She would have been 35 years today

Today it was exactly 35 years ago that TPZDJ8AA403557 (or JL-GX-37) was first registered in California. The car was imported to the Netherlands on the 19th of September 1994 by a friend who eventually sold it to me on the 27th of December 2006. I actually bought it because I wanted to take part in the 2007 edition of Club Triumphs 10 Countries Run with a TR7 DHC. And after a fair amount of work she performed faultlessly during the event.

But after a few years of use I decided to scrap her and use her as a parts donor to restore my first car, an early Dutch TR7 DHC. So she lives on  ...

MOT time

The weather hasn't been very brilliant this spring, so the DHC hasn't seen any action so far. But last week I took her out off her long hibernation in preparation for her MOT (or APK as it called over here). Only got round for the most basic of checks of all the essential items. And luckily nothing was wrong, so earlier this Friday I drove over to a friend's workshop to have the car tested. It was already her fourth (biennial) test since her restoration was completed in 2010. How time flies!

As expected nothing really wrong, only the CO was slightly high (4,9%) as were the headlights. Both were easy to adjust within the legal limits. One advisory were the dust covers from the lower ball joints of the front suspension. They are starting to age a bit, so will probably need replacing before the next test in two years time.

But we had a bit of a discussion over the gaiters from the steering rack. I always make a tiny hole in them to avoid them blowing up when on full lock. But according to the mechanic they should be completely closed, and as such should be rejected. As he saw my point we settled on an emergency plan in case there would be a (random) verification check by the RDW. The plan wasn't necessary.

Also nice to see some other wedges in his workshop, like one of his own TR7V8's patiently awaiting some much needed attention

And this rather nice and genuine TR8 DHC from one of his customers ...

FHC resto nr. 47; A messy job

It's been a while since my last report on the FHC restoration and there has been a very good reason for that. Due to other commitments there was not much to report. But yesterday I used the fine (read warm) weather as an excuse to have a go at wax-oiling all the box-sections and cavities of the cars' body.

When restoring the DHC a few years ago I made the mistake of wax-oiling the car late in the year with lowish temperatures. In the end I got everything covered with the sticky stuff, including myself. But it took a rather long time as the spray tubes clogged up frequently due to the cold temperatures. Not so yesterday. After covering the floor with a liberal amount of corrugated cardboard it was time start.

For the DHC I used the classic brown wax-oil from Dinitrol, but that was no longer available through my usual supplier. So they supplied me with a colourless alternative from Motip (Section Wax). It certainly is as sticky as Dinitrol, only it is less visible. Which can be an advantage or a disadvantage. Depends how you look at it. But I think I got everything pretty well covered! Only the sub frame, doors, bonnet and bootlid are still waiting to get the same treatment. 

Will give it some time for the surplus wax-oil to drip out ...

Other jobs carried out so far, coating the springs so they match the interior, and searching through my spare wiring looms in search of a half decent late European specification one. Refurbishing and checking all wiring will be next on the to do list together with having all smallish parts coated.

Jubilee

Today 34 years ago 't Kreng was first registered. At that time she had been standing at a dealership for a year or so. According to her VIN number she must have come off the line in Solihull somewhere in April 1981. And while trawling through my photographs I was reminded of the fact that on the 4^th of March it was exactly 10 years ago that I joined Club Triumph. Completely forgot that one, time certainly flies when you're having fun, thanks so far CT. Some pictures from the archives showing the car's various guises over the years;

Restoration nearly finished ...

(September 1996)

During the English Car Rally, shortly after her restoration

(June 1999)

After a local navigational rally

(November 2000)

On top of the Stelvio Pass

(July 2002)

Near the French Atlantic coast, Les Sable d'Olonne

(July 2002)

Dawn near Lausanne during Club Triumph's 2005 10CR

(September 2005)

Le Carrera Caledonia

(June 2006)

On Buttertubs Pass prior to Le Carerra Caledonia

(June 2007)

Near the village of Buttermere after the International AutoEcosse

(June 2013)

And her current guise

(March 2016)

And two interesting pictures of two sister cars. As their licence plates have an ascending sequence it is safe to say they were registered together ...