My Triumph 2000
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm a newbie on here and thought I had better post some pics of my 1971 Triumph 2000 mk2. I think my profile explains the car and its use (i.e. I use it every day), although it is probably best to expand upon it.
I bought the car a couple of months before my 17th birthday, sight unseen on ebay (I know, breaking all the rules...). Although in my defence the ad was very well written and eloquent, unlike the usual 40 font size, un-formatted, un-punctuated rubbish.
The car has a very interesting history which I would be very interested in discovering more about. Its first owner shipped it to South Africa, where it lived for 7 years until 1978. This could go someway to explain its reasonably rust free condition, that and being laid up for 22 years from 1986-2008. In effect, bodily it is like a 17 year old car, paint a bit dull, few scabs along the door bottoms, but nothing major. Underneath it is very solid.
Mechanically it is good, a solid 100,000 miles on the clock, engine reasonably oil tight (well it doesn't burn any...) Gearbox good, rear axle a bit sloppy.
In the past two years it has had: A new radiator; new pas rack; new alternator; new clutch; new clutch slave cylinder; alloy wheels from a 2500S; and a 123 distributor with programmable advanced curves, which on its own has completely transformed the car. I suppose as a result, to play on that old PH joke, I have a Triumph 2000 (mapped).
The car in its day was very advanced, especially considering suspension design. Mcpherson strut upfront, with cast aluminium semi trailing arms at the rear, all fully independent, a design I believe BMW used until relatively recently in the E30 E36/5, although correct me if I am wrong.
Pictures below are from a relative's wedding where it was used as a wedding car, before lots of the afore mentioned parts where put into place. In fact I believe at the time the clutch slave cylinder was still leaking and I had a bottle of brake fluid in the boot at all times just in case...
I'm a newbie on here and thought I had better post some pics of my 1971 Triumph 2000 mk2. I think my profile explains the car and its use (i.e. I use it every day), although it is probably best to expand upon it.
I bought the car a couple of months before my 17th birthday, sight unseen on ebay (I know, breaking all the rules...). Although in my defence the ad was very well written and eloquent, unlike the usual 40 font size, un-formatted, un-punctuated rubbish.
The car has a very interesting history which I would be very interested in discovering more about. Its first owner shipped it to South Africa, where it lived for 7 years until 1978. This could go someway to explain its reasonably rust free condition, that and being laid up for 22 years from 1986-2008. In effect, bodily it is like a 17 year old car, paint a bit dull, few scabs along the door bottoms, but nothing major. Underneath it is very solid.
Mechanically it is good, a solid 100,000 miles on the clock, engine reasonably oil tight (well it doesn't burn any...) Gearbox good, rear axle a bit sloppy.
In the past two years it has had: A new radiator; new pas rack; new alternator; new clutch; new clutch slave cylinder; alloy wheels from a 2500S; and a 123 distributor with programmable advanced curves, which on its own has completely transformed the car. I suppose as a result, to play on that old PH joke, I have a Triumph 2000 (mapped).
The car in its day was very advanced, especially considering suspension design. Mcpherson strut upfront, with cast aluminium semi trailing arms at the rear, all fully independent, a design I believe BMW used until relatively recently in the E30 E36/5, although correct me if I am wrong.
Pictures below are from a relative's wedding where it was used as a wedding car, before lots of the afore mentioned parts where put into place. In fact I believe at the time the clutch slave cylinder was still leaking and I had a bottle of brake fluid in the boot at all times just in case...
Forgot to mention the rather interesting handling characterstic that comes with age with the car. The advanced suspension setup has a great number of metalastik bushes, instrad of the newer poly ones. Over time these wear and cause sloppy handling. The other reason for 'interesting' handling is 'spline lock'. This occurs when the half shafts stick on their splines. So you are making progress, you feel the car weighting up, and it seems to stick there. Then suddendly the splines will free off, although with more force behind them than usual, in most mild circumstances, the car will give a little twitch and feel like it is falling over. In more interesting circumstances, the tail will 'snap' violently. The twitch can be disconcerting, although if you know how the car feels in the build up to this, its not really a worry. Its just the car's way of telling you not to be such a t
t.
t.People are always amazed when I tell them the amount I paid for it: £641.28. Although I did turn into the ebayer everyone hates, as i 'sniped' someone with 5 seconds to go... sorry if that was you.
Now I'm on a different computer I can see the pictures, weird eh?
I suppose it is an unusual choice, but I didn't particularly buy it to be 'quirky' or 'alternative', I bought it because I knew we had a couple of Triumphs in the family, I researched the 2000 series and liked what I saw. I also like the fact it has a ridiculously smooth 6 cylinder engine, although it doesn't have the power to pull the skin off rice pudding, it is really torquey.
classic insurance is cheap (relative compared to anything else for a young driver) at around £800 a year 3rd party fire and theft, with unlimited mileage.
the one thing i do have to put up with is the attraction of idiots. Yesterday I had stopped to read the paper and this man, lets say he was a bit err mentally deficient, walks up to the window.
Him: Thats a nice car [so far so good, not an unreasonable thing to say]
Me: thanks.
