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 Post subject: CIJ 7186
PostPosted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 4:04 pm 
THE TOLLY

Once an owner of many classics(in my youth), i decided a cheap second car to play with was the order of the day and set about surfing the web.Tax exempt was the choice,spitfire was the car.Twelve months on and i wasnt too keen on driving it(always raining/triumph electrics/wipers) and yearned for something with a rally feel(mid life crisis kicking in).After spotting a green 2 door toledo on ebay up in newcastle and deciding it was too far to travel/no mot etc,it was to clean to start ripping apart.Guilt set in.There will be plenty more i thought.After some research i found there are probably a lot less two door toledo`s than two door escorts.After ownership of an ex rally two door with ford and sprint running gear as an 18 year old,middle age was kicking in.They say time is a healer,rubbish,the more time went by the more i wanted one.Later,a lot later i spotted one on the bay.I was itchin!

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Advert read:

Triumph toledo rally car replica


Hi I have a 1971 tax free triumph toledo rally replica, has dolomite alloy wheels with good tyres
twin carbs,maplight and another light on top of the dash facing down,roll cage,bucket seats
the black seat in the pictures has been removed and a matching bucket seat to the passenger one has been fitted both need repairs
hydraulic handbrake is seized but has an ordinary handbrake starts stops and drives has no carpets rare 2 door model
needs repairs to drivers side door step and has bubbling between the front screen and the drivers wing has had repairs underneath
all lights work has extra gauges fitted and a fusebox on the dash
brakes work but would recommend going over them as the peddle feels hard
probably just from lying up I took it as a trade in on a van but already have a mg midget a mk1 vauxhall cavalier and a mk2 cortina
it has copper brake pipes and braided hoses but would benefit from a clean the only thing not working at the moment is the wipers and washers
good luck with your bidding
-advert photo`s-



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Looking at the address "Newcastle,co down" i wasnt to sure where it was so emailed for the address.
"Ireland "came the reply.
Hmmm i thought, a bit far but it looked ok.
"Any more pics?" I asked
"Cant use phone to post pics" came the reply
I asked for the reserve and was a bit put off.I was slightly concerned and let the auction run.
An hour after the auction i had a message,did i still want to buy it? The reserve was`nt met.
How do i get it back?After much counting of the pennies it was decided to fly over and ferry it back.Just one problem,i had never flown before.Or been on a big ferry.What do i do?
We agreed a price.
Spitfire was sold to pay for the toledo.
It was too late now i`d made my mind up.
Plane booked,ferry booked,taxi booked and money in my glove(old trick my mother taught me,no one looks there lol) i was ready.
Finished nights 28th nov,kids to school home for 9am,sleep till 11:30.
Up,shave,shower etc,picked up by a pal and at the airport for12:30.
Booked in.Forgot to have any breakfast/dinner.Butty grabbed from grubway and put in bag.I thought better eaten after the flight than before.Nervously i set off to board.

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If i was gonna back out now was the time.

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Now was probably too late.

On the plane i was sat next to a boy aged about 8.
"Whats the best bit about flying?"i asked nervously
"Crashing"..........Great.
Ordeal over with i was then picked up at the airport and began the hour journey by taxi to Newry,Kilcoo.
I arrived at teatime,it was getting icy.
"Would you like a cup of tea?"
Already committed i did`nt bother looking at the car and went in for a brew and a chat.
Ready to set off to the dock at Belfast, i went outside.
"I will get a warm kettle of water for you"
It was white over.
I started the car and warmed it up.
"Wheres the heater?"
"It doesnt work"
Windscreen de iced,gloves on, i jumped in
"You might want to put some petrol in it"
"Yeah i was gonna do,how much is in it?"
"Dunno gauge doesnt work but theres a petrol station up the road"
Fantastic!
An hour or so later,after much thrashing of gearbox trying to go between 2nd and 3rd gears and blipping the throttle to stop the sticky cable keeping the tickover high,i had arrived,i had probably blinded half of northern ireland not noticing that the floppy indicator stalk kept flopping onto high beam but i was there,at the dock.It was 8pm`ish and i could finally eat my limp grubway butty for my breakfast/dinner.
Finally boarding after the long wait i made for the cabin and then a showerto warm my cockles.I then remembered,the last time i bought a car the deal was the missus got a dog.We already had two! A bijon substitute was needed.

