Chassis Horrors

Once the rear tub was off everything was revealed including the rear leaf spring sandwich plate. I've seen a couple of others snapped like this. Checked yours lately?

Triumph Vitesse Mk2

Seems to be a lack of Triumph Vitesse restoration and modifications being posted on the net so thought I would share my on going restoration with everybody. I have owned and worked on triumphs since the age of 17 and now at 44 nothings changed. I own a Vitesse Mk2, Gt6 Mk2 and two Mk3 spits. None of them pristine all needing work of one kind or another, I must be mad, but I just enjoy playing around on cars. I bought this Vitesse, one previous owner since 1971 with 63000 miles from new three years ago with the intention of doing the bare minimum to make it road worthy, but problems started after trying to get the rusted doors to close properly. I intended on re-skining the doors which i did straight away but trying to get them to hang straight revealed that the old gent I had bought the car off had made his own tread plate replacements at some point which were the wrong shape and welded to high so the doors were never going to fit. Removal of these revealed side rails that were only welded on from the underside. I knew this old boy had done his best to keep the car on the road when I originally went to pick up the car. I had bought it over the phone, after seeing a few pics that were e-mailed to me so I knew I was taking a chance when I drove the 300 miles to collect it. At this point i could have just welded up the side rails fitted new tread plates got the car on the road and just used it. But once up on stands and a good look at the chassis revealed that all outriggers had been replaced at some point but again only welded on the underside . The rear outriggers where the trailing arms mount could be heaved up and down whilst laying on my back, pushing down on the rear wing would open an close the door gap. So resined myself to start a chassis off rebuild and have it done in a few months! Well having other distractions like work, keeping a van and motor bike going family life and the other cars has slowed thing down a bit, but am going to try my best to get it back on the road by late summer everything crossed.