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.
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