Great story Ken.
That's the thing with these little beasties-the way they capture the heart
and imagination-personally, I drive around, top down of course, in the chill
winter air, bundles in my flight jacket and gloves- all the while thinking
to myself-"I'm an intrepid motorist and adventurer"-scarf blowing in the
wind. Ahhhh.
Even getting gas is a delight and adenture!
Laura G. and Nigel
-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Bertschy <kentop@dakotacom.net>
To: spitfires@Autox.Team.Net <spitfires@Autox.Team.Net>
Date: Wednesday, December 30, 1998 8:54 PM
Subject: Spitfire story
>I remember being stationed in R.A.F. Upper Heyford in Oxon when I was just
>a young shaver of 19 and seeing a brand new 73 Triumph spitfire. All the
>other Airmen were gathered 'round and gawking at it and I though to myself,
>"boy, I'll never have a cool car like that". After I rotated back across
>the pond, I never thought or heard of Triumphs again. Jump ahead to April
>1989, I wake up one Saturday, look out the window and diagonally across the
>street, a neighbor is having a garage sale. Sitting on the lawn is a maroon
>(damson) 77 Spitfire 1500. I tell the wife to get dressed and we go over
>and while she's buying a whole bunch of stuff, I check out the car. It's
>been sitting, baking in the sun for a few years, but the paint isn't
>terrible, the interior's shot, the tranny is shot, everything else looks
>fine. Body is perfect, no dents, no dings, no rust, 35,000 original miles,
>one owner. Motor purrs like a kitten. All gauges and electrics work. She's
>asking $650.00 OBO. I stroll back to the house and make a few calls and I
>found someone who has a used spitfire tranny and will install it for
>$750.00. I walk back across the street, offer her $600.00, figuring that
>with the tranny, I'll have a good running car for $1,300. The owner cries
>when I drive it across the street to my house. Her baby's gone. Well, her
>baby is one hungry mouth to feed. and shipwright's disease sets in quickly.
>After 10 years of fixing, fixing, fixing, anybody reading my posts know
>that I still finding new and bizarre problems to fix that I need help with.
>I've got close to $4,000 into it now, and I'm looking at even more next
>year. I've owned that car for ten years, and I still get excited just
>looking at it in the carport. I've got a Spitfire Jones that just won't
>quit. I wouldn't give this car up for anything. It is just too cool.
>
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