Ash wants a car now!

[Ash]

:bang:

With the motorbike thing having died a gruesome death, thanks to being shouted into the ground about safety and all that, my eyes were turned to classic cars.

Blame a former colleague, who let me sit in the passenger seat of his excellent condition Triumph TR7.

I'm now determined to either own a Triumph, or a similarly awesome classic car. Especially thanks to the Classic Car Insurance costs being so low, and minimal tax (or even exemption).


Anyone drive a classic car? I'm thinking if it has trunk space for camera gear, its good enough for me 😀



Of course.... I've yet to learn to drive. The money I spent on Leica/Contax gear COULD have been for driving lessons and saving toward a car, but oh well 😉


Oh also I don't expect to have a car as old as the Leica Standard! 1970's will do 😀

 

[FrankS]

Ash wants this....Ash wants that....more models, a Contax, a motorcycle, now a car.... It's all about you, isn't it? 🙂 (big joking here, no offense!)

I'd stay away from the TR7 too.

 

[Ash]

Heh, I want a lotta things. I'm young and I occasionally have money, but note these are all wants. I never said I need any of it!!

Ok ok, its not classic as such, but it's listed on Classic car sites. Pity you're saying stay away from it, I really like em.

 

[terrafirmanada]

My cousin used to build tr2s back in the day. They were fun to cruise around in, but required alot of work. You might have to forget about photography for a while. You will be spending most of your time under the hood. I used to rebuild air-cooled VWs. It was tons of fun, and gave me an appreciation for German engineering. Only you can decide if the trade-off is worth it for you. As an aside, there is nothing that sounds as good as an English exhaust system (except maybe a Leica shutter).

 

[Ash]

It's all about the mechanics 🙂

 

[methinks]

Hi Ash!

Can't fault you on the Triumph choice, though I do have a couple so I guess I'm biased 😀
Since I passed 3 years ago up till about a month ago I was driving a Spitfire MkIV pretty much daily. It had a few classic modifications and was an absolute hoot to drive, which is the important thing! As for those who say they're not reliable, my Spit broke down only 3 times in those 3 years (25k+ miles) and once was only an overheat on a hot day, which I don't think is too bad for a daily driver really. They always say that British Leyland Triumphs were always a bit more dodgy - so a TR7 would be part of that - and I suppose I can't argue as the Spitfire is now off the road with large amounts of rot; it awaits a full restoration now!
In all fairness though it was a great car, lasted me 3 years on evil salted roads and was plenty quick enough for me! I absolutely love it, even now as it sits forlorn in the garage!

I say if you want a TR7 go for it, there are plenty of dogs out there but I've seen some absolute corkers, and if you get into the mechanical side of things I don't think it's too much trouble to drop the 2l from the Dolomite Sprint into a 7. Feisty stuff and probably quite reasonable insurance-wise compared to a modern 2l!

You will get the bug though; I'm just in the process of buying a '66 Triumph 2000 now the Spit is off the road!

If you fancy seeing what the club scene/support is for these cars I suggest you check out Club Triumph & its forums, been a member for a few years now and its a great club, especially if you like to raise money for charity by driving 2000 miles in 48 hours!

Incidentally, a gratuitous photo of my car...

 

[popstar]

Yeah, the TR7 and driving aren't two things normally associated with each other. Cool to look at, sure. But they have a deserved reputation for being on a mechanic's lift as much as they are on the pavement. Good luck in your quest!

 

[Ash]

Well I need something to do with my time, having finished education, and failing to find a permanent full time job (temping is so rubbish. 3 weeks on and 3 weeks off now). That's why I thought maybe something I can restore a little will give me a hobby aside from photography, and act as the transport to arrive at areas I've wanted to photograph but can't get transport to.

 

[ikiru]

I may love my british motorcycle. Rides like a dream, looks great, and has character. Better than my japanese bike in everyway. BUT damn, the thing has caugh fire(while I was on it) and various other spectacular break downs. She is a beast of love ( and money) If you want classic and brittish, either you have a fat wallet, or you are going to need to be prepared to have dirty hands for the rest of your life... When I fix things on the norton, I turn my head to god and ask him why he gave the british the ability to make the best riding motorcycles yet, gave them absolutely no engineering skills!

🙂

 

[markinlondon]

Just think of the TR7 as a sort of pointy Allegro S, Ash. I find it helps you get over the first impressions 🙂

 

[Graham Line]

There may be enough support for a TR7 in the UK. Talk to the club people first. My son and I share an '84 BMW 318i. Cheap to run, good parts availability, easy to work on, lots of support.

 

[Silva Lining]

Hmm TR7's - you'll find people either love em or hate em.

When I was a student I used to have a Truimph Vitesse which was great fun to drive although it did need a lot of 'tinkering' to kep it going - the engine was easy to get to though!!

After the Vitesse finally died - I bought a Truimph Dolomite for £50. It was a good runner for about 8 months, until I got in the car one morning and put my foot through the footwell (rust...evil rust). That was the last of my experiences with Triumphs, but I have always held fond memories for them.!

 

[Ash]

maybe I can find an FSU car? Maybe the parts are interchangeable with my Kiev 4 😀

 

[markinlondon]

You need one of these then, Ash 🙂

 

[Silva Lining]

maybe I can find an FSU car? Maybe the parts are interchangeable with my Kiev 4 😀

A Skoda perhaps? Good cars these days!

My Dad once had a FSO Polonez, which was some mutant form of Fiat made in Poland. I always remember that it had an impressive array of dials on the dashboard. Shame the brakes didn't work though.

A Trabant or Moskovitch would be more authentic though!

 

[Ash]

guys please dont tempt me 😀

 

[jaapv]

:bang:

With the motorbike thing having died a gruesome death, thanks to being shouted into the ground about safety and all that, my eyes were turned to classic cars.

Blame a former colleague, who let me sit in the passenger seat of his excellent condition Triumph TR7.

I'm now determined to either own a Triumph, or a similarly awesome classic car. Especially thanks to the Classic Car Insurance costs being so low, and minimal tax (or even exemption).


Anyone drive a classic car? I'm thinking if it has trunk space for camera gear, its good enough for me 😀



Of course.... I've yet to learn to drive. The money I spent on Leica/Contax gear COULD have been for driving lessons and saving toward a car, but oh well 😉


Oh also I don't expect to have a car as old as the Leica Standard! 1970's will do 😀

Yup!
I have a Triumph TR4, drive it all year in nice weather, about 10.000 km's a year, very reliable. Downside: my wife thinks it is smelly...😱

btw the spares and support situation for a Triumphs in general, and TR's including the 7 in particular is excellent. Lot's of specialist firms out there.

 

[Stanton]

I have a Datsun SRL311 2000cc Roadster, 1970, one of the last built, which I have owned since new. 87,000 miles, original paint and interior. It lives in my garage most of the time, but my mechanic insists that I drive it more -- at least monthly. Love it, but parts are a bit of a challenge. Dave

 

[Ash]

I think I'll ignore the people saying they're rubbish then, I'm in love with TR's 😀

 

[Ash]

I searched Yugo on google... came up with this, http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/2153000-2153999/2153450_2_full.jpg