My Triumph Spartan
Years ago, before I was married, I had a 1938 Singer Roadster. I did a lot of work on that car, restoring the bodywork , spraying it red, making a new hood, rebuilding the engine etc and used it daily for work for about three years. After marriage I had ordinary cars but always hankered after that old Singer, not so much the car but the shape and idea of a 30s sports type car. So when a friend said that he was selling his kit car which he had only partially started I readily bought it from him. The kit was that of a Triumph based Spartan which embodied the spirit of a 30s sports car, everyone sees in it the type of car they remember such as an MG or a Morgan etc.
When I bought the kit my friend had stripped down a Triumph Herald, refurbished the chassis, installed the engine and running gear and bolted the body frame in place. It took me another twelve months to complete the work. I welded in extra strengthening pieces and adjusted the body parts so that they fitted into a good looking shape. Finally spraying it red it was ready for the road and after an MOT it was in use and I have used it daily now for more than twelve years.
The beginning
The Engine
The Dashboard
The only real problem I have had with the car was that the thrust bearing on the crankshaft wore away and an Engineer friend machined and silver soldered a bronze bearing in it's place. Recently I had a spare cylinder head fitted with hardened valve seats and have installed ready it for the totally unleaded era.
The Dash Wiring
Almost There
Now that I am no longer in work and don't need my Spartan to travel to work any more I will probably have to sell it.
Now after 18 years of ownership I have sold the Spartan, a very sad day! So I am no longer a Spartan owner but am always willing to offer advice and info to other Spartan people.
For current Spartan information see the 'Spartan Owner's Club' at
www.spartanownersclub.co.uk