[he doesnt go away]
Him: They dont build them like they used to
[oh god one of those]
Me: hmm yep
Him: I've got one of them up to date cars. Vauxhall. All 'lectric
Me: Very Good. *starts engine, whacks into reverse*
[strewth]
Normally I am very happy to talk about the car, it's nice, but you do get some weirdos!
Now I'm on a different computer I can see the pictures, weird eh?
I suppose it is an unusual choice, but I didn't particularly buy it to be 'quirky' or 'alternative', I bought it because I knew we had a couple of Triumphs in the family, I researched the 2000 series and liked what I saw. I also like the fact it has a ridiculously smooth 6 cylinder engine, although it doesn't have the power to pull the skin off rice pudding, it is really torquey.
classic insurance is cheap (relative compared to anything else for a young driver) at around £800 a year 3rd party fire and theft, with unlimited mileage.
the one thing i do have to put up with is the attraction of idiots. Yesterday I had stopped to read the paper and this man, lets say he was a bit err mentally deficient, walks up to the window.
Him: Thats a nice car [so far so good, not an unreasonable thing to say]
Me: thanks.
[he doesnt go away]
Him: They dont build them like they used to
[oh god one of those]
Me: hmm yep
Him: I've got one of them up to date cars. Vauxhall. All 'lectric
Me: Very Good. *starts engine, whacks into reverse*
[strewth]
Normally I am very happy to talk about the car, it's nice, but you do get some weirdos!
Yeah heard about greasing up the joints, nipples just inside the half shaft boots aren't they?
Thanks for the kind words chaps, although it is a bit like some women, FFFA or Fit From Far Away, as she is a little tatty on top, but as I say, underneath is sound, which I suppose is more important, although a respray will have to be done at some point. Although a good wash and polish followed by a rain shower does make her look brilliant.
Thanks for the kind words chaps, although it is a bit like some women, FFFA or Fit From Far Away, as she is a little tatty on top, but as I say, underneath is sound, which I suppose is more important, although a respray will have to be done at some point. Although a good wash and polish followed by a rain shower does make her look brilliant.
a mate of mine has an MGB, and no offence MGB boy, it was not up my street at all.
@XJR500 Nice, wouldn't have Tumeric though, that was an early SD1 colour. Probably would have been Honeysuckle or Inca or something like that. I'll get my coat... A 2500 on triple webers would certainly be a beast, but it is said nothing can beat a correctly set up 2.5 PI
@XJR500 Nice, wouldn't have Tumeric though, that was an early SD1 colour. Probably would have been Honeysuckle or Inca or something like that. I'll get my coat... A 2500 on triple webers would certainly be a beast, but it is said nothing can beat a correctly set up 2.5 PI
Hmm... Rover P6 , but it would have had to have the 3500, so really out of the question for insurance and petrol reasons. I came really close to buying a 1972 Range Rover 3.5 on LPG. But to be honest, I was really after a Triumph, family ties, influences, things like that. Grandad had a 1300 TC (a very rare beast); Great uncle had a 2.5 pi.
RetroCosworth said:
Are your parents on the insurance out of interest?
Ideally I would like to insure a Mk3 Capri 1600 Laser without them.
Dad's a named driver, I'm the main. No fronting going on here! Might consider putting mum on as a named as well to see if it lowers the premium.Ideally I would like to insure a Mk3 Capri 1600 Laser without them.
Edited by Triumph Man on Tuesday 4th May 15:26
MGB Boy said:
Triumph Man said:
RetroCosworth said:
Are your parents on the insurance out of interest?
Ideally I would like to insure a Mk3 Capri 1600 Laser without them.
Dad's a named driver, I'm the main. No fronting going on here! Might consider putting mum on as a named as well to see if it lowers the premium.Ideally I would like to insure a Mk3 Capri 1600 Laser without them.
Edited by Triumph Man on Tuesday 4th May 15:26
I need to convince my Dad to go on mine when I learn to drive...
Holy thread resurrection Batman!
The Triumph has been off the road now (sadly). Thanks to a tidy bonus at work, I am on the process of putting it back on. One of the jobs being the fact that the sills were mostly made out of rust. I found a mobile welder and he cracked on. Not the prettiest of jobs, but she is solid once more. pics will follow of the extent of the damage soon.
Other jobs include: A general service; overhauling the rear brakes; and general tidying up. Bless her she's a bit tatty at the moment.
I miss driving it
. Anyone know if Footman James. has stopped having a hissy fit about insuring young drivers yet? I was a previous customer after all...
The Triumph has been off the road now (sadly). Thanks to a tidy bonus at work, I am on the process of putting it back on. One of the jobs being the fact that the sills were mostly made out of rust. I found a mobile welder and he cracked on. Not the prettiest of jobs, but she is solid once more. pics will follow of the extent of the damage soon.
Other jobs include: A general service; overhauling the rear brakes; and general tidying up. Bless her she's a bit tatty at the moment.
I miss driving it
. Anyone know if Footman James. has stopped having a hissy fit about insuring young drivers yet? I was a previous customer after all...Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff