TRaction

[rarbowman]

Received my first copy of the magazine today.

It is SO great not to have to read about Heralds and Toledos!!

[john.r.davies]

rarbowman,

I got mine yesterday.

Reading it, I was delighted to see that the Editor has presumed a lack of TR chauvenism in his readers, featuring a Herald convertable on the front cover, a GT6 as the lead picture for an article on the Lakes Tour, another article about the 10CR that is a Club Triumph effort not a TRR exploit at all, plus a picture including a Spitfire for the Race Championship report.

 

Then you come along and spoil it.

 

Compare your remarks with the attitude of the MG clubs, where every car from original Morris Garages products to the very last to leave the bankrupt Rover factory gates is welcome. Compare the economic power, status, breadth of interest and size of International meeting of the MG clubs - theirs is at Silverstone, not some piffling County showground. Look at the RBRR itself, that CT organise, where Triumphs of every post WW2 model took part, to the great enjoyment of all - dammit I took part in an Acclaim!

 

Now please, take your parochial, outdated, small-minded prejudice to any Triumph model save your own and curl up in shame. Then cultivate a more open attitude to Triumphs. For as a great American said, on the signing of their Declaration of Independence, and which we should take up in respect of the future of the Triumph Clubs, "We must hang together, gentlemen...else, we shall most assuredly hang separately."

 

John

[rarbowman]

rarbowman,

I got mine yesterday.

Reading it, I was delighted to see that the Editor has presumed a lack of TR chauvenism in his readers, featuring a Herald convertable on the front cover, a GT6 as the lead picture for an article on the Lakes Tour, another article about the 10CR that is a Club Triumph effort not a TRR exploit at all, plus a picture including a Spitfire for the Race Championship report.

 

Then you come along and spoil it.

 

Compare your remarks with the attitude of the MG clubs, where every car from original Morris Garages products to the very last to leave the bankrupt Rover factory gates is welcome. Compare the economic power, status, breadth of interest and size of International meeting of the MG clubs - theirs is at Silverstone, not some piffling County showground. Look at the RBRR itself, that CT organise, where Triumphs of every post WW2 model took part, to the great enjoyment of all - dammit I took part in an Acclaim!

 

Now please, take your parochial, outdated, small-minded prejudice to any Triumph model save your own and curl up in shame. Then cultivate a more open attitude to Triumphs. For as a great American said, on the signing of their Declaration of Independence, and which we should take up in respect of the future of the Triumph Clubs, "We must hang together, gentlemen...else, we shall most assuredly hang separately."

 

John

 

OOPS!!!

[dykins]

Rarbowman

 

I had to read JRD's post a couple of times to try and see if it was a wind up!

 

I am not one of those who happens to think that if a car is old, then it must be a classic. Some old cars were nothing but a pile of junk when they were new and they (if they have not rusted away) are now just old junk. A couple of years ago, I cancelled my subscription to Practical Classics on the basis that they also seemed to think that if a car - any car - was over 10 years old then it is a classic

 

Being a Triumph enthusiast for many years, I am not blind to the fact that Standard Triumph made some junk too - which would definately include Toledos and Acclaims! I'm afraid I can't think of a single redeeming feature about either of these that should save them all from the scrapper.

 

I have a nightmare that in 15 years time some anorak will have formed an owners club for the Daewoo Matiz...or the Kia Picanto...or the Nissan Almera...or the...

 

Regards

 

Peter

[robgeev]

Hear, hear.

 

Absolutely, being old does not make a car worth saving-scrap the ****!

 

A very big field full of junk is not an amazing event-it's just a big field full of uninteresting old rust buckets.

 

Having lots of uninspiring old cars does not make you a collector, it makes you a fool.

 

TR's RULE

 

 

Rob.

 

 

 

(Cue fireworks.)

[badshead]

I think our irrational attachment to cars that many might regard as junk or **** is easily explained - it's about our personal memories and inclination to nostalgia as we mature into old gits. My first car was a Viva HA resplendent in gasworks grey - I'd buy the first one I saw now in sound condition just because it was an important part of my life.

