Tim D. Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 I was watching "chasing classic cars" the other night and an interesting comment was made about patina on a barn find cobra. They were going to preserve the dust on the car until they discovered it had had 3 not 1 owner. The comment being that "barn dust is only worth money on a single owner car. " Cheers Tim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jean Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 So Gavin, if we lock up the Brussels Botox Brigade the pubs around the "Grand Place" will soon run out of buisiness :lol: Not being a freak of originality I still believe that a TR should look and smell like a TR and not like a pimped up lady cruiser Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PaulAA Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 The same applies to patina with people. There's an amazing amount work that has been done here in Brussels, mostly to the Chanel and fur wearing, small dog-clutching ladies that love to lunch and drive gold coloured M3 and Mercedes 350 cabriolets. There's a few chaps about too, mostly wearing red pantalons. It's an interesting analogy. Rare to see much interest in a Homo Sapiens GT with 45 years on the clock and no major restoration work. Probably too many of them around. Strange, on reflection, that collectors of this particular model also appear to prefer the work of the customising industry. Funny old world. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Smith Posted May 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 .............. I don't know what the red thing on the left wheel arch is but it shouldn't be there. GoProTR. The 'Red Thing' on Andrews car is a Maserati Horn Compressor! Yep, A few more pics from today's photos session - these are before the cleaning and 'preservation' starts! Cheers Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Harvey Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Keep those original hose clamps - the only people I know who sell the 'correct' ones now are TRF in US, although they say they source them from the UK. Call me an anorak, but I just insisted that Stuart REPAIR the radiator cap on my Italia - stamped 'Firsat' and possibly only one of 2 surviving on the planet. Those little details won't be noticed, but you will get pleasure just from knowing they're right. Welcome to anoraksia madness - it is quite catching. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ntc Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Better keep your eye out for the correct water pump Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pogo Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Keep those original hose clamps - the only people I know who sell the 'correct' ones now are TRF in US, although they say they source them from the UK. Which hose clips Paul? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Harvey Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 The original 'worm screw' clamps have slotted heads which are round, not sided for a socket. Hard to tighten, but correct. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Smith Posted May 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Welcome to anoraksia madness - it is quite catching. Paul - yes, it could be if I let myself............. Better keep your eye out for the correct water pump Andrew Neil - it works and I'm happy with that. Cheers Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ntc Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Paul - yes, it could be if I let myself............. Neil - it works and I'm happy with that. Cheers Andrew Not for long Andrew 3/5000 miles tops have a spare in the boot Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Smith Posted May 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Not for long Andrew 3/5000 miles tops have a spare in the boot Well, it was fitted by Cox & Buckles in January 2013 at 41,963 miles and with 42,500 miles now on the clock and, based on its mileage history and your prediction, it's got another four years left in it which will give me plenty of time to find the correct one............with a detachable pulley. Cheers Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Harvey Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 Another survivor to drool over:http://www.ebay.com/itm/121340973998 Makes yours look reasonably priced...... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Smith Posted May 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2014 Another survivor to drool over: http://www.ebay.com/itm/121340973998 Makes yours look reasonably priced...... Yes, a very nice 'original' TR4A, but "Nice original interior with new leather seats" As for the price I paid, yep - definitely very happy with that. Cheers Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
silverfox4 Posted May 21, 2014 Report Share Posted May 21, 2014 Two different exhaust systems on the same car??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tim D. Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 (edited) Hi Chaps, Was in IKEA today... I know... should have been out in the car!! But what did I see.... Looks like IKEA are using old 1970s car colours in their new kitchen range (see attached) and one looks like a direct match for this car.... Now this opens a whole can of worms.. Matching house decor with car colour It is true that I matched my lounge colour scheme with that of the old "gold leaf" lotus 49 e.g. white and maroon with a gold line between (in this case a gold picture rail!). Tim Edited May 24, 2014 by Tim D. