Fellow Listers,
One of the first laws of LBC restoration, with rare exception, is
'You don't get out what you put in', monetarily speaking.
I attended a Triumph meet Sunday and parked my daily driver GT6
along side many gorgeous examples of all of the TR range plus Spits. I
spent the morning chatting with other Triumph owners about our cars and I
found myself explaining away the (relatively) poor condition of my car to
the fact that, in my garage, I have a beautiful GT6 restoration nearly
complete. The fact is, however, the car has been "nearly complete" for the
last couple of years and hasn't been touched except for an attempt last Fall
to install the headliner. Other obligations have taken priority, namely
Joe, our two year-old, And Brook, our 6 year old. Couple this with a house
that demands upkeep and a driver Triumph that takes minor maintenance to
keep driving adds up to no time for my 'real project'. And I don't see the
situation changing any time soon.
At about the time I came to this realization Sunday a gentleman I
had been talking to expressed interest in acquiring a GT6. He had just sold
his last of six TR6's and was enamored with the look of the GT6. He asked
me how much and, after silently adding up ten years of parts purchases in my
head responded with "3K, 4K for both". Now $3000 is about a third of what I
have in to the thing, but since most finished GT6's don't go for that much
I'll be lucky to get it. On the other hand, I have never personally seen a
GT6 with absolutely perfect bodywork and paint (that cost me 5K alone!), a
chassis that has been completely stripped, repainted and rebushed, and an
engine compartment as perfectly detailed back to original spec's as this one
has. I'm bragging here. So I won't accept less. I offered him the second
GT6 for only 1K because, although it's worth a bunch more, the guy will need
a visual aid in assembling my baby. And if I quit Triumphs for awhile I'll
have to do it cold turkey.
I'm not sure why I am writing this. I don't expect anyone on the list to
buy it. It would take an eighteen-wheeler to get it and all the associated
parts away from here. Perhaps it's because I'm looking for closure or
something. who knows. Anyway thanks to everybody on the list for all their
expert advice.
Karl Theis
'67 GT6
'68 GT6
Saw my first Italia at the show Sunday. YEEEAY!
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