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DONE!

Suppertime.

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Back to the cabin for a peaceful trip back over to birkenhead.

Woken up in the morning swaying backwards and forwards and then by a cabin call(I`m certain the captain did that on purpose),showered and up for breakfast.No cash machines onboard meant i was coppering up.I just had enough for a meal.Not much, but i needed the sugar after not much sleep.

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Off the boat and another cold ride home, i arrived at the local garage i had booked it in for its mot.
"Can you leave the logbook as its not on the uk database?"
I left the car and logbook and went home.Twenty minutes later there was a call.
"I am afraid to tell you the car is a bit rotten underneath and will need welding,also the logbook doesnt match the chassis tag"
To say I was a bit gutted is a bit of an understatement.I collected the car and went home.
A succession of texts was sent to the guy i had bought it off,him telling me it was legit and he would contact the previous owner.That night i found a car checker for northern ireland, i typed in the details:
CIJ 7186
Triumph
Toledo
1300
4door
???????........4door......FOUR BLOODY DOOR????? OH NO,what had i got in the garage?Not even going out to check the chassis tags i went to bed for a restless nights kip.
The next day was spent texting the guy i got it off who said he had not noticed this and would`nt have sold it if he had,but he had the number of the previous owner.I phoned to enquire.He said he had noticed but not really done anything about it and that the car was known in ireland and was`nt stolen or had false plates on.He said he would contact the previous owner and ask.He rang back with a phone number for me to try.
The guy on the end of the phone assured me everything was ok as he used to rally it.It had always had 4 door on the logbook and he hadnt changed it.
"Thats ok but the mot guy said the tags didnt match and all i have is a few guys on the end of a phone telling me its ok!"
"Dont worry, i will send you a few pictures i have by email"
We then chatted about a few mods that the car had that he had carried out.After the call i went out to the garage to look at what he had done and sure enough the mods were there.Whilst i was in the garage i collected the numbers from the chassis tags and the vin plate.I then checked them against the logbook and found the chassis number engine number.Wondering why the mot guy had said the numbers were wrong i checked the vin plate number on a forum and found this to be the order number and not the chassis number.I was very relieved.
The next day a kind letter arrived from the previous owner confirming ownership with a few nice photos to help with the registration procedure at dvla.

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Turns out he had wrote an article many years ago for the TDC magazine and he kindly sent it along with a cutting the local newspaper had done.



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Many thanks have to go to gary as without him none of these pictures would have been available and the history would have been lost.

Lucky i pestered people over the logbook eh?

Currently the car is awaiting welding at the local garage as its a bit too much for me to take on at the moment.It has to be mot`d,taxed and insured before i can apply for a uk logbook at my local dvla office(if its still open when ive finished).When i get it back i will be doing the mot work and running it about to make sure everything is reliable(lol) before hopefully learning my eldest son to drive and the virtues of owning old cars.Possibly even doing some local motorsport.The tour of cheshire isnt very far away so i just might go for a watch this year and see how things are.

Maximus


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 Post subject: Re: CIJ 7186
PostPosted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 4:12 pm 
Not so much a restoration project as yet but i thought i might just have to make a start before i get the car back so here`s the story so far.Also went to the tour of cheshire and spotted 1500-hl man.Well done fella :D .It`ll give me something to look forward to if i ever get it done :shock: .Thanks to Rob for editing the story into something readable and apologies for stating i went to dublin dock :oops: it was actually belfast.


