Moss Motors, Ltd

I don't have a template. I repaired, stripped, and refinished the original dash. Maybe you could make templates from your vinyl dash.

Thanks

I buy my 1978 1500 spit in 2006 in germany. Actually it is in spain. I love this car, actually it is running well but it have strange things, like the green colour, and I am restorating it to original step by step. Thanks a lot to moss, your help is great for us with this maravellous cars, and sorry to all people for my bad english.

I have a 1978 1500,white outside,tan inside. I bought this car over craigslist for $200.00. The motor was laying on the ground along with the trans. I'm currently rebuilding the motor. So far so good. I can't wait to drive it!

Oh forgot the white spit had no rust! The body was in perfect shape,the hardtop is in good shape,and the soft top had a little yellowing on the windows, but a little buffing and its clear now! I'm so excited about it! pam

Hi i have a `79 1500 spit bought it 2 years ago it had been in dry storage for 10 years took away and not been moved at all.It was owned by a doctor who retired and stored it away until a guy bought it from her with the intention of repairing for his wife,after spending a little time on the spit (new floor pan on drivers side and a stainless steel straight large bore preformance exhaust and got the spit running he decided that it wasn`t the car for his wife and opted to buy hare a more modern 2 seater which was a MX5 he placed on e-bay for sale thats when it fell in to my hands). Poor spit needed a lot TLC as you can imagine the oil was like tar she started but struggled.All the electrics from plugs,coil,points,leads,alternator,starter motor (was sick of having to tap the starter with mallet).All the liquids were dropped and changed and a set of K&Ns fitted made it breath better for that exhaust and has a nice tune to it.After all this was complete have completed 5000 miles with only the need to do the usual services and i have also changed the front discs and pads and wheel bearings.To be honest i thought by now a total strip down would be needed but she keeps on trooping on.The body work wasn`t in to bad condition but soon will need the bonnet and boot replacing and a respray.She has done 90000 miles and keeps on passing MOT`s with no problems i have a few parts to fit during winter a set of spax shocks up graded springs and all the front end bushes for polys and a new headlight after a stone hit it whilst driving back from a show.

78 non OD mostly stock. Brooklands Green with tan interior. Bought on ebay in March 08. PO says it was a daily driver for him but I am starting to question that. All emission equip removed at some time in the past. But not necessary here in NM.  I am previous  owner of 2 MIdgets back in the 70's. But liked the body on Spit better. So after retiring, I started looking for a car to drive and restore. Lots of things to restore, too. The shocks(new ones on order) look like originals if you can believe that after 30 years. Brakes are in good shape with one new wheel cylinder on rear. Floor pans need replacing soon but no exterior rust at all. Engine runs fine with minor oil leak in either pan or timing chain cover(nothing like a good leak to keep your car from squeaking) Tranny shifts great and no rear end noise. Leak in rear pinion seal(another squeak preventor) but am replacing that tomorrow. Interior is in rough shape. Needs all carpet and vinyl replaced. Am working on new dash, using old one as template. Rearranging some of the items since I don't care about originality. Adding oil pressure gauge. Already repaired heater controls and some of the dash lights. So many loose wires everywhere......wish I could figure out where they all go. All exterior and interior lights seem to be working so go figure. If it ain't broke, I should leave it alone. 

 

 My Triumph Spitfire is a 1971 MkIV that I've owned since 1987 (it was my first car) which unfortunately having been back on the road for a year after I gave it a complete rebuild, is now off the road until I put some new pistons in as one of the piston rings was worn.

 

This is my 1972 Triumph GT6 which is currently my daily driver until I start a full chassis off rebuild of it sometime in June (once the MOT runs out).

 

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www.knee-boarder.com

TSSC - North Devon

 

This is my fiancee with her 1974 Triumph Spitfire MkIV. Couldn't ask for anything better on both counts :)

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www.knee-boarder.com

TSSC - North Devon

I had a roommate in high school in '78 who's parents bought a Spit and it was on his shoulders to tend to it.  I loved it so much that I bought  '78 in Oct./09 with 56k on it.  The PO bought it from someone who held it storage for 14 years.  When the PO bought Penny(my name, no nautical superstition here), he replaced all rubber figuring dry rot was setting in and did other various replacements.  It has the Monza exhaust system that I am not sure I like, noisy, although it's growing on me.  It ran rough and oiled the plugs so I brought her to my mechanic and he replaced the condensers, points, master cylinder and some other things and she runs well.  I had busted the choke cable so that was replaced too.(friggin' RI winter).  It's been repainted about 10 years ago and the floor pans have been fiberglassed.   There is no rust to speak of, although it is showing around the windsreen.  I do have a question about down shifting; there seems to be a rumble in the rear end, it feels like heavy gears trying to find each other. 

 

In other words, I love Penelope,  I just want advice as to how to get her healthier.

 

Nuke-

I've got the Zenith Stromberg and love it. I never have to fiddle with the carbs - an experience I didn't like in high school with a '66 corvair .  I've also gotten a manual choke installed (where the cig lighter was) and it has really helped for morning start-ups.  That said, you've got a MkIII and I'm in an MkIV so there might be some other issues I'm not aware of with your model. But my two cents - after having 4 carbs with the corvair -- I love my single carb now.  

Cheers-

Suzanne in Colorado

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Wahoo!

I have a 1978 MkIV, (Zenith Stromberg).

It's red with black/white houndstooth interior. I had Union Jacks embroidered on the headrests, and have a plad-skull/crossbones badge on the soft top. (Obviously I'm not a purist classic car owner - just out to have fun) I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty with the car and have only had to make small repairs (new shocks, battery, bled brakes, installed spedometer cable). But just incase, I have the greatest mechanics near-by who do great work and give great advice.

It's running great - I use it as my daily driver when the weather cooperates. Which, in Colorado, is about 250 days out of the year. Get's a bit chilly in the winter if the top is down though. We live next to the Rocky Mountains so I enjoy driving up the canyons to Estes Park or other mountain towns.

My future plans include new wheels (probably the mini-lights), new walnut dashboard and steering wheel, and eventually a real (good - not Maaco) paint job. In the meantime I just try not to get any tickets.

Cheers-

Suzanne

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Wahoo!

I know so little about my spit. I know that it is a '69. I know that it was raced for awhile here in California. I know that it was painted "school bus yellow" over the original red. I know it was given to a high school shop class. I know it sat, unloved, in the sun for 10 or 15 years. I know that the paint needs serious attention. I know that the body (except for the driver's side door) is straight. I know that it is a single Stromberg. I know that does not have the original steel wheels. I know that all the chrome is in great shape except for the "Spitfire Mk3" thing on the boot. I know that the Interior needs complete restoration and there are no rear view mirrors. I also know that the headrests are gone.

I've got a lot to learn. As soon as I get my garage organized I'll start tearing it down. I'm sure that I will learn a great deal about this car. I'm planning a frame up restoration. It's my first brit car.

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I don't know when I realized that I had grown up, but I'm not happy about it.