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Re: [Fot] Original GT6 starts after 27 year dormancy

To: Jason Ostrowski <jason@multivintage.com> reip=0.000, cl=1, cld=1, fgs=0
Subject: Re: [Fot] Original GT6 starts after 27 year dormancy
From: John Hasty <jhhasty@gdhs.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2012 20:25:53 -0400
Cc: triumph friends <fot@autox.team.net>
Delivered-to: fot-archive@autox.team.net
Delivered-to: fot@autox.team.net
References: <CALCydYpx+b4ALYQjOdGnJA9UMmQJDyv33qYFNeyZ4sU9jkCaUg@mail.gmail.com>
Jason, it's "Opossum".  Congratulations!

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 16, 2012, at 7:30 PM, Jason Ostrowski <jason@multivintage.com> wrote:

> Well, miracles never cease!
> Decommissioned from racing in 1985, and after a near decade long
> restoration process...
> Today we fired up the ole hound.
>
> My dad's "you could have bought a Ferrari for the same amount" restoration
> met its symbolic (near) completion today.
> Wow... This is the car that started everything for me; kindled this undying
> affection for Triumph masochism, made me a GT6 fiend, and sent me on this
> path of racing these cars of all too unforgotten dreams.
>
> Yep, my pop bought it off the showroom floor in 1968.
> Drove it regularly till he started racing it in the early 1970's.
> And raced it until 1985.
> Then it sat around... first for a few years in the garage. Then for a
> couple decades standing on its firewall in the shed; "The Kingdom of the
> Possum's"...Lots and lots of creepy hissing Possums came out of that shed.
> Anyway, It was always a nice car. But the years in the shed and the years
> at the track had taken its toll.
> The car was completely 100% restored bolt by bolt, my dad's way.
> Ultimately, his work ends in perfection... The hard way.
> Usually, it would be far easier and much cheaper, had it been done by
> anyone with tact; not to mention with much less bickering and
> foul-mouthed swearing.
> To his credit, the car is beautiful. Everything is perfect and original in
> its stock appearance.
> After a couple weeks of final tweaks to get it it ready, we couldn't get it
> started.
> I found some stuff that was way wrong over the past few nights.
> This was wrong, that didn't match, this leaks... etc.
> After a carb rebuild and some messing around with a couple
> different distributors, the whole project came into focus today when it
> fired up.
> Unfortunately, the nice new muffler makes it sound kind of wimpy, as I was
> standing there adjusting the carbs I could barely hear the exhaust note
> over the air buzz of that dull-yellow, front facing blast fan.
> Turns out, to my surprise, a motor that is moth-balled properly can
> withstand a 27 year hibernation.
> He took the original motor out when he started racing and put in the
> basement.
> I didn't believe that that old cat would even start.
> But sure enough, the car is alive after a 27 year pause.
> So, this car now looks brand new (it really does) and is presented in it's
> flawless "showroom stock" trim..
> I'm pretty excited to have this car finally done and glad that I didn't
> have to use my wallet to finish it..
> Comparatively, in its original "skinny" showroom condition, it hearkens
> back to an earlier competition style (kind of wussy) but is quite good
> looking.
> Most importantly it is holding a steady "60" oil pressure and starts
easily.
> Today is a, long awaited, good day for Friendly Ghost Racing.
>
> Jason Ostrowski
> GT6 Nut head.
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