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 Post subject: Re: CIJ 7186
PostPosted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 7:50 pm 
This is a brilliant story and excellent write-up! Thank you for taking the time to post this, I hope you're able to enjoy the car as much as Gary did. :D


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 Post subject: Re: CIJ 7186
PostPosted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 8:33 pm 
Cheers Jim,hope i can do the car justice :D


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 Post subject: Re: CIJ 7186
PostPosted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 8:38 pm 
I'm sure you will Tony. Sure makes me sad at the prospect of parting with mine, but needs must, eh? :(

Have you got the MAG rims too?

Just a quick thought: can any members remember details of the other 2dr Toledo that was (tarmac) rallied well into the mid-nineties? It was featured in 2-4, owned by Geoff someone?


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 Post subject: Re: CIJ 7186
PostPosted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 12:13 am 
Sadly it doesnt have the mag rims just the sprint ones.(Tin helmet on) I actually like the sprint rims even if they are on a lot of cars.I will ask gary what happened to them.Ive never seen them before only on the old pics,maybe someone knows what they are off?


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 Post subject: Re: CIJ 7186
PostPosted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 12:54 am 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2008 5:19 am
Posts: 3210
Location: Old Basing, Hants.
Look like TR7 alloys to me...
Love the write up!

_________________
1978 Sandglow Dolomite 1850HL The Lolomite - MOT pass! (broken again in 55 miles though...)
It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.
Hit it.
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 Post subject: Re: CIJ 7186
PostPosted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 1:15 pm 
They're very similar to TR7 alloys, but are 6J and the 'spokes' are a little longer. The wheels on CIJ were made by Mills Automotive Group, an identical set was fitted to Janspeed's Toledo demonstrator.

I will have a set of MAGs for sale in coming months, but need them for rolling around duties for now. :D


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 Post subject: Re: CIJ 7186
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:24 pm 
:D Whey hey not long now fingers crossed :D

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Cheers Mr welder :)


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 Post subject: Re: CIJ 7186
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:36 pm 
Cool, good luck with it Tony! :D

Your rear exhaust section is pretty low. It might be worth having a side-exit on a competition car like yours?


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 Post subject: Re: CIJ 7186
PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:47 pm 
Cheers Jim,Got to get it mot`d first :roll: .I have a stainless from a Passat turbo,think I might try that,would look very good :D


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 Post subject: Re: CIJ 7186
PostPosted: Mon May 27, 2013 5:16 pm 
Getting it back this week sometime, subframe will have to be pulled off to complete the front section :( .Never mind I suppose its nearly there.I will have to have a go at sorting the electrics out amongst other things before sending it back for welding,that way its less for me to do when I get it back again :) Bread boards at the ready for the subframe,thanks mr warburton :lol: Although I did see a nice asda trolley hiding in a bush the other day :-k I wonder if I could use this as something to wheel the front end on......better find a pound coin and try :lol:


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 Post subject: Re: CIJ 7186
PostPosted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 9:37 am 
Back late Saturday night,all off by monday :D Back to the welders again :(
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 Post subject: Re: CIJ 7186
PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 1:52 pm 
Well, it all went pete tong and some of the welding work wasn't done leaving lots left to do :? .The poor guy welding it was poorly and as such has packed in working on cars (probably just after looking at it under the ramp lol) so the car just sat there waiting to be brought home just before xmas.This turned into after xmas but it did eventually turn up :D

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So round the back she went to the man cave. Once in I decided that things were gonna be easier to do underneath it and since the garage had a roof I had a problem.Better off on its side I thought so I started to jack......

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And jack

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Until I got it into a position I was happy with. Now the fun begins :lol:


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 Post subject: Re: CIJ 7186
PostPosted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 1:53 am 
Not updated this for a while but reading a recent thread about a certain spitfire prompted me to add a few more pics

Thanks louisw

Once In the garage the manky bits were cut out and treated/painted

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Lots of this stuff was found

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Lots of this was done

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And a box of tappers came in handy for holding stuff together before using the weldy weldy thing again
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Time out for an arty shot,well my best attempt
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