screw him. I've met people similar to that, only where spridgets are
concerned.
This old guy in TX wanted to replace his mallory distributor with the stock
one. I had a stock one in great shape with a lumenition ignition (as a
spare). So I told him and we agreed I would send it. If he liked it, he
could send me the mallory. Otherwise, he could send me back the Lucas (it
was a 45DE4).
When I went to check, I remembered that a friend uninstalled the luminition
and installed a pertronix when he borrowed it. A brand new one at that. He
then decided to go back to points and gave me back the dizzy.
I emailed the guy in TX and told him about the mix-up. No response. After
about a week, I boxed it and sent it.
No reponse after a week. After two emails sent to him asking him if he got
it, I got a reponse that knocked me off my feet. He told me how pissed off
he was that I pulled a switch, that I was dishonest, all kinds of crap.
When I reminded him that the original deal was that we would only switch if
he was OK with the dizzy I sent him. He told me that it was my "only
redeeming quality". He then complained that shipping it back would cost him
money (it was $5 to send it to him) and time and that it was my fault.
So I told him, "keep it, don't keep it, I don't care" and wrote it off. For
all I care, he can stick it up his .....
For the most part, part swapping has been a good experience for me. But
there will always be the few that try to screw everyone. This was a person
that I has exchanged emails with several times in the past (he's also on the
mgs list as he has a B) and he seemed normal enough. Little did I know he
was off the wall. But now I know, and all it cost me was a good
distributor and a new ignition.
Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: Chris De Wet [mailto:DeWetC1@sapo.co.za]
Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2001 3:24 AM
To: 'triumphs@autox.team.net'
Cc: 'spitfires@autox.team.net'
Subject: Strange Triumph Owners
Friends
Some Triumph owners are just plain strange .
A while ago an elderly man phoned and told me that he acquired a Spitfire Mk
3 . He needed some information and parts . Now I'm no expert and my
knowledge and parts are basically limited to Mk 1 and Mk 2 Spitfires , but I
loaded the required parts ( and a few books ) into the Triumph support
vehicle ( wife's VW ) and drove 320 Km to his house . Gave him the parts (
no money exchanged hands ) and went over his Spitfire with books in hand .
Really a nice car . Few things missing , incorrect and damaged beyond
repair . Told him I'll go through my parts and let him know what I can help
him with .
Two days later he arrived unannounced ( without phoning first ) at my farm
and said he really needed the parts . I told him that I had not had the time
to sort through my parts , but we nevertheless went through some of it and I
once again gave him a few things ( NOS water pump , two very good engine and
gearbox mountings etc. ) without excepting any money for it ( this is my
passion / hobby , not a business ) . We found some other parts ( correct
steering wheel , hinges , badges etc. ) that he also wanted , but I told him
I'll let him know since I had to make sure first whether or not I needed
those parts for my other projects . He didn't seem happy about it and went
home .
A few days later I informed him that he could have those parts , but he
started shouting at me and told me that I was wasting his time since he
drove all the way to me and I didn't want to give him all the parts he
wanted . Very rude .... ungrateful ... aargh I don't have the words .
Triumphs are so extremely rare / scarce in South Africa and it's just a real
pity that some ( definitely not all ) of the people involved with these cars
have lost the passion and spirit of the hobby .
Sincere apologies for the long ramblings of a passionate Triumph owner that
still try to keep the spirit of the hobby alive here in " Dark Africa " .
Kind regards .
Chris de Wet .
TSCC ( SA ) membership number : 356 .
'56 TR 3 ( TS 10795 ) + '64 Spitfire 4 Mk 1 ( FC 25680 ) .
PO Box 472 , Ifafi , 0260 , South Africa .
Telephone : 012-3398071 ( office ) or 012-2591129 ( home ) .
Cellphone : 083 9989744 .
Projects : '62 Herald 1200 Coupe , '65 Herald 12/50 ( convertible ) ,
'63 Spitfire 4 Mk 1 , '64 Spitfire 4 Mk 1 , '66 Spitfire 4 Mk 2 .
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