About time.

[Stormin 9,981]

  While the better half is away visiting her sister near Oldham, I decided to have a bit of a move round in the workshop and do a bit of outstanding work. The outstanding work refers to a 1974 Triumph 1500 Spitfire. Poor old Spit has been tucked away under covers for a year and a half.

  Battery was well and truly dead, so I got a new one this morning. Fitted it this afternoon and after a bit of cranking the engine burst into life.  So over the next few weeks, I'll be getting it ready for m.o.t and fitting of new hood. Hopefully it will be back on the road for June.

[farmer 1,075]

Good luck with your spitfire stormin, when the sun beams down     this summer you'll be glad you got the old girl going. I found myself in a similar situation this time last year, I have a willys jeep and had promised my daughter I would drive her and her friends to their 'prom' dance thingy, so new battery and MOT, had to get the rad out and sent away for repairs, anyway it all worked out ok.

Looking forward to a proper summer this year so we can enjoy. 

[Stormin 9,981]

  Now got an m.o.t. and wearing a nice new canvas hood.   Insurance renewed, but will wait till the end of the month to road tax.

 

  Was fun taking it for the m.o.t. Set off from home in sunshine and arrived in a down pour. Luckily the garage workshop doors were open and the mechanics couldn't stop laughing as I drove straight in. Think it had something to do with the hood not being UP.

[neil 2,409]

Triumph spitfire, Willy`s jeep ?

Wheres the Pics guys.?

[wheeledhorseman 574]

Beginning to get withdrawal symptoms with all this classic vehicle talk. I've got a Mini which I took off the road for the winter (SORN) rather than let it stand on the drive but of course now the MOT needs doing and I haven't had the time.

 

My jeeps are OK on that count - no MOTs needed, and of course there's no road tax to pay as they're 'Historic' but again, haven't had the time to get any of them out for a run yet this year but the first Military show is looming so I'll have to check them over soon.

 

So here they are Neil

 

 

Yes, that's a big gun on the one in the middle - not your average 30 cal or 50 cal, its a 105mm recoilless anti-tank rifle!

 

Andy

[neil 2,409]

WOW . I would love to own a willys jeep.

I reminds me of when we were working of the film set of Full Metal Jacket By SWtanley cubruick . We used to drive these jeeps around on the film set to get equipment  and props . 

when the film was finished they just left 12 willys jeeps in the field  an never bothered to take them away along with other film stuff , so i guess they just rotted away , could even still be there today .

 

Love your collection Andy

[Stormin 9,981]

Having problems putting up pictures for some reason.

[farmer 1,075]

When the sun shines both sides of the hedge my jeep will come out of hiding and I'll take some pics.

Andy,        if the S ever hits the F I want to be on your side!

[meadowfield 2,570]

me too !

[Stormin 9,981]

Taxed the Spitfire this morning, so the 90 is having an iffy fit. Last time the Spit was put back on the road after a couple of years off, the 90 wrecked it's clutch plate. This time it's wrecked the gearbox. 

[wheeledhorseman 574]

 

[Stormin 9,981]

Photo's as requested. Sorry for delay.

 

 

This is my 1986 Land Rover 90 in it's natural habitat. Fitted with an Isuzu 2.8 turbo diesel and full width intercooler.  Currently being fitted with a new gearbox after 180,000 miles.

 

 

 

The 1974 Triumph Spitfire 1500.

 

[Anglo Traction 761]

New Box of Cogs after 180 Thousand miles !. I don't know, what happened to reliability!.  .  Nice Landy Norm and the Spit brings back memories. Thanks for posting pics   

[wheeledhorseman 574]

Nice Landy, nice TS.

 

On the subject of Landys, here's my sons first proper resto project that I 'helped' with. Originally from an MOD auction, It had been in a field for about 12 years with a duff engine when we got it but the chassis was still good.

 

 

It's a 1980 Series III long wheel base (109) FFR (fitted for radio) with 24 volt electrics and a 90 amp  alternator with spilt charging system to maintain the main vehicle battery and the huge batteries stowed in the back to operate radio equipment. The civi registration plates are zip tied on as it has the original army reg plates underneath for showing. Hmm, many's the time I've driven my jeeps back from shows on army plates - never been pulled over yet.

 

Andy

[farmer 1,075]

Sorry for the delay chaps, but now that its nice and warm and sunny and I've found my ...... its Jeep time!

 

 

 

 

 

This is quite an interesting topic, so I'm going to start a thread in  ~ non tractors discussion~.

[wheeledhorseman 574]

Nice jeep Rex, does it ever get to shows?

 

What's the story behind the 'C' plate (1965) and does that mean that despite it's age you still have to get an MOT each year?

 

Andy

[AMC RULES 37,126]

Some really cool rides across the pond...

hope you'll keep the picts coming guys.  

[farmer 1,075]

Hi Andy, no shows, maybe one day (same with the  's).

 

The Jeep was bought at auction in '59 by my father, first registered in '65, hence the 'c' plate. It got a crane fitted and sprayed bright yellow, he used it as a breakdown truck for his garage business, a few years later the crane was removed when he went farming. In the mid '70's it failed the MOT and was pushed to the back of a barn. (replaced by a LR)

Dad always said that he would restore it when he retired to the type of Jeep he drove in Palestine when he served in the Parachute Regiment. (hence Pegasus)

 

Four months after retirement he suffered a massive stroke, he survived but lost the use of one side, this was '96. I made enquires and found a Jeep enthusiast local to us who did the restoration (you probably know of him). Over the following year + we would take dad down to see his Jeep resurrected, after it was finished he had four years of pleasure from rides out...before he passed away.

 

The gent who restored it did say that a military plate could be used but dad (and I) wanted to keep 'the three little ducks'. I didn't realise about the MOT situation, Its due so I'll find out.  Thanks for the heads up.

[wheeledhorseman 574]

A charming story Rex, thanks for sharing.

 

I'd assumed something like that re the registration plate as I know of a WW2 Bedford truck on the IOW with a sixties plate for a similar commercial use reason. These days jeep owners go for age related plates (with 3 letters & 3 numbers) because it is correct for the age of vehicle but I can understand that being part of it's history in the family you've chosen to keep it as is and not re-register it.

 

Vehicle testing is no longer required for light vehicles manufactured pre-1960. Believe it or not this has always been the case for trucks and you can own and drive a WW2 heavy truck on a standard car licence as long as it's not used commercially. I didn't get my jeeps tested this year, it's an odd system - when you have to tax it a vehicle (free of course being 'historic') you have to fill out a declaration form stating it was manufactured pre 1960. Odder still is the fact that you keep this form for your records, it doesn't go to the DVLA.

 

There's been a mixed reaction to this in the auto press but as my jeeps have never yet failed to pass and it only takes perhaps 20 minutes for a garage to test them and not the hour you're paying for I decided that I'll get a 'second opinion' less frequently perhaps every two or three years to be sure there's nothing I've missed. Some owners will, I know, continue with the annual test as they rely on it to know if there's anything they need to get fixed.

 

Andy

 

 

[Anglo Traction 761]

If your interested, the next time I'm out in France, I'll see if Mons'r Henri will let me take a few pics of his Jeeps etc. They are 1943/44 models (that were imported via the Normandy Beaches).

Beautiful restored condition. He has about 10 vintage Tractors and Cars and is still restoring at the age of 83.