with well over 35 yrs eperiance I must take my hat off to you on your panel repair work Keep up the excellent work




Dave

[surfer71]

yep I too am drawn to the classic car world with my collection.. so i can totally understand your hobby..


this being one of mine..

[Trawlerman-Les]

Liverbudgie,....keep up the good work on your 6. Hope to see the finished car sometime at the TR International.

Stavros, Dave,.....thanks for the compliment on my work. As mentioned by Plastic most of the inner body is formed from flat sheet steel, so only a metal folder needed to make repairs.

Surfer71,....great picture! Always like to see water in the background. Here's one of my car on the west coast of Ireland about 16 years ago. Happy days!



And more of the "fleet".



Les

[imsinking]

Careful with 'dream cars' , I had an obsession in the '80's for one of these . . .

A JAGO GEEP , I built from a knackered Escort 45 van , total mileage to date (both vehicles) is 225000mls. .
TWO HUNDRED & TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND ! ! 
You form a 'love hate' relationship,  it doesn't love me & I hate it , every time I try to sell it on it breaks down . . . it's probably out in the garage now looking at this post . . . wondering where to break down . . . wether to start or not . . . I'll never get tax exemption with the Q plate  . . . .        
Bill 

[Trawlerman-Les]

  Love it Bill, and it looks like it has been continuously on the road from the tax discs. Have to admit, I keep all my old discs too.

My current "everyday" car is a '98 Discovery 50th Anniversary jobby. Now has 210,000 miles showing, (96,000 when I bought it), but is ultra-reliable and solid. Will need it to get the Boston Typhoon to the lake!

I bought it off ebay over eight years ago so has probably cost me about a tenner a week even if I gave it away.

Les

[surfer71]

Jago Jeep where down the road from me.. he had a shell of one up on the top of a container right on the road side A27 for years!!! no mistaking it was his place then..


Tell me about it.. road tax.. I have 13 cars, lucky most of Tax free, or my company vehicals but I do have to tax the odd one of my own.. I don't mind when I get so many free, mind you I don't do the miles so Free is not really ripping off the tax man..


and one of mine doesn't need MOT now..


I did fancy a jego jeep my self back in the day.. I also remember Dutton did a jeep type as well...


Nope.. most of mine are early Porsches ....... or as I like to call them lately... Pension toppers

[U-33]

I've just won a fiver on a scratch card, so I'm on the way to my dream car...