That's the Spirit I like Stephen!!! You gotta be a wee bit daft to join the LBC
club, and lovin' every minute!! Glad you survived a winter Fargo in a TR3A -
sounds surreal and d*** frigid! Best of luck with your new vehicle!!
D. Michael/TR6
"Stephen P." wrote:
> Well, on Friday, I bought a one-way airplane ticket to Duluth, MN (a very
> expensive ticket, I might add) to purchase a 1958 TR3A. I then drove the
> car back to suburban Chicago on Saturday, an approximately 537 mile, 10-hour
> trip (approximate because the odometer is non- functioning; the mileage
> estimate is from mapblast.com). The owner was wonderful to work with. Even
> though I brought some of my own tools, he insisted on giving some extra
> tools, and went out that morning to buy a jack just in case I had a flat
> tire on the drive back. He owned the car for six years, having bought the
> car from a fellow in New York state who had owned the car for about 13
> years.
>
> The car is mostly original. The body work is acceptable, but a lot of
> misaligned panels - particularly one side of the bonnet where it meets the
> fender. Someone along the way did a very amateur paint job and it shows on
> (less than five feet) inspection. The interior is in very good shape as is
> the top.
>
> The car ran fine during the drive except the tachometer started chattering
> and squealing as soon as I got on the highway and then gave out. This
> really scared me, because my first thought was the transmission was giving
> out. But I reached under the dash, felt for the tach cable, and felt the
> vibration. (Any ideas on the problem?)
>
> Actually, in addition to the tachometer, the speedometer, gas gauge, etc.
> don't work either which made the trip a little more challenging, but a lot
> of fun. The hand brake kind of works, but hte seeler provided me with a
> wood block that works quite well.
>
> The worst part, was the heater didn't work. I thought I was prepared for
> the drive with a heavy coat, gloves and a head band to cover my ears, but it
> was d*** cold. Gas stations doubled as heat warming centers for me. It
> took me an hour to warm up once I got home. My face is still red a day
> later from frostbite (I think). Bear in mind this is past the middle of
> November in Duluth and Northern Wisconsin, yet here I am driving an LBC.
> Cold, but no snow or ice.
>
> I have benefitted from much of the advice on this list and will now rely on
> it a lot more. I want to thank everyone in advance for any help I get from
> lurking or posting, and I will try to post anything I learn in my
> adventures.
>
> Steve Peca
> Wheaton, Illinois
> 1958 TR3A - TS23867L
>
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