Hi Phillip
I am not an originalist, I like to be comfy with my cars, I have non
standard (or Triumph) foglights front and rear, a high level brake light,
I'm sure they would have fitted these if they had been thought of back then,
after all they put the lip on the roof to stick it under!! The wrong type of
o/d, polyurethane bushes, different size tyres and a lot more fun than when
it was standard (2000 sedan). And as for "concourse"having seen a judging
decision come down to whether the slots in the screws were lined up or not
and the IMO foolish judge give it to the car that did have them lined up,
just like when it left the factory with all the screws tight not loose or
too tight just tight, I would give up Triumphs rather than concourse, and
that often stems from originality.
"Please put the steps back and I'll get down off this soap box, sorry a bit
steamed up!! And I know you didn't mention concourse, just a progression of
thought.
Graham.
----- Original Message -----
From: Philip Haldeman <haldeman@accessone.com>
To: <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2000 6:03 PM
Subject: The Philosophy of Originality
>
> Since buying my '72 TR6 many months ago, I've kept (and am planning to
keep)
> it as original-looking as possible---reflector stripes (American, of
course)
> on the new top, green radiator hose, original-size tires (Vredestein
> 185/80s), black-spoked slotted steering wheel to match the '72 instrument
> bezels (I'm refinishing *in black* a late-model 14.5" because I need the
> extra leg room). Why not bigger tires? Why not racing stripes (some
> dealers did put them on)? Why not a chrome valve cover? Why not
Panasport
> wheels, etc?
>
> Well, my feeling is that at a certain point the car is no longer a
"genuine"
> '72 TR6. Last week, I saw a '52 Plymouth. It looked quite original and
> very pleasing in its navy blue color. But it had "mag" wheels. The
> interior was almost like it came from the factory. But it had a chrome,
> drilled steering wheel. I did not look under the hood. This was a
travesty
> of a '51 Plymouth that someone (a "kid" or child-like adult?) had gotten
his
> hands on in order to imitate a 1950s kind of thing. Now I'm not against
an
> all-out custom car, using a stock body, 50s or otherwise. But something
> "gets" me about half-way projects that don't really come off as fish nor
> fowl.
>
> When I see a Triumph TR3, let's say, with modern wheels, I say "ugh". I
> make a harsh judgment about the taste of the owner. Maybe the wheels look
> good in and of themselves, but whoever owns that car is not a designer,
and
> when the factory hired a designer, they hired someone who understood
pattern
> and style. Not always true, of course---and maybe there is a point when
one
> ought to loosen up a bit when replacing an original part. But my feeling
is
> that we should be striving for originality.
>
> It might be interesting to hear what people have to say on this topic, or
> what experiences they've encountered. (No need to write to me
personally).
>
> Phil Haldeman
>
>
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