Triumph Sports Cars

Saw this on Bring a Trailer this morning for $5800 in Mendocino:





Nice Surrey top and American Libre wheels

Here's the BaT link: [bringatrailer.com]

and here's the CL one: [sfbay.craigslist.org]

For the avoidance of doubt, it's a manual shift.

This car brings up a point I'd vaguely wondered about - it has a Buick 215 - to what extent are parts compatible with the later
Rover version?

Ivor

Bring-A-Trailer is an unreliable source of information. This car appears to have an Oldsmobile 215 NOT a Buick 215. You can tell by the valve covers. Different cylinder heads and valvetrain! The Oldsmobile version was offered with various different pistons to achieve different compression ratios. An engine number would tell you what pistons it had when it left the factory. (Don't just guess based on the intake manifold, because manifolds are too easy to swap.) You could put Rover heads on this short-block... and there are lots of other "compatible" but not necessarily interchangeable parts. If you're thinking of buying it and having it shipped to Shepperton, I think you'd be wise to budget for swapping in a complete Rover engine. All the Buick/Olds/Rover aluminum V8s have common mounts and bellhousing patterns. The 4-barrel intake in that photo will bolt right onto a Rover. Do note that the accessory bosses on Olds heads are entirely different than on Rover heads, so plan on re-mounting the alternator, etc. Spend a little time using the search box (top righthand corner of the page) and you'll find all sorts of other specifics.

In his Craiglist add, he stated this:
"I expect the car to sell fast at this price. I will discuss the car, and the price, with polite knowledgeable parties. If you need permission to buy a car (from your wife, boyfriend, lawyer, shrink, conservator, priest, parole officer, or mom) get it BEFORE contacting me."
LOL

Since it's not running and it's been sitting outside for a few years all you are really buying are the motor mount and firewall mods; seems kind of expensive.

A well sorted V8 modded car usually sells for far below costs. Those are good deals. I would pass on this one and mod your own.

George



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/08/2012 03:08PM by motek.