Our classics: snow joke for Landie while ’02 stops rot
The last time that I saw the TC it looked, if anything, worse than when I bought it. Its organgey panels had been rubbed down to a blush pink, pockmarked with small patches of filler, and the whole scene was dusted with the residue of an afternoon’s sanding. The chrome trim was missing, as were the front and rear screens, plus the bonnet and bootlid were nowhere to be found. It was with some trepidation that I left the workshop, knowing that the next time that I saw the Triumph it would be transformed.
Nervousness gave way to excitement as the date for the big reveal approached, and the night before was spent tossing and turning, trying to imagine what the finished car would look like. The veil was dropped at the London Classic Car Show, where the 2500 took a starring role as part of Barnet & Southgate College’s display. My first glimpse came as I rounded a corner and spotted the nose edging out from behind another stand and, as the whole car came into view, my jaw hit the floor. I’m rarely speechless, but I was on this occasion.
The Pimento was supplied by Autopaints Brighton, and it looks the perfect shade – a deep, lustrous red with a hint of orange that leaps out in a way scarcely imaginable from a colour chart. The quality of the paint was top-notch, too, and laid down beautifully according to Ian Sutherland, who achieved the outstanding finish. The depth and sheen of the buffed bodywork was mesmerising – more like one of Mary Berry’s mirror-glazed cakes than a 44-year-old saloon. That impression was further enhanced by the eager apprentices who spent the weekend polishing it with products donated by Slim’s Detailing, the college’s next-door neighbour.
I was struck by the attention to detail, and the many small elements that had contributed to the overall knockout effect. The grille and mesh, for instance, had both been sprayed black, and the wheelarches had been freshly undersealed.
Perhaps controversially – I just couldn’t resist putting my own stamp on the car – I’ve had the rear panel sprayed in satin black, aping that of the Dolomite and TR6. I reckon that it improves the look, especially with the black wheels and new raised-letter numberplates, and Sutherland agreed.
After the show the car returned to the college, where Tyrone How from Mobile Glass Replacement refitted the windscreen for just £75, against another quote of £300. With the windows back in, it was time for the 2500TC to come home. Even the snowy conditions, salted roads and the fear of overheating couldn’t wipe the smile from my face.
There’s work still to be done, of course, notably fitting the door and boot seals and fresh door pins, but something tells me that devoting time and money to the project will be much easier now that the Triumph looks a million bucks.
THANKS TO
Δ Kevin Haggarthy, Ian Sutherland, plus all the other staff and students at Barnet & Southgate College: 020 8443 3821
Δ Autopaints Brighton: 01273 328698; www. autopaintsbrighton.com Δ Mobile Glass Replacement: 020 8502 4100; www.mobile glassreplacement.com