Thinking of buying one , what to look for

[Jason]

Hello again

It's hard to offer an opinion not having seen the car but as long as the repairs have been done to a decent standard I could live without the jacking points - I would never use them anyway! The key to the whole thing is structural integrity. If the sills have been patches, filled and generally tarted up to look good then unless the rest of the car is excellent I'd be very careful. Sill replacement on these cars is a bit of a big job as you have to unpick the join at the front wing - there are a few rust traps involved which means it could uncover more rot
Never was the rule more apt "Buy bodywork" - the 200 mechanicals are pretty tough and more importantly common - the 6 pot is, in various configurations, in lots of Triumphs -TR6, GT6, Vitesse, Mk2 and Mk1 2000 etc. Whilst the 2000 may be undervalued, the TR6 isn't - so you have got lots of mechanicals to choose from.

A few pictures would help greatly.

[rusty pelican]

Thanks for the info , living without jacking points isnt as you say much of an issue , Imps havnt got any on the body so as im used to this never even noticed the lack of them on the Triumph , I hoping against hope that theres photographic evidence of whats been done , As you know a shiny coat of paint can hide allsorts of horrors , Im well used to classic cars and am a qualified welder . underseal is not my friend , i hate it as you cant tell whats underneath, from what i saw it did look solid , no drain holes in the sills can be overcome but this pionts me to pattern parts being fitted, Some Imp pattern parts are terrible , not sure odviously on Triumph ones , Il try and find out who did the work , this may help if theres a good reputation attached or not , feeling a bit less sure about it now than before , which is a good thing , i know the issues BEFORE ive paid up
REG number is GBD 797D , anyone know the car , this may also help

[rusty pelican]

Got a bit more info , car was restored by Yorkshire Triumph in may 06 , ive got the phone number and will look on their site , this is far more reasuring i think as its done by someone who understands these cars

[Jason]

At least there's no kingpins on a Triumph

[David Withers]

Thanks for the info , living without jacking points isnt as you say much of an issue , Imps havnt got any on the body so as im used to this never even noticed the lack of them on the Triumph ...

The absence of the jacking points would bother me because, combined with the lack of drain holes, they suggest a "that'll do" job, and you don't know if this applies to the hidden parts as well. The sill is a vital structural element of these Triumphs, for stiffness and for safety.

Did you know that there are three walls to the sills, i.e. inner, outer and diaphragm? The diaphragm (central wall) can be seen to a limited extent through holes in the inner wall - under the carpet that's stuck to it though. All three walls are important, structurally.

I wonder if Yorkshire Triumph really does understand these cars? If they fitted the sills without drain holes, I think "perhaps not".

These are lovely cars (why I've had mine for 35 years, and the one before it for 5 years) but, as Jason said, the bodywork is the important thing to investigate when buying.

Best wishes, whether you buy this one or wait for another.

[rusty pelican]

Thanks for the info , living without jacking points isnt as you say much of an issue , Imps havnt got any on the body so as im used to this never even noticed the lack of them on the Triumph ...

"that'll do" job,

I wonder if Yorkshire Triumph really does understand these cars? If they fitted the sills without drain holes, I think "perhaps not".


.

Thats something ive thought off too , problems , problems , So no one on here has had any dealings with them then , seems strange

[Allen Walker]

For your information, there is now an extremely comprehensive Buyers' Guide available on the main website. Go to www.triumph2000register.co.uk, and from the menus at the top, choose 'The Cars' then the submenu 'Buying'.
As you will see, anyone can view the document, but if you want to print it you have to be a member of the Register.

[Mike Stevens]

pattern parts being fitted, Some Imp pattern parts are terrible , not sure odviously on Triumph ones

I think there are few original panels left now. Front valances perhaps. Pattern sills from various suppliers are OK if used properly. Even the ones with the 'lower extension' are Ok if that bit is cut off and the sill fitted correctly.

As David has said, the sill is a 3-part affair and it goes under the rear of the front wing. In fact, you should be able to see that bit as the wing and sill are not connected at that point (I believe!).

To repair them properly, the lower back of the front wing has to come off to get to the front of the sill assembly. Then the 3 parts can be repaired properly including fitting jacking mounts. Not having jacking points is not a real problem, except that it makes you think about the rest of the repairs. The drain holes are more important as water from the screen can go sideways and drain down inside the back of the wing and around the sill assembly. It has to get out somewhere!

You should be able to see how it's been repaired, especially with your welding experience.

For reference, here is a rough picture that shows the general sill structure.

I hope this all helps!

Cheers,
Mike.

[TedTaylor]

I go along with the comments about how well the work was done. If jacking points and drain holes are missed it does not mean that the work is poor - but it does make you wonder.

My Mk1 had new sills fitted just before I bought it in 1989. Before I stopped using it in about 1996 I did no more than about 8000 miles - most of that done over a couple of year period as my runabout. Checked a couple of years ago anticipating getting the old girl recommissioned and back on theroad and found that the bottom of the sills had completely rotted out along with a lot of the other associated work done at the time with the sills. On checking I found no jacking points, no drain holes, and the inside of the sill had not received any form of corrosion protection - not even a coat of primer or paint!

The Mk2 PI that I acquired last Summer had the sills and everything else done by what I believe was a reputed classic car workshop (the way they recorded and invoiced the work undertaken was first class). In 2001 there were new sills fitted and other extensive work undertaken - everything that was done was specified and a bill for £2256.68, and since then the car has done about 20000 miles. The jacking points are there but no drain holes but it was recorded that the sills received proper inner protection - and everything is still perfect. I will reinstate a drain holes. Point is that I can see from the records what was done and nearly 10 years later everything is still as it should be despite a missing item (drain holes).

Don't discount the car but with missing jacking points and drain holes - especially from a Triumph specialist - I would be concerned as to the effectiveness of the work. Insist on seeing a record of what was done so that you can judge for yourself.

[Jonathan Lewis]

The front wing drain holes seem to be a not-uncommon omission on even good-quality restorations and, whilst it really shouldn't happen, it is usually not too difficult to arrange a suitable (and unobtrusive) alternative.

The lack of the jacking point locating pegs would cause me rather greater unease - is it just the pegs themselves that are missing, or are the actual jacking point reinforcements within the sills themselves absent as well? As Ted says, any comprehensive record of restoration work done should be paramount in giving you assurance that things have been done properly and that you have nothing to worry about (or not, as the case may be... ). Also, if the car is good, make sure that any corrosion protection is maintained - the sill structures are not always watertight and, even with drain holes in situ, it is not unknown for rainwater to penetrate into the box sections themselves...

Regards,