----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Hargreave Mawson <OC@46thFoot.com>
> Stuart tells me that the car has been sitting under a tarpaulin in a
> garage for at least the last ten years, and that he thinks it may have a
> four-cylinder engine (so, maybe a GT2+2, a GT4S or a GT4S 1300 - most
> likely a GT4S). He also says that the bodywork is in terrible
> condition, and that the floor pan on the driver's side has rusted
> completely away. Rusty fibreglass?? Something doesn't add up here.
Hi Mike,
Bond used the unmodified bulkhead direct from the Herald, though allegedly
minus a few stages in the protection/paint process! As well as the obvious
chassis components, the Herald floorpan and doors were also used. The 2 litre
retained the Herald bulkhead, though a new raked windscreen and frame was
installed and the doors were modified to take different skins.
> Anyway, assuming that this really is a Bond Equipe, and not, say, a MkII
> Ford Escort with a 007 bumper-sticker, what should I be looking out for?
> I assume I should look at the engine as though I was looking at a Spit,
> and at the chassis as though I was looking at a Herald, but what about
> the bodywork and the interior?
Interior fittings are similar to Heralds, though the seats are unique. The
dashboard is basically Herald/Vitesse, but is unique in instrument layout. A
Les Leston steering wheel was standard fitment, though the actual style changed
during production.
> And, given that this car hasn't moved in ten years, is there anything I
> can do on site that might permit me actually to start the engine?
> Presumably all the rubber components will have perished, all the
> electrical contacts will have corroded; all the pistons will have seized
> in the cylinders, and so on. :-(
I wouldn't attempt to even turn the engine over until it's had some Redex
soaking in each cylinder for a few days. This serves to free the piston rings
if they're stuck in their grooves, preventing damage when the engine is turned.
Unless it's been running recently, leave well alone until it's on your drive
and you can spend time checking it out properly. The engine is going to be your
lowest prioity in evluating a Bond.
> Can anyone point me in the direction of a website that shows commission
> numbers for Bond Equipes, and tell me where I might find the commission
> plate?
The commission plate is in the normal position for Heralds, though the plate is
unique to Bond. Nick Wotherspoon's site is the only online reference that comes
to mind http://web.ukonline.co.uk/nick.wotherspoon/site/Equipe%20main.htm
Nick was a group member until recently and published a book (THE book?) on the
subject of Lawrie Bond and his cars, details on the website.
> Should the engine number be in the normal Spitfire sequence (assuming
> 4-cyl)?
Yes - the commission number will actually be derived from the original engine
number with a 'B' prefix, so engine number FC 1234 HE would become commission
number BFC 1234 HE. It's a good way of checking if the engine is the original.
Sadly, restoring a Bond frequently involves killing a Herald for it's floor
panels.
Cheers,
Bill.
--
Rarebits4classics
.......just what you've been looking for
PO Box 1232
Calne
Wiltshire
SN11 8WA
United Kingdom
http://www.rarebits4classics.co.uk
/// triumphs@autox.team.net mailing list
/// or try http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool
/// Archives at http://www.team.net/archive
|