Hello world, from a NZ expat

[yatmandu]

Hi all,

First time poster here. My partner and I have just upped ship from our home country of New Zealand to do the token OE over the other side of the world in the UK. Back home, my Dolly restoration project awaits half-complete for my return. It's a one-family-owned, French blue Dolly Sprint - chassis no. VA9492. Details are probably best left for another thread but this is an old family photo with me sticking my head out - I look to be about 3 years old?

Me sticking my head out of the window - photo would be from 1990-91ish

img008 - Copy.jpg (217.08 KiB) Viewed 2309 times

So now that we have Bristol as our base for the next two years and I am beginning to find my feet, I think it's high time to start finding some wheels too? I'm on the lookout for a Spitfire MkIV or 1500. Since I'm on a limited budget and the car will have to be parked on street, I'm not after anything too flashy - just mechanically reliable as I don't have a workshop here! This advertisement on Gumtree has caught my eye:
http://www.gumtree.com/p/other-cars/197 ... 1124238855

If there is someone who has a better feel for the Spitfire market in the UK, could let me know their thoughts on the car and its asking price - that would be greatly appreciated! It does not have overdrive, unfortunately, nor does it have hardened valve seats. Also, if there is anyone around Bristol - give me a buzz! It would be great to meet a few more friendly faces around here.


Cheers,

Matt Yan

[xvivalve]

Hi Matt and welcome.

You'll be taking some excess baggage comprising Sprint parts when you return home in a couple of years then?

One of our members, Spiro Tanti, runs a classic car workshop and is based in Cardiff. He'd be a good person to look at the Spitfire for you, though as it is his business, he may make a moderate charge. Spiro runs both a couple of Sprints and a TR6, so he's quite familiar with things Triumph. I'll send you his contact number by PM...

[Robert 352]

In due time I am hoping that Matt too will tell us about the restoration of his Dolomite Sprint. I can testify from what he has already shown me that he is doing some magnificent work in bringing back to life a car which has been in his family for a very long time.

Matt visited me recently before he and his partner set off to see the big wide world. So he has driven my restored Sprint and at least has a feel for what his car will be like when it is finished.

I am delighted to read his first post here and I am sure that there are some amongst you who will be able to find him some transport. Then he can travel around the UK liberating not only a few Dolomite parts for his car but perhaps some of those really awkward to find parts that some of us other New Zealand forum members might need too.

Enjoy the UK Matt, I only wish I were there myself.

Robert

[sprint95m]

Welcome to both the forum and to the UK Matt.

My brother and his family stay in the north of New Zealand's north island, having emigrated there 5 years ago.
Just short ago they came back home for a holiday but I fear this has made his wife even more homesick than she was already.



Ian.

[Howard81]

Welcome to the forum! What a lovely story to go with your car, please do post a restoration thread!

A Sprint and a Spirfire are an excellent combination, I can testify to that

Personally I prefer a 1300 to a 1500 - the 1300 is not as fast but it's revvier and more fun! Don't forget that anything pre 1975 is also exempt from road tax

[Pippin]

There's a car meet in Queens Square, Bristol on the 2nd Sunday of every month - see http://www.avenuedriversclub.co.uk/

[Toledo Man]

Welcome to the forum. Please start a thread in the resto section. I'm on my hols at the moment hence the lack of activity on my part (I'm posting this from the Tesco in Wisbech on my phone).

[naskeet]

From what I've read about the matters of vehicle repair, customisation and road-worthiness inspection (i.e. WOF - Warrant of Fitness | @ 6-monthly intervals for vehicles more than 3 years old) in New Zealand, life there can be quite challenging.

Importing second-hand cars into New Zealand can be quite challenging and expensive, especially if they have undergone repairs or customisation outside New Zealand. Many cars repaired in Great Britain, which have passed the MOT, would not pass the WOF; or so I've been led to believe.

[Jon Tilson]

I run a Spit myself but prefer the later 1500 variety mostly for its upgraded switchgear. I find the older mk4s quite
hard to find the ignition key and I also prefer the single rail gearbox.

This one looks good but I wouldnt say it was cheap at that price, but then good spits dont get any more common.
In the last five years they seem to have all become very scarce.

I've had mine for about 35 years now. As a car its horrible, but I love it. Its got old with me...and been "restored" several
times now but there is always something to do.

You cant have one on the street in Bristol without a hard top in winter or the floor will fall out.
They are not even slightly water tight and Bristol is a wet place...

Jonners

[yatmandu]

Thanks for all the replies. I just went for a trip in the weekend (in a hired car) and we detoured by Cardiff to see the Spitfire. I decided it wasn't worth the asking price for the condition it was in, as I had seen a few in better shape go for less on eBay/gumtree. The hunt shall continue...