See forwarded message below:
In article <3CD72285.7040401@snet.net>, Joe Sholtes IV <joeiv@snet.net>
writes
>Scions,
>
> (For Shorter Reading, Scoll Down To The Numerical Lists)
>
> Some of you may remember me, as I used to frequent
>this list a while ago. Nothing much has changed with me
>Triumph-wise, due to a huge house addition project; my
>daily driver blowing an engine; replacement with an oh-so-
>cool BMW family sedan ('85 735i); kids growing; finances
>shrinking; a friend's boat purchase; and multitude of other
>mundane events occupying my time and thoughts. I have
>not left my love of things Triumph, I am just in sort of a
>suspended state of "sameness"on that front. But no mind,
>I am here bearing good news.
> A friend showed me an ad put out by a nearby (relatively
>speaking) junkyard. The ad said "Several Triumph TR6,
>GT6, Spitfires. Save them from the crusher. They will be
>gone in thirty days." I do not know when the ad first started
>running, but it was bought to my attention April 26 The ad was a
>comercial ad run in "The Bargain News-Special Interest" paper.
>The have a website at www.bargainnews.com
> The junkyard is "old school" in the sense that it has cars laid
>out in a field, not disected and inspected then stored in a drab
>wharehouse. No, I was out there, with the grass, trees, birds
>and decaying Triumphs.
> I originally was thinking buying of a spare TR6 for a parts backup
>my TR 250, then I was toying with the idea of buying a few of
>the cars to sell as parts at theCarlisle, Pa swap meet, but have since
>dropped both ideas. It seems not owning a car carrier, or having
>storage room, or any spare time whatever can have a deleterious effect
>on one's idea of opening any sort part-time parts operation.
>
> Well, here's a listing of what I saw there:
>
>1) '70 TR 6 (to be referred to as "The one up the hill, in the
> woods") red, spoke wheels, body panels shot (but all are
> on the car), complete car-it has engine, tranny (non OD),
> and all interior and exterior parts are there
>
>2)'71 TR6 (to be reffered to as "The one in the field, with the
> other Triumphs") Damson (referred to as "maroon), disc wheels,
> the rears were unbolted and alongside the car, fenders rusted, hood
> & trunk OK, has engine & tranny (non OD), no seats or steering
> column-but otherwise complete
>
>3)'71 GT6 white,disc wheels, body has minor rot (not too bad
> really) all panels and doors are there and undented, it has
> the engine and tranny (non OD) ,car has all the interior panels,
> seats and guages there and even a bees nest too (was that an option?)
> This car is almost restorable, depending on what the frame
> looks like....
>
>4)"76 Spitfire yellow,disc wheels, hood(bonnet) heavily dented,
> but body is complete, engine, tranny (non OD) are there, BUT
> the rear axle and supension are missing, interior is complete
>
>5) Mark One Spitfire (year unknown, but the comm # is FC 27373)
> red, this car is absolutely complete, right down to the hubcaps
> everything is there.
>
>6) I had noticed a MGB there too, but I don't know much about them,
> wasn't interested, and didn't even look closely at it. I did notice it
> was white, however.
>
> All in all, these cars were amazingly complete! The only thing I saw
>that
>the junkyard sold off of any of these cars was the '76 spitfire's rear
>axle. The
>engines alternators, starters,radiators, all lights, bumpers, and even
>carbs were
>on all the cars Having said this, it must be remebered that this was a
>junk yard,
>not a used car dealer.
>
>That means there must be some major reason why these cars aren't on the
>road.
>
>1) I couldn't get underneath the cars to see their frames- they may be
>rotted,
> and they have been sitting inches above dirt for what looks like years.
>2)I grabbed the fans on the engines and couldn't move them, the engines are
> likely siezed.
>3)The convertable tops to these cars were virtually non extant. So think of
> snow all winter, rain all spring, direct sun all summer,leaves in
>the fall-
> all in the interior. Then repeat for a few years. The interiors
>were really
> exteriors in these cars
>4) The guy (Gary), said he's "not sure" if he has the titles to the cars
>5)HERE'S THE BIG POINT...He said he will only sell the cars whole. He
> DOES NOT want to sell parts any more.
>6) He wants $200 each for each car. Not a bad price really- if you have
> your own car carrier...and the place to keep the car
>7)According to Gary, the cars "Will be going to the crusher." next week. I
> looked at the cars last week, and he told me I had a week to decide. I
> called him one week later, and he said he still had the cars. When I
>told
> him I would contact a bunch of Triumph enthusiasts about these cars, he
> again told me that they'd "only be around for a week, before they
>are crushed"
> I personally feel he may hold them if someone is interested, but he kept
> mentioning how "They" (the owners of the junkyard) "want to free up
> the space for some late model cars, that'll make some money" But I also
> saw a few fifties and quite few sixties cars laying around, too So will
> they be gone next week? I really don't know.
>
>
>
> Finally, Where is this place? It Is In the town of Barkhamsted CT.
>Find a Connecticut map, locate route 8, follow it north to the very end, see
>route 44? take it east (left turn as you drive, since the ramp curves 180*).
>Travel on 44 east 3 and1/2 miles, the place is on the right, directly across
>the road from the "Log House" resturant. The Name is Stewart's Auto Parts,
>and the tel number is (860) 379-7541 The man to talk to is "Gary". He
>seems like a nice enough guy. The other employees are like "Triumph?
>What?" If you do call him, tell him "Some one named Joe from Wallingford"
>sent you, just to let him know the power of the internet. I have
>nothing to
> gain from this financially, I just would hate to see thes cars get
>crushed and sold
>to Japan and made into Honda S2000's.
>
> If I have't provided you with enough information (which I find hard to
>beleive)
>feel free to e-mail me directly. I will be watching this list for a
>week before
>I dis-subscribe (too afraid to type un), so you can post here if you
>like. I will
>only stick around a short while because if the message load is what it used
>to be,I can't take the time like that any more...however, I may even
>feel the obligation
>write a short answer post or to while I'm lurking
>
> JOE IV
> TR 250
> WALLINGFORD CT USA
>
>P.S. If someone wishes to submit this to the spitfire list (due to the
>Spit and GT6
>cars involved) fell free to do so.
ATB
--
Mike
Michael Hargreave Mawson, author of "Eyewitness in the Crimea"
http://www.greenhillbooks.com/booksheets/eyewitness_in_the_crimea.html
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