Last Triumph

Thank you - your help, advice and support along the journey is very much appreciated.

Last Triumph

Thanks!

Any car over 40 years old is exempt from the UK MOT test (a tiny percentage of the cars on the UK roads), however that does not absolve the owner/driver from any responsibility to ensure the vehicle is in a roadworthy state.

Monster just about scrapes into the exempt status.

Our MOT covers all the safety items - lights, brakes, suspension, corrosion, wipers, washers, seat belts, bushings, leaks etc, etc, so whilst not necessarily an indication of good condition, it at least serves as a rough guide to safety elements at the point it was tested. Depending on the year, different emissions standards apply, ranging from a visual smoke test only for pre '76 cars, to more stringent tests for '92 and new cat equipped cars.

So whilst I don't need to have the car put through the test, I must ensure the tires, brakes, lights, number plates etc all are in a safe and roadworthy condition - almost like a self-assessment. Claiming ignorance is not an excuse for driving an unsafe car that does not meet the construction and use regulations etc.

As for number plates, UK cars are registered from new with a number plate which for cars newer than 1963, have an age related suffix, prefix or internal letter/number system to identify the car's age and these stay with the car always, unless the owner wishes to purchase and display a private number plate which I believe in the USA you call vanity plates? Even so, if these are later removed and the car sold, it would revert back to the originally issued number.

In my example with the '81, it will receive a 7 digit number with a 'W'' suffix to show it is a 1981 car.

Here is a better explanation of the UK vehicle registration number system....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicl...United_Kingdom

shoptek

THANK YOU LT!!
Very interesting system.

Mark G

Nice car.

Now you can do what a lot of guys do after they 'hunt down' a finally find that one nice rare original C3:
1) Rip out the computer & engine and put in an LS with a tall intake or a blower through the hood
2) Rip out the rear suspension and replace with a ford 9" or something else
3) Rip out the steering and put in a rack
4) Replace the interior with a custom interior and **** carpet on the dash
5) Ditch the wheels for some gawdy aftermarket 22-inchers

what else am I missing here .....
6) A thumping stereo with the biggest speakers that'll fit in the rear, esp if they look really out of place
7) Lambo doors
8) Hydraulic shocks so it can 'hop'
9) Wide-body kit
10) Tall spoiler at the rear

ha ha ...well that's a pretty good list for now.

Last Triumph

Or leave it bone stock and sympathetically / cosmetically cherish it

BrianOz

Hey LT, were you not allowed to drive the car home from the port yourself or was it just a personal decision to have it transported?

Here in the nanny state of Victoria in Oz, we can get a permit that allows a single trip in an unregistered vehicle for such purposes.

Cheers,
Brian

Last Triumph

No Brian, it is against the law in the UK to drive an unregistered vehicle on public roads.

KingRat

Congratulations. I too have a soft spot for the '80-'82 body style and a black 4-speed car is a great choice.

Last Triumph

Thanks!

In other news..... and wait for it......


The clock still works!


I thought this was materially significant enough to share with the community.