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Triumph TR3 - ZOOM, ZOOM

Hello all:
Finally! On July 23rd, I finished my "refurbishment" and took the maiden voyage the following day. Very cool to say the least, and worth every hour of work.
A long 8 months - almost forgot how it felt!
All is not perfect, but there's always next winter...

I owe a great deal of thanks to all who contributed their time and thoughts to the obstacles along the way.
Without your help, the outcome would undoubtedly have been very different - THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Of course, there is more to do, mostly things of lesser importance, things which will make the car more a part of me. But in the meantime, what a blast!

Unfortunately, I wont be making the ride to PA for VTR/TRF 2003; but, well wishes to those who are.

Thanks again,
Mike Gambordella
1956 TR3 comm.#9865-0 - On the road again!
Mike Gambordella

Mike!

That's terrific news! It's wonderful to hear you've gotten your baby back on the road. What a blast, eh? When I got my TR last year, I had no idea it would be this much fun.

It's also been very helpful to learn from swapping beginner's questions and answers with you, and your encouragement has meant a lot as I plodded along.

Let's look forward to sharing that beer at VTR '04 in Richmond next year, if not sooner. Meanwhile, here's wishing you plenty of perfect top down weather for the rest of the summer and fall.

Enjoy, Mike!

Bill Stagg
1961 TR3A
Bill Stagg

Mike - Louise and I will be driving TRusty to Cape Cod in September. Would you send me your phone number off line as well as your address. Maybe we could get to see your car if it's not too far off the way.

BTW, I took 2nd at VTR in the early TR3A class with 382.5 points. There were over 35 TR3A's and B's there. The winner with 283.5 points was the same red one who trailered his TR3A from Rhode Island covered in polyethylene held on with duct tape. It looked like a big red **** with a condom on it. (Note to our "Web-Mechanic", Mike Plumstead - I hope this is not too risqué .... well you know what I mean ....)

He bought it last year from the original owner with only 16,000 miles on it and did a full restoration (or had it done ? ) --------- And he only beat me by 1.0 points and I have driven TRusty over 74,000 miles since I finished my restoration in 1990. I lost 13 points (out of the 17.5 points I lost) for the exterior, mainly because of paint chips that I had touched up. If I had re-sprayed the front valance I could have beaten him and taken first.

But my wall is full of plaques and TRusty is my TRophy.

Don Elliott, 1958 TR3A e-mail:- elliottd@look.ca
Don Elliott

Thanks, guys.
It sure is fun. These machines are pretty amazing for their time.
Now, if it will stop raining I can actually wash, wax and DRIVE!
Regards,
Mike G. - '56 TR3
Mike Gambordella

The paint on "TRusty" was sprayed in 1989. I waxed it 2 or 3 times since then and it was a mistake every time. Too much work and a mess to buff it. I keep my TR in the garage at home out the sun in the summer and out the cold in the winter. Over 75,000 miles and all I do is wash it about 5 times a summer and polish it twice a summer, just hours before a national TRA or VTR meet.

Took 3rd in concours at TRA (87 points)in Auburn and 2nd in class at VTR (382.5 points out of 400) in the last month. The paint is still (well almost) like new. Of the 17.5 points they deducted, I lost 13 of them on the exterior. So while it's still super shiny, I think it was the paint chips that killed me.

Don Elliott, 1958 TR3A
Don Elliott

Don: The paint on mine was also sprayed a very long time ago(1984)and it still looks fantastic. The PO spoke of waxing occasionally, but I'd be interested to know what you use for polish as an alternative.
Mike G. - '56 TR3
Mike Gambordella

I use Maguiar's Step 2 Polish (beige in colour) that comes in a maroon bottle (consumer's quality) to remove the bugs and any other surface blemishes.

To remove swirls, I use Meguiar's Mirror Glaze Swirl Remover 2.0 in a beige bottle (their professional quality)

To give it a final shine I use Auto-Glym from England (white in a white bottle".

Once at the show, I use any "Final Spray" which I think is water in a spray bottle to wet the surface with tiny droplets to let you wipe off the final dust.

Don Elliott, 1958 TR3A
Don Elliott

This thread was discussed between 05/08/2003 and 14/08/2003

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