The classics you love, drive and restore
Triumph TR4
This TR4 had a nut-andbolt restoration before my ownership, and it’s been more-or-less in this condition ever since I bought it a decade ago – although I did need to have the engine rebuilt three years ago.
I’m the secretary of Pembrokeshire Classic Car Club, so it goes to runs and shows all over the place. We recently completed an 1100-mile round trip in it for our wedding anniversary – down to Goodwood, then up to Cambridge, Lincoln and York. They’ve got to be used.’
My father used to have a C-V8, but he sold it to somebody else... it gave me the taste though. I’d been looking for a 541 and this one came up so I went for it. When you compare it to an Aston Martin it’s just as good, but an Aston is about five or six times the price. The 541’s bonnet was a bit heavy, so I’ve added some gas struts that make it easier to lift – which the concours people don’t like. The car is painted in an Isuzu bronze, with a Toyota red on top – the previous owner Keith’s choice when he restored it. The story goes that his wife saw the colour on a pick-up down the road and said ‘that’s the colour we want’. It's the same engine that was in the Austin Sheerline by the way.
I had two Minors when I was younger, then I had to succumb to normality, but recently I’ve been in a position to have one again as a toy.
This came up for sale at South Norfolk Classics, so I went to see it, liked it, and now it’s a bit of enjoyment that sits in the garage and comes out on nice days. I just want something I can get in, turn the key and use to take my friends out for a pint.
I’ve got basic mechanical knowledge so I’ve renewed the ignition, coolant pipes and fuel pipe, and the other day I did the gaiter boots on the steering rack and set the tracking up with new track rod ends.
And that’s been it. I love seeing people doing different things to their own cars, but for me I like it to be completely standard – so that’s how this is, and I don’t plan on
