A Triumph Swordfish 1500 - On The Road

[wharfedale]

Originally Posted by NeilF355

+1

I think however that Egdik should put a silver and black license plate on the rear of his 275 to match the front plate.

I think yours would look good on old plates. Keith

[Paul L]

Keith – I know some people ‘forget’ to remove/swap their black and white/silver ‘show’ plates.

But, my personal philosophy is to try my best to be…



Back in the 1980s, riding a motorcycle in the era before ANPR meant getting pulled over a LOT.

So I always carried my licence, registration, insurance & MOT, displayed my tax disc, didn’t drink and drive or have bald tyres, etc.

I found that the combination of being ‘Rat Legal’ and being polite when talking to the Police was always good thing.

So far, I’ve only been pulled over once in the Swordfish and ended up having a friendly chat with the police.

Which I thought was a pretty good result given that a demented pedestrian had just accused me of attempted murder.

So I just need to wait until 2021 to claim VHI status and finally switch to classic B/W plates.

Cheers, Paul.

[wharfedale]

Originally Posted by Paul L

Keith – I know some people ‘forget’ to remove/swap their black and white/silver ‘show’ plates.

But, my personal philosophy is to try my best to be…



Back in the 1980s, riding a motorcycle in the era before ANPR meant getting pulled over a LOT.

So I always carried my licence, registration, insurance & MOT, displayed my tax disc, didn’t drink and drive or have bald tyres, etc.

I found that the combination of being ‘Rat Legal’ and being polite when talking to the Police was always good thing.

So far, I’ve only been pulled over once in the Swordfish and ended up having a friendly chat with the police.

Which I thought was a pretty good result given that a demented pedestrian had just accused me of attempted murder.

So I just need to wait until 2021 to claim VHI status and finally switch to classic B/W plates.

Cheers, Paul.

I found this on tinterweb,
When it comes to the legalities of these old style plates, officially from April 2015 vehicles registered before the 1st of January 1975 can legally display a black & silver number plate providing they are registered with the Historic Vehicles taxation class.

I thought you were 1965?

[swifty]

Love the video Paul and that guys reaction is priceless.

[Paul L]

Busy - Just dropping in to say things are completely bonkers at work.

Yesterday I was the train station before 6am in the morning and didn't return until gone 9pm in the evening.

So absolutely no chance of taking the car out for a spin at the moment.
( I racked up 20 hours of work over the weekend. )

With a bit of luck, I might be able to get out over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Cheers, Paul.

[Barber]

Originally Posted by Paul L

Busy - Just dropping in to say things are completely bonkers at work.

Yesterday I was the train station before 6am in the morning and didn't return until gone 9pm in the evening.

So absolutely no chance of taking the car out for a spin at the moment.
( I racked up 20 hours of work over the weekend. )

With a bit of luck, I might be able to get out over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Cheers, Paul.

Deep breaths, it will end.

[lancelot link]

We have been very lucky with the weather this year ...lots of decent driving days ...temperature doesn't bother me too much , you can dress accordingly , but these cars aren't ideal in the wet !

Hopefully I will have mine sorted for next year ....

[Barber]

Paul, a few months too late, but this would have saved you hours of work.

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...6524#post96524

[Paul L]

Sunny September:
My current 'real work' project finishes next week, so I will have some time then to write replies and do a proper update.

In the mean time, I will leave you with some photos taken earlier today.











Until next time, take care, Paul.

[Barber]

Paul, I had that location pencilled in for debut shots of the Z3gato. Some nice roads to drive around too.

[Paul L]

Catching Up

Previous replies
Barber – The end of project drinks were Wednesday and I’m slowing catching up on my sleep.
As my longest ‘station to station’ day was 5.30am to 10.30pm and I’m too old for that these days.

Lancelot – Even though I missed most of August, I enjoyed the good weather earlier in the year.
I assume you are going to build a Formosa for yourself? Herald or Scimitar based?

Barber – Whilst the finished yellow band looks great, I’ve still no idea how he managed it.
As the short video clip he posted of him applying it looked a complete mess.

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Last reply
Barber – I’ve been driving past signs for Bentley Priory for years, but this was my first visit.
I only stopped for the photos, but will return at some point for a proper visit to the museum itself.
I also knew they were redeveloping the site for years, but hadn’t realised it was Millionaire’s Row!

Both of my Swordfish videos have been filmed around this area.
So let me know when you are planning to bring the Z3gato down to play.

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Missing August Again!
August 2016 – I was still finishing the car off (First MOT = 31/08/16)
August 2017 – I was painting the car BRG
August 2018 – I was mostly stuck in front of a computer screen

Still, at least I’ve passed the two years on the road mark, which seems to have flown by.

