Classic car advice - help!

[dit]

Okay, I know it's probably my mid-life crisis, but today I've seen a red Triumph GT6 Mark 2 in really good condition, totally restored and with a beautiful throaty roar, that I can afford. I'm told that there's no road tax and classic insurance is relatively cheap. I'm test driving it tomorrow afternoon.

Am I out of my mind? I'd keep my Mini convertible, possibly even update it by a couple of years for reliability's sake. Although I've had some lovely cars, The GT6 is the sort I always wanted when I was very young.

Anyone out there any experience in classic motoring? Wyvern, are you there? I don't have practical skills myself but can find people locally if anything were to go wrong.

[inky]

I'm no classic car enthusiast dit but I'd go for it. You only live once and there's no joy in spending the rest of your life saying "What if......" I bought my truck for my *0th birthday. I saw one, fell in love and was determined to have one. Best thing I ever did. If it wasn't for the dogs I would have a snazzy sports job too. Getting four boxers in one was the reason I had to be a bit more practical Get it bought girl ;D

[Wyvern]

Nope, you're not out of your mind. See how it drives - you like your cars and you're going to keep a modern one for everyday use, so if you like it and you can afford it, go for it. The thing is, a classic like that, especially in good condition, should hold its value. If you don't get on with it, you won't make a loss. I absolutely love the GT6, it's quite gutsy and very, very pretty - and the Mk II is the prettiest of the lot IMO.

Now for the important stuff. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE BREAKDOWN COVER THAT INCLUDES ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, ONWARD TRAVEL AND RECOVERY/TRANSPORTATION. You WILL break down from time to time unless you are very lucky. Classic car owners are among the most optimistic people in the world... we get in more in hope than expectation of getting where we're going!

Learn a few bits about basic maintenance and your car will thank you for it - you will also find that some of the little roadside maladies are something you can sort out. And do make sure you get to know your local mechanics. A small independent chap with an interest in classic cars is what you really want, but you will be able to find some good contacts through Club Triumph or the Triumph Sport Six Club (in my experience they're both friendly and helpful, but Club Triumph are probably more useful).

Classic insurance is relatively cheap, but the best deals are to be had if you take a limited mileage policy.

Let us know how you get on, and take some photos so we can see the car you're considering!

[jacqui]

No practical advice here i'm afraid just lots of encouragement
Go for it Dit you only live once ;D and enjoy every minute you drive it ;D

And.... very good choice I might add, take some piccies

[dit]

Sounding good so far - will try to post pic from my phone (if I can find out how)

Edit: Haven't sorted out the pics yet - if I can't, I'll take a camera tomorrow (I don't get on with my phone)

I'm getting a bit nervous now. Although I guessed what sort of response I'd get, I posted on the Final Gear forum auto section to see what would happen. I knew anyway, plus Wy's comments, that it would be wise to develop some basis skills, but this is one response from FG, suggesting I get a "basic" toolkit:

"Aside from the usual wrenches, ratchets and sockets, you'll need all three sizes of torque wrench (despite what anyone says, there are things on Brit cars that really do need fine adjustment), a grease gun, a set of pliers, a multimeter, some crimping and stripping tools for wire, and a battery charger" Help!

Both posters said I could expect to spend at least one to one-and-a half times as much again as I pay for the car to keep it maintained. I'm not stupid, I know it'll cost a bit, but it's been completely restored, the bodywork's almost perfect with just a bit of bubbling and it's got new tyres.

I'm officially a bit scared now.

[Mayfayre]

That sounds like the tool kit of someone who is planning on doing all their own maintenance. You probably won't need that much if you have a local mechanic to service it for you!

The battery charger would be useful, but I find the most essential tool kit is an RAC/AA card and a mobile phone!

[Wyvern]

Don't worry too much about the Final Gear chaps - they are very well meaning, but for most of them, doing your own maintenance is par for the course. There's a thread about Gerald in the 'post your car' section and you'll see how helpful they really are. You do have to allow for disasters in the budget, but to be honest, that's true of any older car. And remember, a catastrophic failure can happen to modern cars too, and they tend to bite people on the arse even more simply because you don't expect it if the engine falls out of your BMW Mini. Admittedly a big disaster can be costly to sort out, but it depends who deals with it and how - this is where the advice of people like Club Triumph comes in very handy. If it helps, take someone with you who can check the car over. Honestly, although I don't drive Gerald very much, there is something really, really pleasing about driving something that isn't like everyone else's car, and if you can find a good one, Triumphs are straightforward to maintain, easy to get parts for and really characterful. And like I say, if you find it really doesn't work for you, you shouldn't have too much trouble selling it on. A good, solid example of a classic car is a good thing to have. See how it feels when you drive it.

