Triumph World Magazine No.147 Cheap Thrills Back Issue

If there is one lesson to be learnt from Rod
Ker’s Market News reports each month, it is
that very few people ever make a profit after
properly restoring a Triumph – and that is
even more true if they have paid somebody
else to restore it for them!
So why do we bother? For some it is because
buying cheaply and then spending out in small
doses is more viable than stumping up a great wad
of cash in one go, even if that would be cheaper in
the long run. Others may simply underestimate how
the costs are going to spiral, but often we do it
because the satisfaction that comes from the
restoration process is what makes it all worthwhile.
Take Steve Flowers’ beautiful green Stag (p30) as
an example. This may have cost him only £200 to
buy originally, but it has since taken the best part of
£10,000 and some very canny buying to get it into
its current condition. Yet Steve now has a superb car
that is tailored exactly to his tastes, so I’d say that
has been money well spent.
However, the budget Spitfire I borrowed this
month (p24) does show a less expensive and much
faster route into Triumph ownership – buy a car that
just needs TLC and you can enjoy it right away,
improving it as time and finances allow. Ultimately
you’ll probably still end up spending more than it is
worth, but our cars aren’t just about profit and loss.
They are about fun and joy, so why not go and
enjoy yours in whatever way suits you best?