Wedding car - white 1500HL auto

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triumphtoledo
TDC Toledo Registrar
Posts: 651
Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:25 pm

Wedding car - white 1500HL auto

#1 Post by triumphtoledo »

I bought this little 1500HL from Birmingham, several years ago. It is tatty, cosmetically, but I used it as a hack for several years, although the underside has been treated to stop the monocoque from deteriorating.

The doors (not the car's originals) are a mess, as is the bonnet but the main body is in pretty good nick; in fact, it is pretty much weld-free.

I have covered 8,000 miles in it, most of which was done last winter, when this little automatic was my only car. Now that I have bought a modern replacement, the Dolly can be treated to a bit of a spruce-up.

Unfortunately, late last year, I fell over and smashed by head against a concrete post. That afternoon, I proposed to my beloved, who has put up with by strange habits for seven years now (including the Triumphs!)

After having a mild heart attack, pricing up the price of hiring wedding cars, we finally worked out that it would be far more appropriate (and cost effective) to put my classics on the road and use them instead on our big day. So, the groom's and best man's car (Toledo) is now running. The Bridesmaids' car (red 1500HL) is now sorted. The bride's car is to be the white car, which is, err, not so ready.

I have until the end of September to get this car sorted. I reckon that, if I spend one day per weekend and most of my evenings working on it, I should be able to have it done.

So far I have:

Had it MOTeed.
Welded up the front wing to front valance joints, as they were going a little crusty.
Welded up a tiny hole in the passenger sill.
Sourced 4 replacement doors. I have stripped and prepared three of them
Sourced and prepared a second-hand bonnet in white.
Welded in a repair into the boot-lid.

These needed doing next:

Rub down the body
Weld up holes on A Pillars, inside the doors.
Knock out and refill several minor dents
Take sills and door apertures down to bare metal and repaint in epoxy mastic.
Filler primer body.
Rub down filler primer.
Remove front and rear screens.
Refit doors and refit the glass and trim.


I have organised a back-up car!
Pics when I bought the car:
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Pics now:

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The current task is to replace the nearside rear filler panel, so I have started to strip the rear down:

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R
Matt Cotton
TDC Oxfordshire Area Organiser
Posts: 493
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:32 pm

Re: Wedding car - white 1500HL auto

#2 Post by Matt Cotton »

Good work Rob!

If you end up short of time and specifically want a white 1500HL you know who to call....just swap the plates over and no one will no any different!

Good luck with it..looking forward to the pic on the back of D.M post wedding day!
Matt Cotton

TDC Oxfordshire Area Organiser.
TDC/TSSC group meeting - 3rd Tuesday of the month


1980 1500HL - OPD
1976 Sprint - SWU
JPB

Re: Wedding car - white 1500HL auto

#3 Post by JPB »

Don't tell anyone you're having an LDV Convoy for wedding transport, they might get entirely the wrong idea. :wink:
triumphtoledo
TDC Toledo Registrar
Posts: 651
Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:25 pm

Re: Wedding car - white 1500HL auto

#4 Post by triumphtoledo »

Great, thanks Matt; I may need that offer! We will have a matching pair of 1500HLs afterwards...

Nice one JPB!

R
DoloWIGHTY

Re: Wedding car - white 1500HL auto

#5 Post by DoloWIGHTY »

Top work as ever Rob.
JPB wrote:Don't tell anyone you're having an LDV Convoy for wedding transport, they might get entirely the wrong idea. :wink:


triumphtoledo wrote:
Nice one JPB!

R

Don't encourage him eh? :lol: :wink:
triumphtoledo
TDC Toledo Registrar
Posts: 651
Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:25 pm

Re: Wedding car - white 1500HL auto

#6 Post by triumphtoledo »

Some progress has been made this week. The new filler piece is fitted to the back and most of the rear is now prepped. The two A post repairs were done today. I'll let the pics do the talking...

R

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Reg
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Location: Darn saarf..

Re: Wedding car - white 1500HL auto

#7 Post by Reg »

:shock: Wow!... Really lovely work on the A posts.. 8) Top stuff.
JPB

Re: Wedding car - white 1500HL auto

#8 Post by JPB »

+1. Superb quality job there. :thumbsup:
DoloWIGHTY

Re: Wedding car - white 1500HL auto

#9 Post by DoloWIGHTY »

Indeed, can you give us an insight into how you achieved the repiar to the A posts please Rob?
triumphtoledo
TDC Toledo Registrar
Posts: 651
Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:25 pm

Re: Wedding car - white 1500HL auto

#10 Post by triumphtoledo »

I'd love to give an insight but I am not allowed to at the moment; as the details will be in a few issues' time of Classics Monthly.

(It's not just be being a spoil-sport but it is my living)

R
Last edited by triumphtoledo on Sat Jun 05, 2010 6:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Purplebargeken

Re: Wedding car - white 1500HL auto

#11 Post by Purplebargeken »

Great progress mate. You have it done in good time.

Ken
triumphtoledo
TDC Toledo Registrar
Posts: 651
Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:25 pm

Re: Wedding car - white 1500HL auto

#12 Post by triumphtoledo »

A quick pictorial update...

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triumphtoledo
TDC Toledo Registrar
Posts: 651
Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:25 pm

Re: Wedding car - white 1500HL auto

#13 Post by triumphtoledo »

The car was primed yesterday and so I refitted the old doors and drove it home, so I could prep it ready for its top coat...

R

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NickMorgan
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Location: East Lothian, Scotland

Re: Wedding car - white 1500HL auto

#14 Post by NickMorgan »

Rob,
What's taking you so long?!!! :twisted:
You're restoring cars quicker than I can keep up with! Well done - it's looking great. You are putting me to shame as I keep looking at my Toledo, thinking that it really could do with a respray!
1959 TR3A, 1970 Triumph 1300, 1974 Toledo
Image Thanks Photobucket :(
james_r_lucas

Re: Wedding car - white 1500HL auto

#15 Post by james_r_lucas »

I envy those who have enough room to spray a car in one go :evil: :evil: :evil:

keep up the good work, if you ever fancy spraying my 1300, you're very welcome :lol: :
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