Latest Restoration: The Start

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“Real happiness lies in the completion of work using your own brains and skills.” – Soichiro Honda

 

Some time in 2012, when I worked for TI Automotive in Deeside, General Manager James Mead (also a classic car enthusiast) suggested to me that I should get my Triumph GT6 back on the road, rather than just talk about it! The car had laid in the garage since July 2002 (it failed it's MoT in July 2000). It was always intended to be a retirement project, some time far into the future, but James was right, why not start now! I initially intended to just do the minimum to pass the MoT, and just be able to drive it. However I soon realised that if I did that it still wouldn't be worth much, and with the current state of the bodywork and interior I would be ashamed to be seen in it next to other GT6s. This restoration has become a journey, as I strove to not only get it back on the road, but make it one of the best Mk2s out there, a true 'nut & bolt' restoration! All nuts and bolts were replaced with new: High Speed Steel where stressed, Stainless Steel otherwise. A body-off restoration was not attempted because:

1. I did not have room for the body & the separate chassis inside or outside my garage.
2. I was able to get at most of the chassis from underneath the car for cleaning and painting with black Epoxy Mastic 121®. There was no sign of any chassis corrosion (except surface).
3. Removing the body would have compromised it's rigidity and possibly caused distortion of the structure.

Below are some pictures of the car before the restoration, when I had cleared the car of all its debris!

      

      

Below the brake/clutch master cylinders.