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 Post subject: VA 276, Mimosa Sprint
PostPosted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 1:31 pm 
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Yes, I have got my hands on another early Sprint for body restoration!

This is a very original car, it has it's original stripes and paint as well as it's original rust! Condition wise it has rusted in all the usual early Sprint areas, rear panel, the top corners of the boot, lower windscreen, front upper valence. The sills look good and only need a couple of repairs, overall this should be a good fun job.

With the originality in mind I have taken a load of reference photos and measurements for future use and comparison.

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So, stripes/coachlines! These always seem to cause arguments, how they are fitted, where they go etc.... well here we go, here's a original set! :lol:

Thickness: Bottom 1/2", top 1/8", gap in between is 1/8".

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Front end coachline join detail

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The length of the stripe from the trailing edge of the wing is 41". Measuring it this way gives a more accurate measurement as you are not having to take into account the curvature of the front end.

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All of the door stripes curl around the ends of the doors

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The trailing edge of the front wing stripe sits 24.5mm from the top edge of the wing.

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The leading edge sits approx 18.1mm from the edge of the wing

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On all doors, the stripes sit 117mm from the top edge

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The rear wing stripe on the trailing end sits 96mm from the edge of the boot and curves around under the trim.

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It is important to note that with the stripes these are just starting measurements, as you can see they follow the swage line down the side of the car.

Details of the BL Wing badge

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Details of the rear panel satin black paint masking.

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I'll add bits to this post as I progress with the restoration.


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PostPosted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 1:39 pm 
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So, on with the body restoration.

It has the usual areas of rust on the rear panel, as they are readily available I'll just put a new panel on.

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Lee has also provided a new bootlid to be fitted.

It has rust on the lower corners of the rear screen, it isn't as bad as it looks, thanks to Tony Burd I have a pair of repair panels for this.

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The usual rust in the roof and C pillar

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The usual rust in the lower A pillars has gone through into the bulkhead.

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Then there is the front panel, which has gone in the same way as VA 138

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PostPosted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 1:47 pm 
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Starting at the back of the car and working to the front then... first job, rear panel. As you know I have done a few of these so it shouldn't be difficult!

Start by just removing the seam sealer and cutting the panel off.

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Then you can carefully drill out all of the spot welds and remove the seams.

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I'll need to do some small repairs before I can fit the new panel but in the meantime I can test fit it.

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I never have any issues with the fit on these panels.

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Test fitted the new bootlid to ensure that the wings had not moved during the removal of the panel

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It fits perfectly so I marked up the hinge position, the rear panels are now ready to be dressed and fitted permanently

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PostPosted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 3:03 pm 
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Great measurements for reference, thanks James.

Are you sure the black boot panel paint is original? It seems to go too far up the gutters?

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Modified Dolomite Sprint MSO 662P VA485 1973 Mimosa Sprint
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 3:15 pm 
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Thanks Tony, judging from the paint I'd say it is, there was only the red primer, yellow then black there.


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PostPosted: Wed Sep 30, 2020 7:41 pm 
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Looking forward to following this one James and good progress made already.

All the best with it.

MC

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1980 1500HL - OPD
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 10:15 am 
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Quote:
Great measurements for reference, thanks James.

Are you sure the black boot panel paint is original? It seems to go too far up the gutters?
It's exactly the same as my unrestored 72 car, looks correct to me.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 11:53 am 
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Brilliant find, looking forward to following this one.

Where did it come from?

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1980 Dolomite Sprint Track Day Car....KLJ 895W. now redtopiffied :P

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=23031

Volkswagen Golf MK3 Gti....R301UUJ. RIP 22-5-13
Volkswagen Golf MK4 TDGTI 150 MM53VNT Sold 7-8-17
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 2:50 pm 
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Quote:
Quote:
Great measurements for reference, thanks James.

Are you sure the black boot panel paint is original? It seems to go too far up the gutters?
It's exactly the same as my unrestored 72 car, looks correct to me.
Thanks for confirming, so for a Concourse Restoration should this bad masking be recreated?

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Modified Dolomite Sprint MSO 662P VA485 1973 Mimosa Sprint
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 6:03 pm 
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Great measurements for reference, thanks James.

Are you sure the black boot panel paint is original? It seems to go too far up the gutters?
It's exactly the same as my unrestored 72 car, looks correct to me.
Thanks for confirming, so for a Concourse Restoration should this bad masking be recreated?
Depends how anal you want to be! :lol:


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 7:14 pm 
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Looking forward to following this build, as I do them all - and nice to see another early one being saved. You'll soon be doing them in your sleep James.

It was quite far up the rear panel on mine, here's a photo - that's original too.


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Triumph Dolomite Sprint,RNK 957W

Built 26/6/1980 (one of the last built), Auto, Porcelain White - Genuine Mileage 52,820 (warranted).

Only 3 previous owners, (2 within the same family).

Supplied by Lavender Hill Garage Ltd, Enfield, London, by garage owner Jimmy Metcalfe on 30th September 1980 to Geoffery Robinson, Enfield.

Club Membership No: 2017092


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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2020 12:27 pm 
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Quote:
Looking forward to following this build, as I do them all - and nice to see another early one being saved. You'll soon be doing them in your sleep James.

It was quite far up the rear panel on mine, here's a photo - that's original too.


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I think to say that Triumph had the level of quality control to make every car the same is a bit of a stretch :D

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1980 Dolomite Sprint Track Day Car....KLJ 895W. now redtopiffied :P

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=23031

Volkswagen Golf MK3 Gti....R301UUJ. RIP 22-5-13
Volkswagen Golf MK4 TDGTI 150 MM53VNT Sold 7-8-17
BMW 320d Coupe M-Sport YL08 XBZ with factory fitted Performance Pack - Sold 22/05/21
BMW 330d Touring M-Sport WN63 XPY - best daily ever

Proud TDC Member!


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PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2020 6:55 pm 
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Progress is good today, a bit slow as about 5 weeks ago I decided to ride down from the top of the Unterrothorn to Zermatt in Switzerland as fast as I could. Unfortunately I ran out of talent resulting in some broken ribs and some damage done by fast stopping internal organs!

Didn't knock any sense into me though! :lol:

Anyway, I have repaired all of the rust around the rear panel, there wasn't a lot just a few holes here and there.

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Fitted the boot then dressed, aligned, clamped and fitted the rear panel.

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Something I didn't highlight when I was doing Shaun's. A few panels have some brazed joins, part of the top of the front wings and the top corners of the rear panels. I have replicated this, it's easy with a torch, flux and some rods. Unfortunately I ran out of gas and couldn't get the panels hot enough! For brazing I only use the small MAPP gas and O2 bottles, it isn't worth me getting big ones. I'll finish it off in the week. I can still finish off the rear and start on the corners on Monday.


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PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 12:31 pm 
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I have moved onto the rear screen surround, starting at the bottom inner panel the rust has really taken hold in the boot surround wells. It seems to have hit the spot welds then rusted into the seams between the panels. Below the rear screen water must have been sitting here, the well itself had rusted completely through in places.

It looks brutal, but in reality the panel structure isn't that complicated, it was just a case of drilling out the spot welds and being methodical when trying to disassemble it. Unfortunately the rust had spread underneath both wing tops, the good news is that I have all the panels to repair it.

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Now all the rust is cut out I can have a tidy up and get on with repairing the inner structure and putting it all back together! :lol:

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PostPosted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:32 pm 
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Great work James.
I am in awe. So clever. I really enjoy reading them. Would love to know what happened to the other cars you have worked on. Would be great to see a finished car.

Dave.


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