I've christened many cars with that sound track - the TR3 may be the first that
did not get the treatment because it has no sound system. But the CD is already
set aside for the Stag, and I'm already looking at CD players for it....
jonmac wrote:
> Hi, guys
>
> I watched a Heritage Certificate in the making today. Over the last year or
> so, I've watched several thousand others having the same treatment and
> thought little of it - but today was different. Just like you, I'd handed
> over my sterling equivalent of 40 smackeroos and later in the morning looked
> over Anders Clausager's head as the microfilm cassette for MG4305DL was
> inserted into a more than battered film reader.
> NO - it WON'T print, so don't even bother to ask when you write in for your
> cert ! :-)
> The motor whirred, as billions of Triumphs shot across the screen. The motor
> slowed and was then inched along until a faded image staggered into view.
> There it was - that oh so familiar production 'tally' card that sat under
> the wiper blade of every Triumph that slowly trundled down the track - 'cept
> this one said in the top RH corner MG 4305 DL. In my mind's eye, there she
> was - all shiny and new, smelling of clean paint, upholstery glue and new
> rubber. In the background, my mind's ear heard the whine of compressed air
> wrenches and the metallic clankclank as each finished car with its engine
> running for the second time (the first one was on the run bench and dyno in
> engine assembly) drove off the assembly line over the steel floor plates by
> the water test pen. On February 17, 1970 that same 'tally' would have been
> on the passenger seat, the ink from the Final Inspector's stamp would still
> have been damp to the touch. Now it was on microfilm. Just to make sure
> everything was proper and correct, we inserted another cassette and checked
> the original sales invoice to the supplying dealer. This is a normal HMC
> procedure. There it was again and I marvelled at seeing the invoice to the
> dealer in our pre-decimal coinage of 1417 pounds, 17 shillings and 9 pence.
> On today's ROE to the US $ this makes it about $2339.28. One great wad of
> money for one great wad of car. A car that when it was in production was
> something I dearly wanted but was financially beyond my reach even with my
> employee discount.
> But I console myself.
> Everything comes to those that wait - even if it is 29 years down the track
> and I'm encouraged. IF I'd been able to buy this car when it was new, the
> depreciation would have been minimal - most of them are being sold for at
> least the same price today - and in many cases for far more than that.
> There's now just one more thing to do - apart from the re-paint, superflex
> rear suspender bushes, unleaded pump, recon metering unit and a raft of
> other little tasks. As the injector pipes twitch and throb with the fuel
> pulsing through them, it's depress clutch, engage first, bring revs to 4000
> and feed in all that 135 horsepower down the driveline. Her back end will
> squat down as if a great invisible hand had pushed down on the boot lid, the
> rear wheels will splay out and the exhaust note will change from a gruff
> rumble to a muted snarl. I guess the upchange into 4th gear will be at about
> eighty and about twenty seconds later. Got to go to the shops tomorrow and
> see if I can find a cassette of the Beach Boys for the original and still
> working radio/cassette player. The preferred track? Need anyone ask - it's
> "round round get around - I get around."
> Yes, it WILL have been worth the wait.
>
> John Mac
>
> Book 1: http://www.toolbox.ndirect.co.uk/triumphbook
> Book 2: http://www.toolbox.ndirect.co.uk/crocus
> Triumph Over Triumph magazine: http://www.cyberware.co.uk/~chips11
--
George Richardson
The Wyvern - '57 TR3, TS15559L - http://www.merlingroupinc.com/tr3.htm
The Hippogrif - '71 Stag MKI, LE8176E - soon to get a site of it's own
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