Description
After 34 years of ownership I’m putting my Vitesse up for sale because I’ve barely used it over the past few years. I bought it in 1992 then immediately set about completely rebuilding it over the next four years. I fitted a 2500 S engine with three new Weber 40 DCOE carbs. Everything was rebuilt or replaced:
• Blueprinted engine with stage 3 head
• Thermostatic oil cooler
• Electronic ignition
• Uprated gearbox (Dolomite 1850 internals)
• Genuine 14” Minilite wheels, made specially for the car
• Kenlowe fan
• A high-output alternator
In 2018-2019 the car was fully restored by Anglian Triumph Services (ATS), which replaced all of the outer panels (front end, doors, rear deck, rear wings, boot lid), with the floorpans already replaced during the earlier restoration.
ATS also replaced the existing overdrive with a rebuilt 28% item, while the 3. 63:1 diff was swapped for a rebuilt 3. 27:1 unit. The brakes were upgraded with Wilwood calipers and the rotoflex driveshafts were changed for a pair with CV joints. All of the suspension was renewed and the full sports exhaust was swapped for a semi-sports system that sounds nice at low speeds but is less wearing on long drives.
All of the interior was replaced with specially made trim panels in grey, courtesy of Newton Commercial, to match the leather-trimmed seats front and rear. Those in the front are heated MX-5 items, while the bespoke door cappings and dashboard were produced by Classical Dash.
The car has a bespoke security and hi-fi installation (see boot pic) with a Clifford Concept 50 alarm and immobiliser plus a bluetooth head unit which feeds a set of amps, speakers and a pair of subwoofers, so there’s plenty of power for those motorway drives. All exterior bulbs have just been been switched to LED items, a new battery was fitted two years ago and other niceties include a Moto Lita steering wheel, an alloy rocker cover and Herald 948 bonnet handle so the bonnet doesn’t distort when you lift it.
Since the second restoration the car has done just a few hundred miles, so it’s time to sell it to someone who will use it more. It comes with a Classic Additions tailored car cover and a mohair full tonneau that has never been used. The mohair hood was fitted by Don Hoods in the 1990s.
If you think the car looks familiar, it has appeared from time to time in Practical Classics over the past 29 years and you can also see a video about it on my YouTube channel; just search for Below The Radar Cars.
There’s also an article about it on my website; again, search for Below The Radar as I'm not allowed to put include any web links here.
If the car sells it will revert to its original registration (PTA 631G), and the mileage is currently just over 36, 000, which is what it has covered since the original restoration when the car went back on the road in 1996. I've done my best to make this car as usable as possible. It's reliable, has plenty if power, sounds lovely and sits on the motorway very comfortably, but it's also fun to drive on back roads. It looks great and always causes a stir wherever it goes, it's in lovely condition and doesn't need anything other than an owner with enough time to get out there and use it.
