The TR Register is sad to learn of the passing of well known Triumph parts supplier Tony Fitchett, who died on Tuesday 29th April 2014.

After the Triumph assembly plant at Canley closed down Tony Fitchett managed to save many of the tooling and parts that would have otherwise ended up in the scrap bin. A valued member of the Triumph community, there are many Triumphs on the road today that owe their existence to parts obtained from TD Fitchett Limited. It is understood that his son will take over the running of the business to continue his fathers legacy.

The TR Register would like to express its deepest sympathy to Tony Fitchett's family and friends at this difficult time

About TD Fitchett

Since the early Sixties when TD Fitchett or (Tony to those who knew him well), launched in the accident repair market, fixing cars that have become today’s classics. Tony’s business thrived while the British motor industry wrong footed itself again and again. ‘Well-loved marques and designs were being swept away and build quality was becoming lower by the month.His interest in classic British motorcycles tuned him in to the value of nostalgic motoring, and when British Leyland started selling off the tooling for its redundant models, Tony saw the potential and started buying it up.’ By this time he was reconditioning and rebuilding parts from many manufacturers including Ford, Vauxhall and Triumph, but decided to concentrate on the latter -– a shrewd move considering it was fast becoming the nation’s favourite classic manufacturer. More tooling and unused new stock was acquired when Triumph'’s Canley plant closed.Then, long-established Triumph spares dealer Greenwich Autos came onto the market.

Tony bought it, and sent his then right-hand man Graham Franks south to look after the concern until consolidation took place and the whole business was then concentrated back at its Shropshire base.

The current premises were bought in the early Eighties, and from here production line manufacturing was set up, as well as storage for many larger parts, assemblies and tools.

The firm produces gearboxes, overdrives, final drives and many small panels. Larger panels are manufactured off-site using original Triumph tooling, some of which has been improved to ensure a better-than-new fit. Many parts are hand-built by Tony, to ensure build quality remains high an early Triumph Herald with only 248 miles on the clock was kept as one of many reference items.

The site has cavernous warehouses and warren-like stores – and is one of those businesses in which only the tip of the iceberg is seen from the outside.

In fact, TD Fitchett is one of the largest suppliers to the classic trade. Tony looked after the business on a daily basis, but eschewed the limelight of the shop front.