VA 276, Mimosa Sprint
VA 276, Mimosa Sprint
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.
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!
Thickness: Bottom 1/2", top 1/8", gap in between is 1/8".
Front end coachline join detail
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.
All of the door stripes curl around the ends of the doors
The trailing edge of the front wing stripe sits 24.5mm from the top edge of the wing.
The leading edge sits approx 18.1mm from the edge of the wing
On all doors, the stripes sit 117mm from the top edge
The rear wing stripe on the trailing end sits 96mm from the edge of the boot and curves around under the trim.
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
Details of the rear panel satin black paint masking.
I'll add bits to this post as I progress with the 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.
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!
Thickness: Bottom 1/2", top 1/8", gap in between is 1/8".
Front end coachline join detail
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.
All of the door stripes curl around the ends of the doors
The trailing edge of the front wing stripe sits 24.5mm from the top edge of the wing.
The leading edge sits approx 18.1mm from the edge of the wing
On all doors, the stripes sit 117mm from the top edge
The rear wing stripe on the trailing end sits 96mm from the edge of the boot and curves around under the trim.
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
Details of the rear panel satin black paint masking.
I'll add bits to this post as I progress with the restoration.
Re: VA 276, Mimosa Sprint
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.
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.
The usual rust in the roof and C pillar
The usual rust in the lower A pillars has gone through into the bulkhead.
Then there is the front panel, which has gone in the same way as VA 138
It has the usual areas of rust on the rear panel, as they are readily available I'll just put a new panel on.
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.
The usual rust in the roof and C pillar
The usual rust in the lower A pillars has gone through into the bulkhead.
Then there is the front panel, which has gone in the same way as VA 138
Re: VA 276, Mimosa Sprint
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.
Then you can carefully drill out all of the spot welds and remove the seams.
I'll need to do some small repairs before I can fit the new panel but in the meantime I can test fit it.
I never have any issues with the fit on these panels.
Test fitted the new bootlid to ensure that the wings had not moved during the removal of the panel
It fits perfectly so I marked up the hinge position, the rear panels are now ready to be dressed and fitted permanently
Start by just removing the seam sealer and cutting the panel off.
Then you can carefully drill out all of the spot welds and remove the seams.
I'll need to do some small repairs before I can fit the new panel but in the meantime I can test fit it.
I never have any issues with the fit on these panels.
Test fitted the new bootlid to ensure that the wings had not moved during the removal of the panel
It fits perfectly so I marked up the hinge position, the rear panels are now ready to be dressed and fitted permanently
Re: VA 276, Mimosa Sprint
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?
Are you sure the black boot panel paint is original? It seems to go too far up the gutters?
Re: VA 276, Mimosa Sprint
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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- TDC Oxfordshire Area Organiser
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Re: VA 276, Mimosa Sprint
Looking forward to following this one James and good progress made already.
All the best with it.
MC
All the best with it.
MC
Matt Cotton
TDC Oxfordshire Area Organiser.
TDC/TSSC group meeting - 3rd Tuesday of the month
1980 1500HL - OPD
1976 Sprint - SWU
TDC Oxfordshire Area Organiser.
TDC/TSSC group meeting - 3rd Tuesday of the month
1980 1500HL - OPD
1976 Sprint - SWU
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- Saving up to join the Club!
- Posts: 867
- Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 9:34 pm
- lazeruspete
- Saving up to join the Club!
- Posts: 822
- Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 11:15 pm
Re: VA 276, Mimosa Sprint
Brilliant find, looking forward to following this one.
Where did it come from?
Where did it come from?
1980 Dolomite Sprint Track Day Car....KLJ 895W. now redtopiffied
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!
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!
Re: VA 276, Mimosa Sprint
Thanks for confirming, so for a Concourse Restoration should this bad masking be recreated?matt of the vivas wrote: ↑Thu Oct 01, 2020 10:15 amIt's exactly the same as my unrestored 72 car, looks correct to me.
Re: VA 276, Mimosa Sprint
Depends how anal you want to be!Tony Burd wrote: ↑Thu Oct 01, 2020 2:50 pmThanks for confirming, so for a Concourse Restoration should this bad masking be recreated?matt of the vivas wrote: ↑Thu Oct 01, 2020 10:15 amIt's exactly the same as my unrestored 72 car, looks correct to me.
Re: VA 276, Mimosa Sprint
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.
It was quite far up the rear panel on mine, here's a photo - that's original too.
Triumph Dolomite Sprint (RNK 957W)
Automatic, porcelain white - 52,820, genuine mileage (warranted).
Built 26/6/1980, 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 Geoffrey Robinson, Enfield, London.
Club Membership No: 2017092
Automatic, porcelain white - 52,820, genuine mileage (warranted).
Built 26/6/1980, 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 Geoffrey Robinson, Enfield, London.
Club Membership No: 2017092
- lazeruspete
- Saving up to join the Club!
- Posts: 822
- Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 11:15 pm
Re: VA 276, Mimosa Sprint
I think to say that Triumph had the level of quality control to make every car the same is a bit of a stretch
1980 Dolomite Sprint Track Day Car....KLJ 895W. now redtopiffied
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!
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!
Re: VA 276, Mimosa Sprint
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!
Anyway, I have repaired all of the rust around the rear panel, there wasn't a lot just a few holes here and there.
Fitted the boot then dressed, aligned, clamped and fitted the rear panel.
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.
Didn't knock any sense into me though!
Anyway, I have repaired all of the rust around the rear panel, there wasn't a lot just a few holes here and there.
Fitted the boot then dressed, aligned, clamped and fitted the rear panel.
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.
Re: VA 276, Mimosa Sprint
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.
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!
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.
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!
Re: VA 276, Mimosa Sprint
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.
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.