[Guest ron]

I think what constitutes a classic makes an interesting subject, I try to keep an open mind about other people's taste in classic cars but I must admit at car shows I see people with cars that makes me wonder what they see in them [Trabants, Allegros etc] and a chap I know spent more than £15,000 yes thousand restoring a basic Mk 2 Cortina, as you say, each to their own.

Time does amazing things, some cars that were poor selling stopgaps the first time round are now among the most desirable classics [in my eyes anyway] ie the original MGTF and the TR5 and other cars that are now quite exalted were **** the first time round, I had the misfortune to buy a year old low mileage Dolly Sprint from a main dealer back in the 70s, it was probably the worst car I've ever owned, not far behind was a MK2 Lotus Cortina which was an ill thought out marketing exercise, probably quite desirable now, even the Stag, one of the most popular at shows up here was a seriously dodgy motor first time round [another classic I'd love if I had the room]

From experience of both camps, I think MG owners tend to be more open minded than TR owners about other people's taste, wonder why?

 

Ron

[robgeev]

Back to Alecs point about in the face of adversity, reminds me of at this years International, the lady driving round the site in an MGB, with a huge grin on her face, absolutely hilarious!

 

Rob.

[Guest Wyn]

I have a quiet admiration towards those who spend hundreds of hours and a forture on classics that to 95% of people is a pile of '****' but to them is their pride and joy. Each to their own and good luck to them I say. Far too many people these days drive round in BMW's and Mercs with personalised plates and place themselves on a pedestal above everyone else. I know who I'd prefer to spend my time with, that's for sure. Some form of inverted snobbery I can relate to perhaps.

 

Wyn

[GUY BENNETT]

badshead

 

HA Viva's are as rare as the proverbial rocking horse manure, very few left on the road. You will be very lucky to find a good one.

 

As are Mk3, Mk4 or Mk5 Cortina's or Sierras (think how many were sold in this country alone) let alone rear wheel drive escorts. I took my driving test in a square wheeled allegro (I am not that old) and remember my time in a Saab 96, Mini Cooper, rear wheel drive Vauxhall Magnum, Chevette & BMW 2002tii (getrag 5 speed with lsd a very rare beast).

 

I have driven Vauxhall Senators (24v) flat out (underated Q car) along with various BMW M series cars and have competed in rallies, hill climbs & sprints. Now I love my TR6 and because of my competitive nature I will probably blow it to bits.

 

rarbowman

 

I am not offended. I am a newcomer to the Triumph scene I read and stock Triumph World. I would not want a Toledo but would encourage either of my sons to have a Herald Convertable or Spitfire (cheap open top motoring with character. Reading about Triumphs recently has made me realize what great innovators they were.

 

Well over 4 million Cortinas were made. Do we have more TR's surviving? Somebody has to preserve the boring stuff (not me).

 

Now where did I leave my zimmer frame???

[Kiwifrog]

I have a soft spot for Heralds. I have been Triumph mad since My dad bought a Triumph 2500TC MK2 when I was a nipper ( If I could find a nice one and I had the cash I bould buy one) But the only thing I could afford in my Yoof with a triumph badge on it was a Herald which i paid $200 for. I also unbolted the roof and drove around in it as a " Convertable" all summer and even though it could not be left secure as it had no roof noone nicked it ! It was a fun affordable car that lead on to a TR2 a TR6 and now a TR4 and another TR2. I admit it was a crappy little car but I loved it ( and so did my mates).

[robgeev]

My Mum used to have a Vittesse, which when you're 8/9 years old seemed like the coolest car in the world!

I do remember admiring TR4's even then though! I thought the bonnet bulge was for a supercharger-oneday eh?

 

Rob.

[Tom Fremont]

Heralds in particular display perhaps the most charming characteristic of Triumphs: they just don't look like a real car, but rather a child's idea of one - that is to say, a toy. For cute factor they're hard to beat, and some of this quality is surely present in the TR range, though I would say it progressively diminishes up the range.

 

It's nice to be greeted with smiles of approval when driving a Triumph having this quality, and I don't know of anyone ever being put off by seeing one