Great story, Reid. Thanks for the time trip. I could visualize everything.
The rustproofing was a brilliant move. I'm curious. How has the sheetmetal
held up for you these past 21 years? Especially in that wet Oregon climate?
Best wishes,
Jeff in San Diego
'67 RHD Spitfire Mk3 aka "Mrs. Jones"
Jeff's Classic '67 Spitfire Mk3 site & Vintage Spitfire Webring
http://www.ohms.com/spitfire/spitfire.shtml
home of the NEW Totally Triumph Auction
"By Triumph enthusiasts, for Triumph enthusiasts"
http://www.ohms.com/cgi-bin/TRauction.cgi
and... The Triumph Autos/Parts Wanted Listings
http://www.ohms.com/cgi-bin/TRwanted.cgi
...plus a few other surprises!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
----- Original Message -----
From: Simmons, Reid W <reid.w.simmons@intel.com>
To: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2000 1:24 PM
Subject: My experience buying a new Spitfire (long)
>
> Terry;
>
> I remember that day fairly well (it amazes me how much "litter" is still
in
> my brain considering some of the stuff I have done to it!).
>
> It was Wednesday, June 20, 1979. The dealer was Alpine Motors, 1600
Sunrise
> Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. They sold Triumphs, MGs, Jaguars, Lotus'
and
> a couple of really exotic marques that were way out of my price range.
Yup,
> there definitely was a lot of very expensive hardware in that showroom.
The
> salesman's name was Rick Cardenas. Despite the numerous automotive
> temptations my focus remained on a Spitfire since I had wanted one for
many
> years and, in my opinion, was one of the best looking cars on the road
back
> then (and I think it still is!!!).
>
> The showroom display Spitfire was Orange with turbine style wheels and a
> whole bunch of other stuff the dealer added on to really jack the price up
> out of reason (including leather seats!). The demo that I got to drive
> (like I really needed a test drive!) was Russet Brown but with no OD.
>
> I positively had to have OD, Carmine or BRG paint, beige interiors,
luggage
> rack, standard wheels, tonneau cover, etc., no radio, and a thorough rust
> proofing job. I already knew the dealer did not have a car with all these
> colors/options in stock and would have to order one. (I never buy cars
"off
> the rack" and always configure one so that the dealer has to order it.)
> They took my order and deposit but said it could be many weeks before they
> got the car in. Well Rick called two days later to say that one fitting
my
> order had just arrived "off the boat" (port of entry - Miami), and all
they
> had to do was clean off the shipping wax, check it out, tune it up, and
> rustproof it.
>
> I arrived to take delivery and low and behold there was an AM/FM RADIO in
> it! I told Rick I did not want the radio because I already had one that I
> would be installing. "No problem" he said, "just remove it and the
speaker
> and we'll buy them back from you". Well, they kept their word and bought
> the radio back for $108. What was really great about this was they hadn't
> charged me for it in the first place (wasn't even on the invoice)!!
>
> Driving the car home on I-95 that night made me feel like I was on top of
> the world. New car, top down, new car smell, people pointing, waving, and
> smiling, it was GREAT!
>
> Oh yeah, I almost forgot, at the time I bought it there was a gas shortage
> going on (oil companies needed to boost their profits again) so the dealer
> could only put in a couple of gallons of gas. So, during much of the
first
> week or so of ownership I could only sit in it and pretend to be driving
> because I couldn't get any gas for it!!! I think I must have read the
> owner's manuals 40 or 50 times each that first week.
>
> That Spitfire was and remains my "good luck" charm. A week after I bought
> it I met the girl that became my wife (even taught her to drive a stick
> shift in it!). It had been my daily driver until we moved out here to
> Oregon (emissions testing and emissions equipment "mysteriously" missing
> from car!), and it has given me far less trouble per mile of use than any
> other car I have ever owned including American, European, or Japanese.
>
> My Spitfire will be celebrating its 21st birthday in about a month, and
> since the legal drinking age in the U.S. is 21, maybe I'll take her out
for
> some drinks - gasohol of course. :-)
>
> Reid
> '79 Spitfire (original owner)
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Banbury, Terrence [mailto:Terrence.Banbury@dnr.state.oh.us]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2000 9:58 AM
> To: spitfires@autox.team.net; 'Simmons, Reid W'
> Subject: RE: ODs off topic
>
>
> Reid, after reading your post, I wondered what it would be like walking
into
> a Triumph showroom and ordering a new Spitfire with the options I wanted.
> Then there is that day when I take that first drive in a brand new
Triumph.
> Maybe sometime you could recount a few of your memories for the many who
> have only known their LBCs after a PO.
> Terry Banbury
>
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