I did manage one 50 mile round trip in August to visit an old MZ racing buddy of mine.
He really wanted to see the car, so my wife agreed to put up a less than comfortable car journey.
While our other halves chatted over tea, we sneaked out for a quick spin on the local roads.
As I talked him through the mods, he joined the ranks of those who can’t believe I finished it.

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Goodwood Revival
Due to my work project, I couldn’t commit to this weekend when the tickets went on sale.
Now that I am free to go, I was toying with the idea of volunteering at the event to get in.
But my car really needs a tonneau cover if I am going to leave it parked up unattended.
And the harsh fact is that I am simply too tired to do much at the moment.
So this event will have to become a 2019 target instead.

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Passenger Side Mirror Plinth
The driver’s side mirror is OK, but the passenger side mirror is currently for decoration only.
I have been meaning to fix this for a while and want to sort it out before I get a tonneau cover made.
I have two fabrication options to choose from:

I already have all the metal needed to weld/build this mock up I made a long time ago:



But I now have some aluminium sheet for the cockpit walls, so could attempt something like Mr T instead.



The only problem with this approach is that my mounting holes are at an angle on the side of the car.



So I may need to shape and rivet a few alloy panels together, which could still work.

The best thing about this project is I don’t need to take the car off the road to do it.

Until next time, take care, Paul.

[davecymru]

Ohh, nice! I like where this mirror fabrication idea is going. Its good to see you still enjoying and fettling

[Barber]

Paul, nothing wrong with putting food on the table.

[lancelot link]

Paul ..yes ..Scimitar based as and when finances allow ....

[Paul L]

Dave - Cheers, hopefully I'll get a chance to make a start on this next week.

Barber - Thankfully, the extra hours will also cover a tonneau cover and winter engine work.
( As I want to fix the oil leaking / burning once and for all. )

Gary - My 1500 engine is great fun, so those bigger engines must be brilliant!

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Two Trips Out…
In addition to catching up on my sleep and various domestic chores, I've had a couple of trips out in the car…

Trip #1
Wanted check out a possible photo shoot location, but forgot to check the time before I left.

Ended up getting caught in the afternoon school run traffic jams which blocked the roads in all directions.

After 30 minutes I had only managed to get 5 miles and I was lucky to have got that far!

In the end, the location I had in mind was locked, so it was a complete waste of time all around.

Then I got stuck in the queue behind this idiot who had planks of wood sticking out of his side window.



Honestly, he had to wait for gaps in the traffic to allow him to swing on to the wrong side of the road to pass parked cars.

So there is just this photo of me safely home to show for the day.



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Trip #2
Earlier today I headed to the Lee Valley water park to meet an old collage mate and his son/my godson.

He was supposed to be in this raft…



But he dislocated his shoulder in a rafting accident a few weeks ago, so was just there to support his team mates.

This is the venue used for the 2012 Olympics and it is very impressive.

I did take my 15 year old godson out for a quick spin. as his dad didn't want to risk his shoulder in the harness.

It was his first trip in a convertible and he really enjoyed it.



It was a lovely day, although the M25 was a little chilly in just a T-shirt.

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Sight Seeing Video
With all the excess hours at work, I'd almost forgotten that I hadn't finished editing my GoPro video.

So at some point, I will get that sorted out.

In the meantime, here I am swinging past the Queen's house.



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Until next time, take care, Paul.

PS
Finally managed to get the photo of Donald Trump flying over my house off my phone.
( There were also two police helicopters at either end of this convoy. )

[micky1mo]

Paul L there's a fiberglass half tonneau cover on my shelf.
You bring the cream cakes and it's yours.

[Paul L]

Mike – Thanks for the kind offer.

But I a going to go for a traditional material cover like Mr T.

Cheers,

Paul.

PS
But if I do get to Swindon one of these days, I will bring cake.

[Paul L]

Sun, Wind & Rain
Got out for a very short drive yesterday and despite the sunshine, I needed a jumper as it was both windy and cold.

Having said that, it is still great to get out in the car, no matter for how long.

Had to park on a high street and realised that I after I had paid, I have no where to display.

So I stuck the dated and timed ticket in my pocket and hoped for the best.

By the time I got to Sainsburys it was very nice out.



But there were drops of rain on the car when I got out, so it was straight home.

The clouds told me I needed to get the covers on quickly.



Thankfully, I was finished before the rain started to lash down.



But my joy at 'beating' the weather was short lived as I remembered there was washing on the line.

So I ended up getting wet anyway as I ran to the bottom of the garden.

Until next time, take care, Paul.

[davecymru]

I'm glad to see you've got your priorities right and you sorted the car before the washing!

[Barber]