Oh, the suspension will feel like crap compared with a modern car. Don't let that put you off ;D

[dit]

Wy, you've been so helpful. I'm taking my sort-of-ex-brother-in-law-in-law with me as he's had classics for years and currently runs a old MG. I've also got a couple of starting points for possible people to work on it.

If I go for it, my nearest Club Triumph is a lot further away than the other group (six something?) - is there a noticeable difference or does it totally depend on the people involved?

[Wyvern]

Triumph Sport Six is the other one. I suppose I've just used Club Triumph more because I got chatting with them in Birmingham last November. Lovely chaps, very surprised to have a lady come and join them! But TSSC do some excellent rallies and events, and it really depends mostly on what you want to do. I'd actually recommend joining both because you can never have too many useful contacts.

Another contact you'll want is Rimmer Brothers (google them). They can get hold of pretty much anything you need to keep your car running and maintained. Your sort-of-ex-brother-in-law may already be familiar with them because they do all kinds of old British cars. Having someone like him around may be very helpful because if he's used to old classics, he may well be able to show you the ropes when it comes to looking after the GT6. I must say I'm quite envious - but I dread to think what I'd have to pay to insure something with a straight six!

Oh, and go steady when you test drive it - the MkII has better suspension than the MkI, but I don't know if they eradicated the lift-off oversteer completely, so take it easy on the corners until you've got the feel of it...

[dit]

I've checked insurance online and it's cheap, as the owner suggested. He's already told me it's brilliant in a straight line, but not so good in corners! I'm a bit concerned about the lack of power steering, though.

I'm more nervous this morning but I'm still keen.

[Wyvern]

The lack of power steering won't be a problem - there's not much weight in old sports cars like that, so they don't need it. Power steering became much more essential when cars started getting heavier. If anything, it's the clutch that will be hard work. Everything's very direct with these cars, so it's your foot that will be doing all the work, not the mechanics of it! I've found that with Gerald, it's much easier to slip into neutral at the traffic lights, for example...

[dit]

I bought it!!!

Took the sister-in-law's bloke, classic car owner, who couldn't fault it except that it needs fine tuning (cylinders dropping occasionally from 6 to 5) and a bit of bumper refitting at the back which the owner actually has and will fit. What am I talking about? I'M the owner! It's paid for!

The guy took me up into the hills and gave it an extensive but non-violent thrashing then let me drive it back to the village. I felt positively Joanna Lumley-ish. I had to stand on the brakes to make any impression but otherwise it was OK. The guy clearly doesn't really want to part with it but his wife tried to reassure him that it's obviously going to a good home.

"I wil love him and petpolish him and call him George". Actually, I might call him George. Or Georgina. Don't know yet whether it's male or female - that will have to wait till I get it/him/her home, which might be a while as they're going away on holiday and I might have to wait till they get back. Ah well, it'll give me chance to empty the garage.

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice and support, especially Wy for all the detail. I have a feeling it's going to be the start of an ongoing saga.....

[Wyvern]

Congratulations, and welcome to the madness of classic car ownership! What an absolutely beauty. I'm so pleased all went well.

The brakes will always be a bit iffy compared with modern ones, but if they are purely mechanical (I can't even remember if the MkII has discs all round or whether it has rear drums... I know at one point they reverted to drums on the GT6 when they changed the suspension, but I can't remember if it was the MkII or the MkIII, and I don't know whether they have servo assist but I doubt it), you may well be able to have a brake servo fitted and that will make the response far more like modern brakes (I'm having that job done to Gerald when I have the time and the money to sort it out, but the servo kit itself only cost about £125 from Rimmer's). Alternately, just drive it until you're used to it and always leave plenty of room between you and the car in front ;D

I'm chuffed to bits for you!

[dit]

Thanks Wy! I'm not sure about the brake types but have the info somewhere. There's definitely no servo but I was told about the kit and I'm considering it - might be worth it as from the test drive it was the only area that I can see I might have trouble with.

I'm going to bed a bit weary now - it's been a busy 36 hours!

[chariset]

It looks fantastic, dit. I don't think you'll regret buying that, even if you do have the occasional wince now

[Mayfayre]

Wow! That looks a lovely car, dit! I hope you have many miles of fun together with very little of it on the back of tow trucks!

[TheDaisy]

Ooh, that's lovely *drools a little, then wipes keyboard*

[jacqui]

Aww he's (sorry - all cars are male in my world : sweeeeeeet!!

Congrats and many years happy driving in him (or her )

[From Afar]

That's a FAB car Dit ;D I am so pleased for you!!!!!

................and an ickle bit jealous

[dit]

I didn't post anything yesterday on this thread because it looked for a horrible moment (well, all evening) that it might go pear-shaped. The man selling it decided he did want electronic payment after all so he could be sure it would clear before he went away, and as soon as I got in touch with my bank, holy hell broke out.

