A short introduction

Where it all began! In 1988 I bought myself a present for my 25th birthday. An original Dutch registered 1980 TR7 DHC (6-6-1980), and my first car. My initial intentions were to drive the car for a year or so and then restore it. How little did I know about these cars! In the end it was 10 years and lots of miles later that she was taken off the road, and put away in a shed after the summer of 1998.

For many years she lingered in various sheds, waiting for a much needed full restoration! Time for a few pictures from her early life.

Touring the Low Countries
Houtribsluizen Lelystad (1989-09-12)

After a local event in Maastricht (NL: 1990-05-20)
ps the original Euro spec indicator repeater has been removed in this picture

In Graby, during my first ever trip to the UK in a TR7
(UK: 1990-10-20)

After "De Nachtrit" in Vaals (NL: 1994-08-20)
This was the last drive with the original engine

Wrynose Pass, touring the Lake District
(UK: 1997-09-17)

But well before the DHC was put into hibernation I had acquired an accident damaged, low mileage FHC (also an original Dutch car, first registered on 16-4-1982). It was meant as a spares donor for the DHC, but after inspection it turned out to be too good to be scrapped or to be used as a parts donor. So together with a few friends plans were made to restore it to standard spec, to be used as a daily driver. And less than 3 years later the car (by now christened 't Kreng) was back on the road. In the meantime my plans had slightly changed. The car was now powered by a tuned Sprint engine with twin Weber DCOE45's, uprated and lowered suspension (very low!), uprated brakes etc. A full story on the car’s development has since been written and can be found HERE!

First official outing for 't Kreng after its restoration was completed,
Dutch National Triumph Day (NL: 1997-08-10)

As daily driver during, a site inspection near Roermond
(NL: 1997-09-04)

Standard Triumph European Rally in Arcen
(NL: 1999-05-30)

British Classic TT in Assen
(NL: 2003-08-17)

Edited 19th of February 2022: To commemorate that it is 15 years ago that I started this blog, this post was freshened up a little, adding a few extra pictures and editing the text where necessary.

The blog itself was started as part of the Club Triumph Forum. At the time there was some lively blog activity on this forum. But sadly enough, since then the CT forum (as most car forums) has lost a lot of its participants. People seem to prefer the superficial car groups on Facebook these days …