“SOMETHING IN MY GARAGE YOU MIGHT LIKE”
Like so many car restorations, the story of John Croy’s project started with a polite conversation with a friend of a friend. The phrase “I have something in my garage you might like” was uttered, and the conversation turned into a visit and the eventual purchase of this 1966 Triumph Spitfire Mk2.
Everything needed to complete the alreadybegun restoration project was included, and it came with a massive number of spares. The chassis and running gear had received the lion’s share of completed work before John took on the project, with new brakes and lines placed and the suspension fully rebuilt, front and back. The engine and gearbox had also been fully rebuilt, with the engine getting a race upgrade that included boring the engine from 1200cc to 1300cc and the addition of balanced rods and pistons; a ported and polished head; a new cam; and a new Weber carb, extractors, and twin exhaust. Mated to the gearbox via a new lightened flywheel and stronger clutch, everything necessary for this to be a quick and easy restoration was there. Working to no set deadline, the next little while was spent sourcing some new replacement parts and the few missing pieces needed to complete the build.
Unfortunately, when it came to the body, the process wouldn’t be so simple. Having received two bodies, the good parts from one didn’t quite fit on the other, so both were given to friend Paul Webster, who set about cutting them up. Both shells were completely stripped down and then, piece by piece, slowly built back together, with certain areas being made from scratch if necessary. With 90 per cent of the panel work done, the car was then moved to Weir Race Cars to have the final touch ups done before being painted in vibrant red.
Now the tub is painted and dummy is fitted over the chassis, John is now on the downhill slope towards a completed car, with only a few things left to paint before it can be put back together.
John would like to extend his sincerest thanks to both Paul Webster and Paul Weir for their help in making this project a reality. We look forward to seeing it completed.