All was fine at first when I checked what to do, but when I rang back the next stupid man wouldn't talk to me because he said I was giving the wrong date of birth. As if I don't know my date of birth! He said he had to terminate the conversation and could only suggest I rang back, which I did, and the next bloke said he couldn't see a problem and put it through. However, their system means they ring back to check you're not acting under duress (!) and 2 hours later another bloke rang up and again wouldn't accept my date of birth.

I think I may have got a bit shouty at that point. Suffice to say the conversation lasted 25 minutes and he gave me a lot of advice and admitted it would have been a human error when first inputted - apparently it "happens all the time"! - but I would have to go into my nearest branch (in the middle of Blackpool) with my passport to prove my DofB (my passport ran out in 1999 and was never renewed as I never go abroad - I won't fly - but he said they would accept it).

So I have to grovel to get time off work as the payment couldn't be guaranteed to get there in time if it wasn't sorted before 1.30pm. Then when I got there they wouldn't accept the passport at first! I think I may have got a bit shouty again, though luckily I took 2 other documents and a call to head office sorted it and the money went off in time. It certainly flew out of my account.

I don't think there's any danger of me not getting the car but, dear god, I could have done without all of this! It'd better be worth it! (Sure hope it will be).

[xjsarah]

Ye gods, it sounds like you weren't shouty so much as ready to commit murder! Bloody bureaucracy and paperwork - more trouble than they're worth! *hugs*

I hope it all works out fine, because that's one hell of a lovely car you've got there. Happy motoring!

[Mayfayre]

Yep, that sounds like banks! Mine very nearly stuffed up my house purchase a few years back in similar circumstances. But you got there, and I bet it'll be well worth it!

[dit]

Update - it's mine!!! I picked it up earlier today and had a lovely drive back (about 30 miles) in the evening sunshine. The brakes are really hard and the steering is a bit heavy, but I think I can get used to it. If not, I'll get servos on the brakes, and I know the tyre pressure isn't quite right, so pumping them up will probably help.

I've got it neatly parked in the garage that took two of us 6 hours to clear on Saturday, and it probably won't come out now (rain is forecast) until Saturday when I take it for a quick check-over at my garage. I'm not short of advice though, as I've already been given the names of three "older" mechanics who are interested in working on it, and two neighbours/friends are also keen! This is before I contact an owners club, so I'm quite optimistic.

The car doesn't have a name yet. It had one in its previous life, but I didn't like it so I'm waiting to see what strikes me. I had mentioned that I felt like Joanna Lumley when I test-drove it, so the previous owner's wife had come up with Purdey: feminine/masculine (guns), right era and style etc. It's not a bad suggestion, but I need to keep thinking.

Thanks for all the advice. It was a big step to take and I appreciate your support!

[From Afar]

Congrats Dit on having the "old girl" in your possession! Happy motoring and good luck thinking of a suitable name. (I quite like the Purdy idea ;D )

[Mayfayre]

Congratulations on the new baby, Dit!

My neighbour has a cat called Purdy. She's all black, very small, VERY cute and she purrs a lot, which would all apply to the car too, except for the colour.

[Wyvern]

Late to the party, but YAY! Glad you have your beautiful new wheels.

You just know that one of these days I'll turn up on your doorstep wanting a go ;D

[lew]

dit what a fab car.....am very green, have loads of fun

[dit]

Wy - you're welcome. Not sure where you are, though!

But at this stage it might still be "Look, but you can't touch"! (Still feeling protective)

[Wyvern]

It's OK, Dit, your car is safe from my grubby paws... I'm way dahn sarf of you. If I was oop north I'd be sitting on your drive, drooling like some kind of lunatic stalker.

[dit]

at the mental image created by that, Wy!

I've been driving it around for most of the afternoon, mainly to find out its little quirks and, yes, it has some. Obviously it has a few rattles and squeaks - it has got 99,000+ miles up, for Pete's sake - but mainly it's the engine that really needs a proper retune, as it's coughing and farting a fair bit, it's running on and the exhausts are black, which kind of points you in the right direction. Having said that, when it's not breaking wind, it goes with a really satisfying roar.

I've been up to my garage to have it checked for safety and they were quite impressed and said it was fine. When I asked about the engine the chief mechanic says it's a plugs and points thing (which I knew) and he can do it with a combination of going back to his training and bringing in a "man who can" who he knows. I suppose I could search around for a GT6 expert but I'd rather this was done quite soon, and they can do it in a couple of weeks, so I'll go with them in the first instance.

Unexpected by-product - 2 guys waved and smiled at me as I was driving round, one in a TR7 and the other in a Spitfire. I think I may have found a new hobby!