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Smith Posted May 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 .................................Looks like IKEA are using old 1970s car colours in their new kitchen range (see attached) and one looks like a direct match for this car.... This car? - what car is that then Tim? Cheers Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Smith Posted May 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2014 I have just spent about 30 minutes speaking to the second owner, George Niblett (a very nice chap), who gave me a first hand account of the early history of the 'Saffron survivor' and corrected the history of what I understood to be so. George advised me that he and St, John Bulison-Rush (first owner) worked together in the London Stock Exchange. St. John bought the car new in 1970 and drove it as a daily driver until 1975 (28,000 miles) when his fortune changed and he put the car into storage i.e. up on blocks, covered in old carpets and dust sheets and the engine correctly prepared for a long hibernation. This is where 'Saffy' stayed until George bought from it St John in December 1992 (not 1983 as first thought) paying £4,500. So it spent about 18 years up on blocks - just as well it was Ziebarted from new! George hasn't seen or heard from St, John Bulison-Rush for some years, but has given me a good lead which I shall follow up. George then asked Steve Hall at TR Enterprises to recommission it which was completed in January 1993 (at a cost of £3,800) and he drove it for 3,000 miles before deciding it was far too nice to take on road rallies, so bought a TR4 which TRE also prepared. He sold the car to Rob Carter (third owner) through TRE in November 1994 for £12,500 (see Oct 1994 C&S ad below), Rob owned the car for 20 years and covered a mere 11,500 mile in that time. Then I bought it! We are meeting up in mid-June to chat further about the car and George said he'll have a hunt around for some old photographs for me to scan; he also road rallies a Swallow Doretti and is having an ex-US TR6 restored at TRE. The future is bright, the future is Saffron................. Cheers Andrew Having written to the first owner of my TR6 (St. John Burlison-Rush (Ukfield, Sussex)) a few weeks ago, we spoke this afternoon for what seemed like ages; he is a very pleasant gentleman (now 77 yrs old) and most helpful. St. John was delighted to hear from me and thoroughly enjoyed talking about the car and reminiscing about his youth. He filled me in on some of the cars earlier history telling a few potted stories about driving off to the coast most weekends (as a single man) in the TR6 with his mates in their E Types, Alfas and Porches etc - they all worked together in the London Stock Exchange in the early seventies until they all lost their jobs in 1975 and went their separate ways. Their cars were all sold, pretty much given away as no one was buying back then and St. John put the TR6 into storage for 18 years until he sold it to his friend George Niblett in 1992. Apart from the Ziebart treatment, it also transpires the chassis was pumped full of Supertrol from new too, and the drivers' door was 'scratched' in a supermarket car park soon after he had bought it, hence the blow-in by the supplying dealer. We'll be meeting up in a few weeks’ time (when I come back from holiday) and he'll dig out some old photos of the car during his youth. St. John hasn't been in contact with his old friend George Niblett (second owner) for many years, so I passed on George’s phone number (they live 10 mile apart!) and will try to get us all together in the same place to drive and talk about the car’s history and for the old friends to meet up again after all these years. Cheers Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
graeme Posted May 30, 2014 Report Share Posted May 30, 2014 Great story Andrew, thanks for sharing. Cheers Graeme Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave I O W Posted May 30, 2014 Report Share Posted May 30, 2014 Hi Andrew, That's a nice story hope when you all meet up you have a nice day reminicing and talking about your tr6, All the best, Dave. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR NIALL Posted May 30, 2014 Report Share Posted May 30, 2014 Great Detective Work Andrew and a Great Story. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ianhoward Posted May 30, 2014 Report Share Posted May 30, 2014 Great story! Cheers Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Smith Posted May 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 (edited) Thanks chaps, Yes, I'm very fortunate to have made contact with the first and second owners, both of whom are very keen to see, drive and talk about the car and have offered to dig out old photographs for me to scan and any other info they may still have. That said, the car hasn't changed much at all since first registration on 2 September 1970, apart from a bit of patina (which is not the same as dirt!), so I guess it will be very interesting to see photos of the car in settings and street scenes from the early 1970s and 1990s - the dates in the middle were the 'hibernation years'.......... Once all the history, anecdotes and photos are collected I will write an article for TRAction. Cheers Andrew Edited May 31, 2014 by Andrew Smith Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brian -r Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 Look forward to reading that article, brilliant detective work Cheers Brian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
simonjrwinter Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 That's just fantastic. To learn the history behind the car must feel so satisfying. Let's hope the two PO's can rekindle their friendship. Simon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alan57 Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 (edited) Andrew, Have been very interested to follow this thread,as have many others. Do you think it would be worthwhile for there to be a forum section dedicated to "survivors" - not just TR6? I am the proud keeper of 2 survivors, reference cars, originals, unmolested, or whatever they may get called - one in my custodianship for almost 40 years, and another a mere 5 years (bought from the first owner!), and both nice "used"cars with full history and interesting stories. What do you think? Edited May 31, 2014 by alan57 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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